My “Reverse” Hike with Fly in the Ointment.
The day was warm and sunny (no rain in sight) but we are beset with sudden showers and thunderstorms when they forecast promised little rain. It is soggy in the Covesville, VA hollow nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains, our refuge for the pandemic. My hike began downhill to the pasture (my kid’s lovely farm) to the garden below. The blueberries will soon be begging to be picked, the garden grows before our eyes and is lush and green. I continued on the “reverse” hike (one that starts downhill then finishes UP hill. I passed the ever meandering Hardware River, burbling and filled with birdsong. A neighbor drove downward and stopped for a hello before continuing his journey. I walked and pulled a quick stop for a caterpillar slowly crossing the road. (must be a joke there) I heard a car drive uphill and he too stopped to chat as I grimaced with worry about the caterpillar being squished. He missed it by 3 inches. We talked, I graciously declined a ride up the hill and he continued on the way. The next caterpillar “portrait” revealed a companion to the bug, the fly. There was much flickering and bending between the two and then my beloved daughter in law drove up the hill. I felt helpless to warn her of the ensuing crushing but she too missed it by an inch or two. However I did not know that until I looked; the bug looked dead to me. Then he squirmed and moved and as you see, continued across the road. follow the link for the images.