Don't Murder the Bull!

Driving these country mountain roads is always an adventure. There are the constant curves and undulating ups and downs combined with those curves. A hard surfaced black top will suddenly and inexplicably become a gravel road. The gravel road becomes these parallel tire tracks and then just as suddenly the black top reappears. One never knows what scenic vista or family farm beside a gently flowing stream will grab the attention. But when behind the wheel that attention must be directed for the most part to the driving.

Deer are a constant hazard. The jump out in front of cars with no advance warning. It's better to hit the suicide deer than take the chance of swerving and hitting a tree or other solid object. Auto insurance feels better if you're damaged by a animal. Even the most experienced mountain country drivers have stories of turning a doe into a hood ornament. There is a bright side, fresh road kill is edible. Just make sure the critters good and dead before loading it into the back of the SUV. Nothing quite as invigorating as a dazed buck coming around in the back seat of the family transport.

Another phenomena is the occasional cattle leaving the security of the pasture and taking a stroll down the aforementioned roads. That, my friends, is what brings us to the purpose of the handsome bovine adorning this post. We have seen cows and bulls along the shoulder of the road peacefully munching on the grass. Last night a fellow who looked a lot like the one pictured almost rearranged our little Toyota Celica.

We have been after a payment on Stone Mountain Road for about a week now. Because it's close to home we've been by the house most every day going and coming. Trucks and cars were moved about and the lights were on at night but there was no answer at the door or on the phone. Last night when we pulled into the drive we spotted someone in the house. They could not hide or run away, we had them! Now here's a trick you may want to remember when you go on vacation. Have someone come over and move the stay at home cars around and turn on the lights at night. That way should any nefarious characters, such as insurance agents, come around they will think you are home and it's just too much trouble to get up off the couch after a long day doing whatever one does.

Celebrating our victory at finally finding this guy home we headed gleefully towards Villa MacBean only to by completely startled by a fellow that looked a lot like the one pictured standing in the middle of Route #638. Not peacefully munching but standing in the middle of the road. It was dark, the bull was black and we were on him before we knew it. I swerved. I know I said it's better to hit than swerve but there was room and he was much bigger than a deer. We probably would have broken his leg and he would have totaled our car. So we missed him and once the adrenaline rush calmed down we chalked it up to just another adventure on the country mountain roads. And that's no bull! Sorry, I just couldn't resist.