This week's episode: Beware The Sketchy Shortcut -or- How I Saved Jeff A Bunch Of Money!

On Sunday, Jeff and I went for a walk in the canyon, real casual since I only had my flip flops. It was rather uneventful and didn't really lead anywhere except maybe to a business park? On the way back we laughed at cottontail rabbits pointing their tails at us and we decided to check out a shortcut we had seen on the way in. After about 40m uphill it seemed to end (drats!), but then we saw a thick rope dangling down the eroded hillside. He went up first and I remember thinking we were real cool. As I reached the top he started swatting himself wildly and I thought at first he was nuts. Then I saw the bees. He was wearing black and that makes them real angry so we rappelled back down and decided to throw out that route. He had two stings, one in his ear (no wonder he was nuts) and on his shoulder. We began to leave then he stopped. "My glasses!" Apparently when you're being chased by bees down a steep slope you don't notice vison impairment. Cautiously, I went back up and took a look around: nowhere in sight. The bees were nesting in the crevice between the metal and wood of the telephone pole that anchored the rope. Tugging on it was probably like ringing the doorbell. I went up higher to see if he flung them into the bushes with swatting hands and one bee started buzzing me. I forgot that I was wearing a black hat and, after some panicky swiping, I scooped the bee in the hat and tossed it. Lucky. Then Jeff called up, "How about the bushes on the right?" Lucky again. With relief I snatched them from a lemonade berry bush, dusted off the hat and gotback down. Sweaty and very dusty we made our way back. Next time, I'm gonna wear my boots.

Currently Reading Pilgrim at Tinker Creek By Annie Dillard see related