Spiders, marsh beauty, porch crash and vulture

31 May 2012

MORNING WALK • LOTS OF BUZZ

It's a routine walk every morning from 6 a.m. to 7 a.m. Northeast on Savannah Road in Lewes, through the public beach parking lot, east on Cape Henlopen Drive, southwest on Freeman Highway, over the canal, stop there for stretching, looking south toward the twin towers, North Shores and Rehoboth. Onward to Monroe Avenue and then wind back home.  About three miles and an hour. Some days a lot happening.  Other days not much.  Today was the lot variety.

The first thing I noticed was great blankets of spider webs in the branches of trees along the cemetery and stretched across shrubs in front of the Zwaanendael Club. Picture.

The next thing remarkable to me was the color and the texture of the day's first light spreading over the salt marsh between Savannah Road and the wastewater treatment.  Picture. I've always been attracted to the Asian feel of the treatment plant's architecture.  It enjoys a fine harmony with the marsh.  I think all the moisture in the air which eventually brewed up a thick fog gave extra dimension to the light bathing the grasses.

Next I came to a scene of destruction.  Picture. Overnight, apparently,  a vehicle went crashing onto the porch of the once-beautifully restored Quaker City Cottage on Savannah Road.  The Victorian home sits opposite the intersection of Cape Henlopen Drive and Savannah Road and it looked like a driver went straight through the intersection - by the Dairy Queen - without stopping until the vehicle came to rest in the splintered posts of the house.  Look for further details in the Friday Gazette.

Over on Freeman Highway I came upon a black vulture perched on the supple and thin upper branches of a healthy cedar tree. I've often heard that vultures perch in such places with outstretched wings to allow the disinfecting rays of the sun to work on the bad stuff that can get on these birds when they are devouring the often-rotten carrion that makes up the biggest part of their diets.  The black vulture allowed me to approach close enough to get a decent photo with my iPhone.  And then I walked on.

The fun part of taking a walk in the same place everyday is to watch for large and small change along the way.  As uncaring as nature is, it sure is beautiful and engaging.

Here are some of the pictures.