4:50 a.m. I walk. It’s 1608 consecutive (almost) days in a row, this morning daybreak walk at Cove Island Park. Like in a row.
I’m walking into a little wing of Helene. 61° F. Warm gusts of wind and rain. Pleasant. Quiet.
Six cars in the parking lot at this time. Hmmmm.
There’s a late model Ford pick-up at the front of the park, heads light on high beam.
After 4 years of walking on this same track, you notice. SS: “One of these things is not like the others. One of these doesn’t belong. Can you tell which thing is not like the other by the time I finish this song?”
I walk.
The pick-up follows me down the path. Head lights on high beam. I’m sure there’s some logical reason for this intrusion. I’m certain of it. Hackles up, irritated. Jon Stewart on The Daily Show: “F-k Off!”
“Good morning. Park is closed. Please come back at Sunrise.”
“Closed? New rules?”
“No Sir. Park is closed at Sunset and opens at Sunrise. Rules haven’t changed.“
I’ve driven by the sign at the park entrance 1608x, I’ve seen the sign 1608x. Yes, those are the park rules, but come on. Who is this guy? Unmarked truck.
“I’ve been here walking at this time for 4 years, 365 days a year, including freezing winter mornings. I’ve never come across ANYONE enforcing this rule.”
Long pause. He stares at me. I stare back. Wipers slap on his windshield. He looks at me, and must have concluded ‘not on prison release’, ‘too old to be trouble’, ‘appears to be of sane (mostly) mind.’ He continues.
“Girl Scouts are having an overnight camp out.”
“Ahhhh, ok.”
“Would you mind coming back at sunrise.”
Elif Shafak from 10 Minutes 38 Seconds in This Strange World: “Getting through life as unscathed as possible depended to a large extent on two fundamental principles: knowing the right time to arrive and knowing the right time to leave.“
I turn around and head back to the car. I see the 6 cars in the parking lot — not Girl Scouts driving these cars. Chaperones.
Flashback: “Get out of the house and go play with your friends.”.
Everybody gets a trophy.
Protect All from the Pervs.
I google Libertarian. Donation coming later this morning.
More photos from this morning’s abbreviated walk here.
Thank you🙏💕
Sorry your morning routine was interrupted, pal, but you got some nice photos nonetheless. Our world is a tough place these days. 😞
😞
Thanks Lori. I agree. Tough in more ways than one.
I got a good laugh out of this one! He was the eagle eye over the girls probably counting the minutes to go home. 🙂
I’m sure he was!
And I’m sure the kids were all under the Gazebo. Dry. While I wasn’t going to be anywhere near there. Bah!
No, why would you want to be dry?
Ha!
A: Speechless
B: Where were the Girl Scouts? (And yes, of course… They deserve to be safe, but what is the definition of “safe”?)
C: (Aside: In Vermont, no permit required to carry a concealed weapon.)
D: My initial reaction: “The World… Has Gone… Completely… Insane.”
E: I can’t think about this anymore or my head will explode.
Exactly Paul. Exactly.
The Girl Scouts are safe. Probably a concerned parent. Too bad Wally wasn’t with you. He would have made sure they were Ok, or distracted them with cuteness.
I agree Darlene. I should have brought Wally!
What a weekend to be away. We would have been jockeying for space on Weed Avenue. I am a little surprised by one thing….. Knowing the rule breaker you are…. that you didn’t keep walking and try to steal their stockpile of Girl Scout Cookies.
Happy Sunday.
Ha! I was thinking about it.
wow, that was unexpected – for me too. But understandable…. it‘s a tough world where nobody seems to be sure and ‚automatically‘ protected any more. But the photo! – Hope you have a good Sunday.
We were 2 days away and as our luck would have it, it didn‘t rain, it poured. There wasn‘t a breeze, the wind howled. Too bad you can‘t see the photos I took. The very large lake was so colourful that, (as per different voices from viewers) you could have been in the Caribbean Isles, at the south pole, and anything in between. The water was green, blue, black…. beautiful, but certainly not inviting to swim (which is what I intended initially to do) nor to stand there for long. But SO beautiful all the same. Now back home in the warmth 😉
Sounds amazing. Where can I see the pics?
sadly you can‘t. I only put them on my WhatsApp status and of my zillion of contacts, only ‚the chosen ones‘ (still some 190) can see them. Mail me your cellphone nr and you can see them (I promise)
I love how you manage to find exactly the right quotes to insert in the perfect places.
Bummer for you but I bet if your daughter was camping, you would be happy to know she is being watched over…
Thanks Dale. Agree.
😊
You could always pitch a tent and bring a shopping cart full of your basic necessities. Then you’d be at the park whenever you wanted. Lots of people are doing that nowadays, moving into public places rent-free. It’s happening even in our small west coast towns. There are places I won’t go anymore. Not safe. I guess the Girl Guides would have to find another place.
And those same people are in this park too. Not sure if everyone was rounded up and asked to exit.
I like camping, but living in the park … not fair.
Agree!
Surprising … and a little sad that it’s needed.
Agree Val.
🙂(Susan, look away for a moment) DK, maybe it’s time for you to get a boat!
Oh Boy. Now that would start some interesting discussions!
Laughing – so glad you didn’t dig your heels in on your 1608 record, and kinda got the request as it pertained to the Girl Scouts. Being someone who was kicked out of Brownies in the 2nd grade, I always feel a little deference for these intrepid young people (and their scout leaders).
Intrepid young people. Love that.