ON NATURE'S TERMS

I decide that I want to see owls tonight.  The Zuni Pine Barrens is the place to do this so I resolve to take the longer way home to Norfolk.  My wife wishes "lotsa birds" to me and I echo the sentiment inside.  I remember the first time I saw an owl at the barrens. He sat in a tree just up the trail; I stood mesmerized on the trail. We just looked at each other. It was awesome.  And so my hope is that tonight, I'll have at least a glimpse.  I comment back to her that "lotsa birds" without any attacks is what I'm looking for.

The few times I've been to Zuni Pine Barrens have been rewarding: discovery, an owl encounter, and solitude. Tonight, I am hoping for at least two of the three.  I exit the car and strip down to my shorts - the air humid and I meet nature on its terms. I strap on a light waist bag with a few essentials. I am stoked - it's about 45 minutes until sunset - this is a good time to spot an owl emerging from its daytime slumber to begin the night's hunting.

I stride well on the sandy trail.  I am some 100 yards into the barrens when I begin to feel as if a trailing piece of twine is hitting the backs of my legs. It doesn't take long for me to realize that nothing is trailing me. I am the target of a reconnaissance mission - deer flies.  I am reasonably confident in the eucalyptus oil I've sprayed on until I am bitten. Then it is less certain.  I continue on; conditions are still bearable; until I reach this one spot.  I am attacked as if I have stepped in a hive. My body contorts; I slap myself but keeping forging ahead.  I start to jog but it gets even worse.  I reach a point where I simply cannot tolerate another attack on my person.  I spin around and dart out the way I came.  At the last minute, I decide to take a trail that leads just outside the barrens.  I am relieved to discover that this area at least is not so densely populated with deer flies.

This hike has no pleasure in it for me.  The land surrounding the pine barrens looks as if it has been butchered - all is brambles with barely a trail hacked through a field.  I have a choice - since the deer flies are only intermittent here, I can press on as far as this trail goes or I can go back to the car and don my pants, shirt and hat.  I am reluctant to do this because of the heat and humidity.  So I go as far as the trail goes - a scant 15 minutes.  I am disappointed. On the return, I attempt to enter the forest, but it's as if there is an insect vigil waiting.  I push forward again, but to no avail.  The attack is renewed with a vengeance and I am relegated to running back out, slapping and swinging as I go.

I return back to the car and just sit amid the growing darkness - immensely relieved that I am literally alone.  I reflect back on the comment my wife made about her wish for "lotsa birds" and think that she must not have wished BIG enough.  There were "lotsa wings" though, and FAR too many attacks.

TAKE-AWAYS:
- Always have an alternate plan - a Plan B.
- If you choose to use a skin-friendly plant-based insect repellent when hiking, make sure it covers as wide a range of insects as possible.  Always carry a DEET alternative or live with the consequences.
- BE FLEXIBLE!!