Timber Rattler but No Turtles

The only turtles we saw on our mini-vacation this weekend (aside from a sick turtle we brought with us so we could treat him every day) were at the Minnewaska Wildlife Center as we hiked around the lake. And here they are:




But the real excitement occurred after we'd take about ten steps out of the parking lot. Allen's cousin had just finished saying, "You know, every time I visit this park I see a snake," when we saw a juvenile timber rattler crossing the path. And here he is:









Some park goers wanted to take photos of the snake. Others were scared. I stopped told a man and a woman on bicycles to stop. I didn't want them running over the snake. From the look on the woman's face, she didn't want the snake running over her. But all it wanted to do was get to the other side of the road.

Taking Bob the Turtle on a Trip

It finally happened. We had to take a sick turtle on vacation (well, along with us for a weekend away) so that Allen could make sure the turtle got his ointment and antibiotics.

Here's Allen, ministering to Bob in our motel. (The fact that Allen's wearing a Red Cross t-shirt as he applies ointment to Bob's paw is purely coincidental).

We kept the Do Not Disturb sign on the door so that Housekeeping wouldn't find Bob (in his plastic tub with lid) and freak out. We also weren't anxious to be thrown out of a "no pets allowed" motel.

What we do for turtles!