Saturday, July 3, 2010

A Real Surprise -- Preparing Tumbleweed for Travel (Scott AFB, IL)

The muggies are back, the temperature climbed fast all day and the humidity came with it.  I went for a long walk this morning before it got too hot.

Instead of just walking in the Famcamp area, I went down the road outside the immediate area. It's wooded but not thick.  I heard a growling noise and rustling in the bushes to my left.  My first thought was a bear, but I know there are no bears on base (or was hoping?).   I stood still for a bit trying to see what was growling; I knew it wasn't something little.  The sound stopped, so I started walking and saw movement to the left and up in the air came a deer.  It was a doe and she ran right in front of me.  She went across the road and stopped in some brush to the right.  We had a staring contest.  I finally got tired of just standing there, so I went on and she growled at me some more.  I had my camera with me and got these two pictures.


This was my first time that I can remember that I was in the wild with a deer.  I've seen them in zoos and at a distance from a car, but never out in the open while on foot.

I took other pictures on my walk.  There's a paved running path around the perimeter of the base, about 6 1/2 miles long.  It runs near our campground.  There are also brooks and a little dam near the campground.

The dam  has a little outlet that can be opened and closed for flooding. 
This is the running path.
The path goes past this pavilion, but the road turns left into the Famcamp.
A view of the brook

Jim went on his walk later in the day.  We usually do our walks separately because Jim walks a lot farther and faster than me.  He ran a lot in his active duty military days, and although his knees won't let him run any more, he tries to maintain a fast walking pace.

Yesterday we washed both vehicles to get them clean for traveling.  Today we cleaned the RV, inside and out.  It took me 35 minutes to clean everything inside (a lot quicker than cleaning the condo we used to live in).  I repacked a couple cabinets because I knew items would shift too much on  the trip to Indy.

Jim worked outside checking all he tires and installing the Pressure Pro tire monitoring system.  He also cleaned and lubricated the slide motors and the legs of the Big Foot leveling system.


I keep noticing a pipe from the propane area that is looking rusty.  I worry a lot so keep wondering if that's normal.  I just hope it doesn't rust through and give us problems.


We got everything done before it got too hot.  We're settled in for the evening to watch the NASCAR race. We'll be with the kids all day tomorrow.  Our last time with them this year.  We'll be back next year.

6 comments:

A couple of newer paintings 2019 said...

Great photos of the deer. I've never heard a deer growl!

That camp sure has a lot of nice spots. I like that running track.

LakeConroePenny,TX said...

I didn't know that deer growled either. Must have been scary.
Lovely pictures.
Is that rusty pipe the exhaust to your generator?
Happy Trails, Penny, TX

Mark and Dortha said...

Have a greata 4th, enjoy the kids and safe travels to your next stop. Looking forward to seeing you both this fall.

Watch out for those wild animals. I did see a bear in a campground in New Mexico!

Along the Way with JnK said...

Those are always nice surprises. We have deer where we are located at the Ranch, that visit with us daily. We even seen footprints one morning, as if one of them was looking into our window during the night. Them we don't mind, the other wild animals, well we are cautious of the growlers of other sorts.

Great NASCAR races at Daytona the past few nights, but last night was really a late night.

We always enjoy watching a race on TV where we have been before, plus we are planning to be there in February of 2011 to see the repavement. Should be interesting.

JB said...

Never heard them growl but I do get barked at from time to time, usually they are warning you away from a fawn.

KarenInTheWoods said...

Oh gosh what a nice treat to come across the deer. It was a cool send-off to you from the base grounds to let you see a *native resident*...

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