TCC for 4/21/08

The Caretaker's Concern 4/21/08
Lake Temp. 48F.
Ghetto temp. 64 F. and dropping
Island tmp. 64 F. Yesterday's L/H: 54/73 F.
Current conditions: No wind, mostly clear with wisps of clouds.

Still great paddling water for today. During Sunset the Caretaker went pole walking around the Island for some exercise, by default pole walking is something that the Caretaker does all Winter long, but he has now taken to doing it in the Spring. It makes for the perfect Island exercise while the water is too cold to swim. The "experts" claim that it increases the effectiveness of one's walking by some 40 to 60%, whatever it may or may not be it works well for here on the Island. It is not only good for the Caretaker, it is good for the Island, without the road caps over the pole spikes the poles serve to aerate the lawn. So with this in his mind, bringing much mirth, in combination with the quiet of the day at sunset, the Caretaker rather enjoyed watching the color slowly slip from the Western sky.

While taking a shower at dusk some bats were out, a few had taken to circling around the Caretaker while he was trying to get clean, AND a few of the cheeky rogues took to dive bombing the Caretaker. It made for a rather amusing shower time, the Caretaker suspects that the sight/sound of the Caretaker taking a shower in the open was a novelty for the bats and that once they get accustomed to it they will pay little notice in the future. What is appropriate in reference to a bat and its sonar, do they see or hear? If their vision is accomplished through hearing, do they also notice auditory noises like we do? Hm...

After the Sun had long since set, and the Moon had just begun to rise, the Caretaker took himself and his camera out to Cocktail point to try and do some night photography of the Moon. Having noticed the rise of the Moon unexpectedly he wasn't exactly prepared, not to be deterred he threw on his robe, grabbed his camera and tripod and went out in his sandals. It took a few moments to find a spot on the rocks that wasn't too uncomfortable on his feet, he got his tripod set up and started to take photos. Since it was dark the Caretaker had to use rather long exposure times, sometimes up to a minute which was then followed by a processing time of up to a minute. At these times the Caretaker waited patiently absorbing his surroundings.

A rather large fish seemed to be jumping the water for fly's not too far off of Cocktail point. It sound much like a canoe paddle being slapped on to the water. While perched on the rocks trying to remain mostly still the Caretaker would occasionally feel the mild tickle of something crawling on his feet, not wanting to laugh and run the risk of disturbing his camera while it was operating, the Caretaker would quickly swipe the bugs off his feet. Far off towards the East shore the solitary call of a Loon was heard. Much closer afoot the Caretaker could hear a quiet turning of leaves, there wasn't any wind to speak off so the Caretaker was curious as to what could be causing this gentle rustling. On with the flashlight and what did he see? a number of Stone Fly nymphs crawling about, these were probably the same breed that was crawling on the Caretakers feet. In the light they scurried for cover. Off towards the North some geese could be heard making a bit of noise, it sounded like there was an attempt to put a pee-pee in a po-po.

--The Caretaker