|
Out in front of the light house I walk like a drunk along the steep bank of loose stones and seaweed. As the beach narrows at the tip I shift my gear to one hand and use my free hand to cover one ear from the fog horn. I hope it's not damaging my hearing.I only feel a slight tickle in my drums; like a poorly mixed live concert. A musician could identify the pitch of the horn, I'm guessing it's "A". Rounding the tip, the knee high wall to my left grows higher until it is over my head and all the light from above dissapears.Now I get ready for total isolation in this pitch black corridor of bolders, crubling walls and ocean surf . My headlamp reveals only it's small perfect cirle through the darkness forcing me to focus only on the bolders at my feet.Every few bolders I must stop and click it off to see through the fog.In the distance I see the black shape of my main rock. As I click the headlamp back on I see a small orange glow in the rocks ahead.Another fisherman I hope, lighting a cigarette - no! There are two orange glowing eyes.A coyote - I click on my big flashlight and the eyes glow brighter, I can just make out the shape of his head. There is not enough room to pass him, and he's not quite done looking me over.After a moment I get a little "fight or flight" feeling and there's no "flight" for me in these rocks.My apprehension starts to turn to anger, "...Your still lookin'at me - you little Moth*#@&r?!!!" I give a sharp whistle, he definately aint no dog.Now I feel like I want to lunge at him, I let out a "Ahhrrr!" shaking all my gear at him and he takes off in a shot.
Great - now I spend the rest of the night looking over my shoulder. At two other times I hear a small pack of them making a kill in a nearby marsh.They sound just like Hyeenahs.It was amazing to hear. This was this morning : )
|