Okay, so today on my ride, I pass a guy who says, "There's a *inaudible* up ahead." To which I smiled and said thanks, having no idea what he said, but was thankful for the warning. About 75 to 100 yards ahead I see this *inaudible*...a large-ish gray-black something in the middle (literally) of the trail. Trash? Getting closer...large rock? Getting closer...dead animal? Ten yards...OH, wait, that animal is alive! Holy Heck! What is it? A turtle? Whoa!
For weeks now, I've seen many styles of wildlife along the trail and other rides, including cute little turtles. This, however, was neither cute nor little. It looked like several animal parts had been left over and slapped together: add one large buzzard beak or better yet triceratops’s sans nose horn + large (1-2 foot)scalloped turtle shell + four leathery legs with skin akin to an elephant's with eagle-like claws + an alligator's tail = beats me! I stopped and pulled out my phone and snapped a quick picture. For a moment, I wondered if I should move *inaudible* off the trail but looking at it's size and beak for a mouth...eh...maybe not.
When I stopped at a local dining spot--and biker rest stop--right on the trail, I told them about the creature that looked as if it was in the wrong eon. The guy behind the counter nonchalantly relayed a story about finding an "alligator snapping turtle" right out back the other day. He told me it could have bit my finger clean off...glad I decided to just snap a photo.
I need to see this picture! That's awesome.
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