(#5) Part two of the Great Spotted Woodpecker chase. “The bird and the Mustard.” Ron and I got a room at the Microtel in Anchorage after our jets dropped us at the airport. The plan was to get up early the next day and drive up to Casswell Lakes, pull up out in front of Myrtle Heinrich’s home, see the woodpecker, then bird our way back down to Anchorage. Well, the drive was fine, however, the bird was uncooperative. We sat in the drive for a little while watching the feeder, and though we saw several woodpeckers come in, none were the one we wanted. Myrtle finally took pity on us, came out, and, after introducing herself to us, invited us in to watch from the window. Ron and I are famous for our “Big Birder Sandwiches” and we had a cooler with some bread, meat, cheese, lettuce, and French’s Sweet Onion Flavored Mustard which we brought in with us. A number of fruitless hours of watching later, we made sandwiches, one of which we shared with Myrtle. She enjoyed the sandwich and remarked that she really liked the new-fangled mustard. Three hours passed with our gazes glued to the feeder through the window. I really needed to use the restroom but was afraid to leave my vigil for fear of missing the bird. I fidgeted bravely to the six hour mark, and at that point the Great Spotted Woodpecker finally made it’s five minute appearance. Ron took a couple pictures, and we packed up to leave. Now during the time we sat there one of the neighbors came and visited Myrtle. We overheard the conversation and realized that the birders who had been there already had left parting gifts. Some had given her bird feeders, some bought her bird feed, some just gave her a nice $20 bill or something like that. Now I didn’t bring any cash because of the hurried nature of my departure, just a credit card. I asked Ron if he had any money, and he likewise hadn’t hit the bank on the way out of town. We really were in a spot but after some deep thought Ron said; “Well, she did like the mustard a lot, why don’t we at least give her what’s left?” I can’t adequately describe the scene. Here were two guys with expensive binoculars and photographic equipment, who had flown thousands of miles to see one bird, who had driven up in nice new rental car, who had sat in this poor, kind stranger’s dining room for six hours, saying thanks by giving her a used bottle of mustard!! I would bet, though, that she’s long forgotten that $20 donor but still remembers, and relates the story of the two fellers and their memorable, albeit cheap, gift. Tomorrow part three; “The journey toward pneumonia.”
Posted on: Sat, 12 Jul 2014 13:27:41 +0000
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