Woodland Critters

During the epic battle for the points jersey yesterday, Chris, Steve Schaer and I were discussing whether we have gone too far with the naming of our woodland critters. Each year, loads of animals are hitting by evil humans in their fancy speed machines and left to die on the side of the road. We have always felt that we should include them in our adventures until they moved onto a better place. In doing so, we give them names and say hi to them each time we pass. Thankfully, some of the small towns that we ride through do not feel the need to destroy these wonderful little critters any more than we do, so they end up being part of our lives for sometimes months at a time. The longest we were able to spend with any friend last year was George the Raccoon. For two months or more, he was part of our lives each and every time we came up 164 in Waukesha to where it runs into 59. He has even left a spot behind on the road, so we can always remember him.

To date this year, we have befriended Jose (Raccoon), George Jr. (Raccoon), Bambi (Deer), Orville (Possum), and Chuck (small groundhog sized rodent). Unfortunately, the vile citizens of Waukesha have decided to be more active with their removal of our little friends, so Jose and Jr. are both out of our lives forever. Someday, we may be reunited. We can only hope.

Herein lies the question of this post, do we spend too much time thinking about our woodland friends? We believe not but understand if some of the other supposedly superior critters of the world would disagree. It certainly has provided us with gobs of entertainment during the many miles we pedal each week through the roads of Wisconsin.