418 to the Rescue

 

So far it has all been fine.  Yes, the river does occasionally rise, but then it goes back down.  I’ve had some unwanted visitors.  There were the two bear cubs that wandered up to the tent.  They were curious and quickly scampered off when their mom called them.  I was thankful it wasn’t the mother bear that came out here to look for fish. 

One morning I had gotten up, I got the fire started and then thought I’d lay back down for a little, just until the morning dew was off the chairs.  When I stepped out of the tent the second time, an alligator was sleeping just there, at the edge of the water.  The last thing I wanted to do was startle it, but neither did I want to spend the day hiding in the tent.  Very slowly I moved over to one of the chairs and quietly sat down.  I thought maybe by ignoring it, it wouldn’t see me as a threat or as dinner. 

About an hour and a half later, Boy Scout Troop 418 came through the woods.  They weren’t exactly quiet.  They weren’t headed this way, but it still caused the gator to wake up and slither off into the river.  Finally, I could make some coffee and cook breakfast.

 

 

 Z. Corwin

I should mention here that I know Scout Master, Parker Trowernik, and he knows I camp here, so he never brings the boys clomping through my camp site, which I appreciate.