Last full day. Parker got off his 24-hour shift with four hours sleep (total). His way of dealing is to stay up and sleep hard the next night, and we rode out to see Hoag’s pond. So peaceful. The water brims with an abundance of aquatic plants and rushes. There’s a soft rustle of wind through the leaves. A trio of ducks on the pond plish-plash, tails up and beak down. It’s a gentler kinder version of nature.
I have not missed the grind of construction, the constant growl of leafblowers, or the din of traffic that Atlanta serves up.
En route to lunch, Parker guided us to a protected nesting site for the great blue herons. Humans are safely sequestered at a distance that does not disturb the bird. It took me a minute, (blame it on cataracts) but once I saw the first giant nest, I kept finding more. The herons construct their nests high in the trees. It reminded me of a crow’s nest at the top of a ship’s mast. The herons swooped through the sky on the regular, with wingspans so wide I could see them even with my limited vision. Bringing back lunch from the nestlings, one hopes.
It was thrilling.
Our next stop was seafood, too. Full disclosure, when I hear there’s a place that serves fish and chips on the waterfront, I picture a rackety shed, redolent of grease and fried fish with a salty tang. This place was all chrome and glass inside a large edifice of brick, a mini-mall interior for the tourists. It lacked atmosphere, but the fish and chips were okay, eaten outside on the pier.
We went back to the Northwest Tune-up vendor market of all things mountain biking. Parker scored this handlebar basket rig, ideal for transporting his dog Sammy.
Robin and I hit another yarn store. I needed a replacement for a dented circ needle and it’s always fun to look. Check out this piratical knitter’s Jolly Roger. Says it all, amirite?
Back at the AirB&B I napped before packing in preparation for tomorrow’s departure. Robin retired to a shady spot under an enormous tree behind the nearby Firehouse Café which boasts this awesome signage.
She took full advantage of the relaxed vibe.
Dinner was pizza from a joint a few blocks away, and at the end of the day, we drove up into the hills to watch the sundown over the bay. It didn’t disappoint.
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