you know what let me tell the story about how i once got mauled by a buck instead of put it in the tags cause this is just cool
(by which i mean it was kind of terrifying but also cool)
anyway
as some of you may know, i do distance bicycling. part of that means i often bike to work to get some weekday miles in. after all, there’s lots of bike trails, might as well use them, right? and i’ve got lights and gear for when i ride at night, as i tend to ride right up until first (lbr fourth or fifth) snow.
so it’s late autumn early winter, it’s getting dark before i leave for work. no big deal, i get my frontlamp on and get over to the bike trail that takes me 80% of the way home.
the bike trails here all cut through woods and tend to follow the rivers and streams that are all in the area. i can sort of see there’s something hanging out further up the trail, so i slow down a bit in case it’s a person or a tree fell or whatever happens on bike trails, and then i just stop because said something is a buck. and he’s not moving.
now i’m not a small person. i’m 5'9"/175cm standing, and add an inch to two inches when I’m on the bike.
this buck practically fucking towered over me, and it was broader in the chest than my shoulders, and let me tell you something, antlers look pretty fucking pointy and sharp.
okay. so i wasn’t nearly mauled. we kind of looked at each other for a few minutes, then he politely stepped to the side of the bike path and i politely pedaled on my merry way. he just kind of kept hanging out there, too, watching me go.
and that is why i like distance biking so much :3
(one of many reasons, but the fact remains getting to bike through natural areas and encounter wildlife i usually wouldn’t and getting to see trees and things i usually don’t and look when the only sign of civilization for the next 40 miles is the bike trail your own, you might as well be in a whole new world)