What a long drive back from Columbus. Had a great time, but it took a full day to recover from the solo travel. 11 hours behind the wheel. Not far outside Starkville (what a name) I saw a large Eastern Box Turtle in the service lane of Hwy 82, clearly headed across the road. I managed a safe stop about 150 yards later and proceeded to back up the service lane. Don’t try this. I had a clear day, a flat straight road, and lots of visibility, but what follows probably wasn’t safe at all.

As I got closer to the turtle, he crossed into the right lane of traffic, and I could see two vehicles approaching in that lane. I backed a bit into the right lane, causing the first vehicle to change lanes around me (and, I’m sure, to declare me completely insane) then returned to the service lane. I had to repeat the procedure for the second vehicle, as clearly neither had seen the turtle. As big as he was, they might have blown a tire hitting him, possibly resulting in an accident. By now I was back in the service lane and beside the turtle, and with no more oncoming traffic I was able to retrieve him and give him a good talking to.

As he gaped his mouth at me in a threatening posture, I yelled at him to be VERY afraid of the road. I then proceeded to march him down the embankment, carrying him like a briefcase on his side (he’d generally be better off afraid of humans too) and spotted a big area of runoff water below. Knowing that it wouldn’t matter which side he landed on in water of that depth, I hurled him skyward and he landed with a big splash. I returned to the van, reasonably sure that the experience would leave him disinclined to climb up to the road again.

The 2 foot American Alligator I borrowed for the festival (for which I had to carry the appropriate permit) didn’t have a name, so the Outdoor Learning Center let me name him Columbus. He is, after all, Alligator mississippiensis. Gator done!

I really want to say another big thank you to the great folks at CableOne for their kindness and hospitality. By the way, I finally figured out why no one at the festival had boiled peanuts again this year. They’re out of season. In late summer the green ones freshly harvested are boiled in salt water until soft and yummy. Apparently the ones I was introduced to that first year had been frozen after cooking for later sale. This summer I’m going to boil up a batch myself.