Hiking Adorably in the National Park

We went hiking in Hoffmaster State Park today. And while our discovery of the fantastically large dead fish on the beach was pretty amazing, we discovered something else way, way more awesome.

As we headed back out of the woods after our treck along the beach, we came up to a man taking photos of something on the side of the path. We pulled up short when I realized what exactly this guy was taking photos of.

TWO BABY RACCOONS. OMG BABY RACCOONS. SO ADORABLE.

They were exploring the forest together and chittering at each other. We watched them wander about for about 15 minutes and I was able to get a few photos (and some super cute videos). Too bad I just had a point and shoot camera instead of an SLR or something because my photos were terribly grainy...

"Come on brother! Follow me!"

AV thought one of them was larger than the other, but I couldn't tell. One of them was obviously the leader though, he seemed to be showing the other around and waiting for him if he fell behind.

SO VERY ADORABLE!!



They seemed to want to cross from the left side of the hiking path to the right. I think we were making them nervous when we were standing and watching them, but they eventually hopped up to the path and found their way across. Before they crossed the path they turned and looked at us. Maybe checking where we were before they headed out?

I also took a video of them wandering up a log and checking out the roots. Watch and be happy!!

Cheers,

Red

Fish Flakes

Have you met my smelly friend?
Sadly he has met a tragic end;
No longer will he swim and sleep,
In the calm, shiny waves of the dark, blue deep.

On the sand, spring hikers find,
This friend of scale and bone and slime.
Oh, poor dear has lost an eye,
Taken, no doubt, by seagulls roaming by.

In our travels, wide and long,
We found many with life long gone.
Today a fish, mouth filled with sand,
Washed upon the dune covered land.

It has been chilly all week (except for Tuesday when it was somewhere near a hundred degrees) so we thought a hike would be the perfect thing to do today! We went to one of the national parks and walked through the woods and along the beach. There were ENORMOUS dead fish washed up on the shore. I'm talking enormous like two feet long. These suckers were ridiculously huge. I'm so glad it wasn't hot out today because those dead fish stank with a capital "S" I don't think breathing the air would have worked out if the sun had been beating down on those giant carcasses...

Cheers,
Red