[The turkey] is besides, though a little vain & silly, a Bird of Courage, and would not hesitate to attack a Grenadier of the British Guards who should presume to invade his Farm Yard with a red Coat on.
– Benjamin Franklin
February 2, 2014. A midwinter thaw allows temperatures to rise to just above freezing. I lace up my leather boots, throw on a coat, and bring the family dog, Laila, along for a walk.
Many of the walks I take near Pittsburgh–where I was born and raised–are in South Park, a local park on the south side. A long wedge of hills with a stream following through the middle and pockets of forest opening to grassy hillsides, the park’s terrain has plenty of good walking trails. The park also offers a golf course, a game preserve–with American bison and a duck pond, red-roofed picnic pavilions, a skate park and BMX track, the old county fairgrounds, and a wave pool, among other things. The western edge of the park features the most hills and largest expanses of forest.
Our walk starts on a stretch of road that is closed in the winter. The snow-covered road is a winter highway for runners and dog walkers–and white-tailed deer. A path leads off the road. I stop at its entrance and begin to plan my course for the day. What do I want to see? The first thing that comes to mind is turkeys. And I think I know where to find them. Continue reading “Winter Thaw”