BOB CORBETT'S FOREST PARK JOURNALS

First sighting of a new “critter” in the park

August 5, 2005
By Bob Corbett

I have been riding and walking in the park on a regular basis for 2 full years. I’ve seen a large variety of critters including coyotes, chipmunks, raccoon, possum, even mice (no rats yet), turtles and a gigantic variety of birds and fowl and on and on.

But today was the very first time I ever saw a CAT. Yep, a cat. As you may recall I saw a chicken several times in the past couple months, but never before a cat.

It was a black and white feral cat with a long tail. It was sitting between some bushes at the edge of the very thick and deep wooded area just immediately west of the Jewel Box. It had that long tail semi-wrapped around it.

I was quite amazed. We have LOTS of feral cats here in Dogtown and I regularly feed them. I often watch the cats and possum taking turns eating on my front porch. But in Forest Park, nope, never saw a cat before.

I’m developing new routes in my rides in Forest Park. I recently bumped up the level of exercise from 15 miles to 20 a day, and adding 5 miles is a lot in small Forest Park. So, I’m exploring areas that I’d by-passed in recent years since I had my favorites and my patterns.

Today was quite quiet Friday. I recall reading that many people follow the view that it is best NOT to exercise every day, but perhaps three times a week or whatever. I think this view must be popular. The two busiest days in Forest Park are Saturday and Sunday. The two days in which Forest Park is sort of like a ghost town are Friday (the day before Saturday of course) and Monday (the day after Sunday).

So my guess is that many of those planning to exercise on Saturday (hundreds) do not come to the park on Friday, and those who have just finished exercising on Sunday (again, hundreds of folks) don’t show up again on Monday.

Me, I go everyday. I miss my exercise terribly if I don’t take it. Today was very cool, overcast, actually seeming to threaten rain, though not a drop fell. I had the park to myself and it was incredibly peaceful.

Such a wonderful place.

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