Goose Rant

I would guess that anyone who has ridden on a bike trail near a major body of water has had to deal with one of these:

She may look adorable, but she has the glassy eyes of a killer.

These menaces from the great white north have their way with area bike trails. Leaving little "presents" for everyone.

And now is the time of year they bring their fuzzy little devil progeny out to meet the world.

Yeah... Adorable...

"You seem pretty bitter" you may be saying.

Well... let me tell you a story.

I'm commuting in to work earlier this week, and I come across a mama goose ushering her little goslings across the trail. "Oh looook how fuzzzy and cute!" I think to myself. I slowed down, oblivious... I was about 5 feet from these little guys, nearly stopped - when out of the bushes rushes papa goose! Hissing wings out!! It was a trap!! I was being ambushed!!!

Papa goose

I stomped on the pedals to try to get away. Behind me I could hear hissing and wings flapping. I looked back and papa goose had taken flight and was tailing me "HISSSSS HISSSSSSS!!!!" I put my head down and barely made it out with my life.

A mile later (I was still recovering) I came across another group of geese. My heart rate picked up in a tense anticipation. Then, at the darkest hour, a man came riding in the opposite direction with a rolled up poster in his hand - jabbing it at the geese like some master fencer! "Watch out for the geese!" He shouted as he went by.

Glad to hear I'm not the only one...