As a way to celebrate our wedding anniversary last Saturday, Mr. Wonderful and I decided to stop at the Yachats State Park in Yachats, on our way for an overnight stay at Lincoln City, both of which are coastal towns. Yachats is a favorite spot for us. This particular rest area overlooks the ocean and is adjacent to the mouth of a river.
When we got out of the car, we split up with me going south to check out the river’s tide while hubby went straight for the lookout deck. I have this weird obsession with tides, ever since I took a navigational class to improve kayaking skills. On my way to the path leading close to the river, I vaguely noticed a lone seagull.
As it was a bit blustery, overcast and high tide, we didn’t stay too long to explore down the rocks. Went back to the car and when the car doors closed, the lone seagull approached us. It stopped about 3-4 feet and just stared. That could mean one thing. It wanted handouts.
Hubby and I discussed this development a bit; mentioned to him I had popcorn. However, the popcorn bag was in the trunk and I was feeling lazy to get out and get it. Finally, after what seemed like a minute or two, decided to get the bag of that precious goodie. Trunk popped. I stepped out and as I did, noticed that several feet away, say about 50 feet, in a grassy area sat about 30-40 seagulls and other little black birds. Nonchalant and napping most probably.
Once the trunk opened and I started searching, that lone bird in slow motion opened its beak. A second delay later, came out the AHHHRRRRK! AHHHRRRK! sounds. Mind you, I don’t think it even saw what I was getting. But when those sounds came out of that bird, from my peripheral vision flickered a movement from the 30-40 seagulls and little black birds. Grabbed the bag, slammed the trunk shut, ran to the passenger side of the car. Trunk to passenger side only takes a few steps, but those birds beat me to it. Barely.
As I closed the door, hubby asked, “What did you do? I heard its cry.” I said, “I did nothing! Go, Go, Go!” We must have looked like criminals trying to drive away with a loot, away from all sorts of cops pursuing us.
The funny thing is, I figured to distract them from us I cracked open the window a bit and started throwing out popcorn. Some birds were right at the window, collided with other birds in pursuit of the loot. As we looked out the back window, there was chaos of birds and feathers. I must have emptied out a ziploc-full of CHEESY, DELICIOUS POPCORN…popcorn meant to be eaten at a movie theater we were planning to see later on.
MORAL OF THE STORY:
1) I believe that flying is incredible. It’s a faster means of traveling.
2) Birds are no idiots! Don’t look them in the eye as they can read minds and body language.
3) I was not meant to have popcorn. Incentive to see a movie forgotten.
