On Halloween morning, I took a long walk through the woods of North Georgia in the dark. My path followed a drainage down to a flat creek bottom, where I hoped to catch sight of some deer cruising the base of a large ridge above a creek. It was an unusually warm day for the end of October, with barely any wind and a slightly overcast sky.
Waiting for Daylight Under a Red Oak
After walking about a mile from the road, I settled beneath a red oak tree, ready for daylight to reveal my surroundings. Acorns were dropping all around me, while leaves gently drifted down to the ground. As the night slowly gave way to morning, I began to hear something off to my right. Though I couldn’t see it, I thought it might be a mouse or chipmunk rustling in the leaves.
A Surprise Visitor: The Box Turtle
After about an hour, I finally caught sight of the culprit. To my surprise, it wasn’t a small mammal at all but a mature box turtle making its way through the woods like some prehistoric creature. With each step, he would pause, stretch his neck out, and inspect the path ahead, deciding his next move. At one point, he was only a foot away from my leg. Upon noticing me, he stared for a long moment before deciding to take a different route home.
Nature's Painted Shell
The turtle's shell was dark, adorned with intricate patterns that reminded me of a painting crafted by my grandchildren. This was the fourth box turtle I had encountered since spring, and it never ceases to amaze me how they survive in these woods, much like tortoises in deserts.
A Worthwhile Encounter
As he slowly disappeared back into the woods, I couldn’t help but feel grateful for the encounter. Each step of his journey seemed deliberate, a reminder of the peace and resilience found in nature’s quiet moments. That morning hike made the Halloween holiday a memorable one, and it reaffirmed my love for these woodland adventures.
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