Farm Walkabout 11/9/2021

Tuesday’s farm walk-about broke an attendance record with 36 people and 7 dogs, to include 13 new comers and 4 new dogs. Another new comer was the perfectly beautiful weather we experienced throughout the hike and ice cream social. The weather hasn’t always been so nice on these farm walk-abouts but in truth weather hasn’t stopped many from attending them.

The five mile hike started out with a stop by the pasture where two new equines replaced two that sadly passed away over the long extended COVID shutdown. There was a new little donkey and tiny miniature pony greeting us along with the pasture’s long time residents, two donkeys and a large pony, all rescues from Virginia’s Diamonds in the Rough equine rescue facility.

Interestingly enough the dogs along on the hike were not at all interested in the animals but all that changed when we stopped to admire some lovely ponds passed during the hike. You can see how much they enjoyed their “swims” in the accompanying fun and interesting pictures taken by Tuesday Group’s always wonderful “volunteer” photographer hikers, Bill Billings and Bob Mooney.

As we continued our hike through the woods we were fortunate enough to come across the captivating sight of a huge dinosaur sized machine gently lifting large downed trees which it then maneuvered into other machines for stripping and cutting into logs before gracefully swinging them around to place on a top of a pile of others awaiting pickup.

After a short break beside another pond we then took on an unexpected challenge which once again proved just how tough and determined Tuesday Groupers are when it comes to adventure. I am happy to report even the group’s 13 new comers and the 4 new dogs all passed this “test” and now only time will tell if they ever show up again for a Tuesday Group adventure.

One section, a path I had not had time to walk before leading this hike, had been recently logged across the path, and our challenge amounted to our climbing over downed trees by the dozens and pushing through sticky and who knows what other kind of brush and bush. Even then I wasn’t sure if we’d ever hit the trail to which I was aiming but, thank goodness, it suddenly turned up exactly where I thought it would be once we got over, under and through all that mess. In total it probably was a little less than a mile of bushwhacking, and in parts it was real labor but again it only proved how “tough” Tuesday Groupers really are. Even all new comers passed “my unplanned test”, and it was fun seeing the proud looks on their faces when they all received our “congratulations”!

Our wildlife sightings, to my knowledge, only consisted of one dead black snake and one live baby snake plus one beaver’s head before it slapped the water and disappeared.

Many thanks to all participants who make all Tuesdays fun, different and interesting and to participants who step up and offer to lead one of the next Tuesday Group adventurous excursions. Oh, and the biggest thanks of all to Phyllis and Ellis who voluntarily manage the Tuesday Group website, the very vehicle that keeps us all together and informed.

Sandy Canepa

View Bob Mooney's pictures: https://photos.app.goo.gl/1cpYrC2HacsP2Dhs6

Bill Billings': https://photos.app.goo.gl/XgF3URjrrLsnKxhj6