TURTLE COVE

My son Alex and I were walking around one of our favorite lakes when I noticed a turtle sunning itself on top of a tree stump that was sticking out of the water. I stopped and pointed it out. “How long do you think it took him to get to the top of that?” I turned to ask Alex. The stump was almost a foot out of the water.

Alex shrugged his shoulders. “I have no idea, but I’m thinking it probably took him a long time.”

“When he’s done sunning himself do you think he’s going to climb back down, or maybe push off with his back legs and do a perfect swan dive back into the lake?”

Alex laughed. “I’m betting he just throws himself off the stump and lands more like a cannonball then a swan dive.”

We waited a few minutes to see which move he was going to make.

I sighed when nothing happened. “I guess once you’ve climb that high you’re planning on staying for a while.”

Alex nodded as we continued our walk that was roughly a mile around the lake.

“I wonder why he’s so far away from Turtle Cove?” There was a section of the lake where so many turtles hung out that I’d given it that name.

Alex shrugged his shoulders. “Maybe he wanted some peace and quiet.”

I nodded my head. “I could see that.” I pointed to a blue heron that was fishing around the reeds that were growing in the shallows by the shore. “Have you noticed that for such a small lake there’s a lot going on around here?” We walked past a man who was waiting until we passed before he cast out his fishing line.

“Remember last fall when there was a flock of cormorants that visited?” Alex asked.

“Oh yeah! They were only here for a few weeks but there must have been a half a dozen of them!” We passed an older couple who were sitting on a bench holding hands as they looked at several red-winged black birds hopping around in the grass, pecking at the ground, looking for bugs.

I pointed to the hawk that was circling above the lake. “Looks like he’s ready to do some fishing too.”

We stepped off the path to let a Mom, who was pushing a stroller, pass by.

“We’re coming up on Turtle Cove.” I said as we came around a bend in the lake. Again we weren’t disappointed as I quickly counted ten with just their heads popping out of the water. I grabbed Alex’s arm to stop him. “Look.” I whispered as I pointed to the ones closest to us. But as soon as I did several of the turtles went underwater. We could see them swimming a few feet before they’d pop their heads back out for some air.

“I wonder why they like this part of the lake so much?”

“I don’t know.” Alex pointed to one swimming by. “He must be a over a foot long!”

I looked across the lake to where we’d seen the little turtle on the tree stump. “I wonder if our little guy is done with his sunning and is headed back to the cove?”

Alex looked over to where we’d parked the car. “I’m assuming we’re going around again to check.”

I smiled as I patted him on the arm and began walking again. “I have to say, you know me all too well.”