The Call

A recent vacation gave my husband and me time to recharge our batteries and provide a few new experiences along the way.  Let's be clear, our idea of a vacation does not include epic hikes, lake kayaking, exotic cuisine or Disneyland characters. We are simple folk with simple requirements. A comfortable cabin, a fireplace, a grill, a large coffeepot, a veranda and lots of books will do, thank you. Gratefully missing are hordes of people, cell phone reception, city noise and itineraries.

This year we were able to return to a peaceful little cabin in a beautiful valley in the Black Hills. It is a favorite place for us and we are happy to let the beauty of the Hills and the gentleness of the valley seep into our weary bones. We also enjoy checking out new experiences in the Hills and a brochure in the cabin entitled, Osprey Trail, did just that for us. I suffer from OOD, osprey obsession disorder, thanks to a webcam sponsored by Cornell Lab of Ornithology in Missoula, Montana. I spent so much time "in the nest" last summer that I became a self-proclaimed and annoying "expert" on the subject of ospreys. Unfortunately, there are no osprey where I live but the Hills is blessed with an active population. Bingo for me.

The brochure classified the Osprey Hike as easy so there were no barriers for such an adventure. A visit with the ranger at a nearby information center assured us that ospreys are easily spotted along the trail. With map in hand, we took off on our hike in search of the fish-eating raptor. I soon remembered what a dunce I am when it comes to hiking. The hike was listed as a short one but it was clear that our navigation skills could result in a longer meandering process than predicted.  I had a half bottle of water with me, no binoculars and no camera/phone. The sight of a bee reminded me that my husband's epi-pen was back in the vehicle. Visions of a medi-vac danced in my head.

As we forged ahead with our noses glued to the map, lost in discussions of being direction turned, I  heard a sweet sound above the trail. It was the call of an osprey. We let the call be our guide and soon we saw the unmistakable sky dance of an osprey, enjoying the air currents above the water. We watched the performance and soon the beautiful bird swooped down and skimmed the water for a few seconds. We were unable to discern whether a fish was caught but it was enough to see such a sight. We enjoyed a few moments with the bird, the lake and my obsession until a rumble of thunder reminded us to return to our vehicle.

We were unable to spend much time with the birds but we were rewarded with a great memory. And isn't that what a good vacation is all about?

We'll be back.