Today...

I saved a turtle...had an encounter with a 10+ foot black snake on the trail...saw at least 20 deer...lost a reporter...and pedaled through country rich in Civil War history.

The turtle? I found the little guy in what I considered a bewildered state on the trail. I picked him and took him to water safety. As I got within twenty yards of the water, his feet became activated and he started swimming mid-air. Finally, putting him on the ground next to the river, he scampered down the hill as fast as he could go...even doing somersaults along the way. Ouch!

The snake? He was jet black...and long! As he crossed the path, I slid my hand across his back. Hurriedly, I peeked around the tree corner to see his reaction. Coiled straight up and looking my way, he basically said, "Try that again!" I didn't. 

The deer? They were in small groups everywhere today. It was absolutely beautiful to come up on them as I rode. They would look at me wondering, "What in the world?" for as long as possible before darting into the trees.

The reporter? I was supposed to meet her somewhere along the trail near Hancock. With no cell coverage, I never found her. Uh oh. 

The Civil War country? There was simply history everywhere I pedaled. I loved imagining the troops of Confederate and Union soldiers marching along the path I was biking. The dense trees...the cold weather...each side with a mission...each man giving everything.

It was a good day.