the heron and the turtle

i'm not sure if it was the full night's sleep but i awoke this morning full of energy and feeling good. max and i took a brisk walk to the river early this morning - at 40 something degrees, it was a heat wave compared to the 20's we had been walking in the last 5 days! we were careful not to get too close and disturb the great blue heron resting on the largest pink granite rock located right before the falls. it was crouched down low on the rock with his beak the only thing distinguishing him from his granite perch. further down the river, by the second falls, i spotted a turtle in the water - i may have inadvertently chased him from his rocky resting spot; it seems at soon as i spotted him, he knew it and quickly disappeared into the frothy white river. i took off my denim jacket and unzipped my hoodie - the biting cold was gone and max and i got home with plenty of time for another cup of coffee before i had to head to work. i will be looking up the turtle to see what he signifies - i know the turtle for many is the one who is carrying or holding up the earth; the olmecs had their earth dragons but that's a different story! how i miss dr. reilly - i should go visit him when the semester starts again.