I never saw the gap

Enjoying some bike riding this Labor Day weekend -- shocking I know! Did 40 miles yesterday -- 2 hours 11 minutes. I ride in a pretty urban area so typically I don't see many deer. Now when I ride in the country with my friends we see them frequently -- from home not so much.

Riding just North of the Zoo I came across Mom and 2 youngsters crossing the road -- slowly I might add. There was a car coming towards me, the deer were in my lane. I slowed way down - you just never know which way they may run when spooked. They looked over at me -- the wind in the bike spokes always spook animals. The mom made a graceful jump over the fence -- the little ones couldn't quite handle that. But what she had seen when she took them across the road was a gap in the fence -- the first little one struggled through it. The 2nd was impatient -- so she ran towards me where she knew the fence ended -- but the site of me made her quite nervous. Fortunately noone was coming up behind me and the car coming towards us slowed down.

Finally they both made it through the gap in the fence. I looked, even when I came back and the next day -- I never did see the gap she saw to ensure the safety of her youngsters. I can't imagine what she felt -- on the other side -- waiting for them to find what she saw, trusting them to trust her and slip through the gap.

I stood on my pedals and watched them for a second -- as she glanced back and then chased her youngsters bounding through the field to the safety of the tree line.

Today I rode the 50 mile route. It's a bit more rural at the end with a stretch that always reminds me of the Deliverance movie. As I was coming back towards home -- 5-10 miles from where I saw them yesterday -- I saw 2 younsters on the other side of the road -- just kind of hanging out. Again I slowed as they checked me out -- and spooked ran to their right away from me and the road. I looked for a mom and was quite worried that I didn't see her. As I rode past and looked behind me -- she had been there all along -- on the other side of the brush -- letting them check out their surroundings and stretch their wings. But ever close, calling them to safety. Always watching over them. I swear it was the same family from yesterday.

As I got closer to home the road becomes a 4 lane affair. I saw an adult deer ahead -- tentatively crossing the road. I braked -- the car beside me didn't even slow down. I braced for what I thought was going to be ugly -- the deer got spooked and tried to run across the road -- asphalt to hooves is like ice to penny loafers -- not much traction. Her legs bent in ungangly angles and she struggled to get traction. The SUV finally breaked and the deer JUST barely made it -- and then I saw the baby. No way -- but somehow it made it as well though it had to take quite an angle at the last second to avoid hitting the car. Really -- when you saw the deer you couldn't slow just a bit? I'm sorry they don't understand you are in a hurry or that roads are no place for wild animals. But slow a bit -- you can't possibly know which direction they may turn.

Animals are always watching -- for their youngsters -- the others in their group. Watch a group of geese and one is always watching while the others eat. Elephants do the same. And the deer -- even hidden the mom never took her eyes off of her youngsters. Always watching over them -- teaching them, prodding them along, going first to make sure it was safe. Giving them freedom to learn and grow, but always finding a quick escape as needed. Working as a team, taking turns, always watching, always protecting.

Who are you watching over today?