5/13/08

Geese!!!!


Mother's day roses from my husband.

Yesterday, we took the day to ride our cruiser bikes to Golden, a 26-mile round-trip. Weather reports were warning of a storm blowing in later in the day, bringing snow, sleet and rain for the next few days, so we decided to get an early start and take in the sunshine while we could. When we left the house, it was in the high '70s and not a cloud in the sky.
The ride from our part of old Denver to Golden is a slight uphill grade most of the way - so slight that it's just enough to keep your blood flowing nicely. During the last couple of miles, however, there are some steep uphills which, on a road bike, I'm sure would be just a nice, light workout. On a 50-pound, three-speed cruiser, and carrying a 15-lb messenger bag, these foothills are brutal.
By the time we finally cruised down into the town of Golden, we were winded and starving.
We found an excellent deli which makes superb subs on homemade sourdough baguettes (mouthwatering) and took them to a little park down by Clear Creek (yes, that's the river you always see on the Coors commercials) for a picnic.

Just as we pulled into the park, a family of geese was wading out of the water and wandering up the grass to search for edibles.

I love the way the parents flank the babies, keeping pace with them in order to keep the unruly youngsters out of trouble.

Can you just hear that little burbling chick noise they make as they waddle? And the flap of their little, clumsy feet, still too big for them and not quite in control?

The chicks were eating furiously the entire time. I'm not sure what they find in the grass, but they were certainly ravenous.

The parents were hissing and clacking their beeks at us, just to let us know they had their eyes on us, and if we so much as made a twitch in the direction of their progeny, they'd be all over us like white on rice.

Grazing between their parents' feet.

After a bit, though, they apparently decided we were "OK", because they let down their guard a bit and allowed the little ones to wander right up close to us.

Fuzzy.

Fuzzy-wuzzy.

Seriously, can you stand it? How cute is that! Do you just love those too-big, leathery feet??

Eventually, the mama and papa goose herded their little 'uns back down into the river, and we were left to eat our sandwiches in the peaceful park. By this time there was just enough overcast to be comfortable, after a long, hot, scorching morning of riding.

Little did I know it, though...I had a stalker.

This girl (actually, I have no idea if it was a girl or boy, but we'll call it a girl), all by herself, wandered up on silent feet after the other goose family had gone. While I ate, she was sneaking up behind me, eyeing my sandwich, even poking her head in Mike's messenger bag.

Could you resist that face? I had a soft spot for her cause she was pigeon-toed like me.

So I finally relented and offered her a tiny crumb, thinking she'd dart away at the last minute like the geese down by our lake.

But up she crept on her leathery feet, with an in-turned walk that I recognize...

Stuck her head right out, with no sign of fear...

And quite gently took the crumb from my fingers. Geese can be pretty agressive with those hard, tough beaks of theirs, but this one was as gentle as my dog, even when her beak closed over the tips of my fingers. (You'll have to forgive me, I had a huge mouthful of sandwich during this entire series of pictures, which I was too distracted to finish chewing....hence the chipmunk cheeks.)

A satisfied goose.

"Is that all? I'm just sayin' — looks to me like you've got some sandwich left over, there..."

14 comments:

Yoli said...

Oh that is adorable!!! Those little wuzzly babies and the sweet stalker. You had wonderful day.

What happened to one of the parents? Looks like it had some plastic around her neck.

And you! Look at you! How do you do it? Do you eat? You are in such great shape. Must be all that biking.

Lovely roses...

Fliss and Mike Adventures said...

Love those little fur balls... hehehe... looks like you both had a great day... you had me laughing when you said about the goose that walked liked you... you're mad... hehehe... take care

Amanda said...

What a great day! The pictures are terrific! I love those fuzzy little guys! And your stalker what a beauty, she looks almost even fake the pictures are so clear!

Flynn will have so many fun adventures with her Mama & Daddy :D

Vivian M said...

That was adorable. Must be relatives of the Canadian geese. Or maybe they are Canadian geese enjoying the currency conversion rates and they decided to take a vacation.
Love the pictures and tell M he did good, those roses are beautiful!
I see a bike baby trailer in your near future...

Carrie said...

That is so funny that one soming up behind you!

Maia said...

"Wuzzly" is a good word for them, Yoli. The big goose has a plastic tag around her neck. Many of them here do. Some of them also have the little metal ones around the leg. I'm not sure how the tracking systems work, but that's what they're for. I think they're tracking migration patterns and maybe other things.
And yes, I eat! I eat well! I just run and bike a lot.
And Viv, they ARE Canada geese! We have tons of them in Denver. The majority are here in summer but some stay year round!
Oh, yes, we're gonna have a bike trailer, and I can't wait!!

Anonymous said...

I have a thing against those geese. They think our pool is a lake and they crap in it. So, as cute as they are, I dont want them to multiply and come my way.

Heather said...

Adorable! Looking at their fuzzy little bodies, you know why little kids can't stop themselves from squeezing them!

On the topic of feeding wildlife, if you ever visit Yoli in the Florida Keys, do not feed the pelicans! They are much less gentle and gracious than your stalker goose!

Duchess of Lanier said...

The little fuzzy wuzzies are adorable and nice to visit. But here on the lake they make icky messes. But, yes, the little ones are adorable!
Gosh, you've been busy! Love seeing the nursery updates and your garden!
Trena
LilaLee is waiting
with Flynn in XZ

Jie Jie to Sarah Lu and Chayah Ru said...

That is so cool that the goose came right up to you to eat the bite of sandwich. And those baby geese are just too cute!!! =D
~Staci

kerri said...

Glad to see our fellow Canucks on a little vacation in Denver, they looked like they were enjoying the local cuisine, LOL.
Great pictures.
The roses are so beautiful...

Operationtigerlily said...

Geese are hot. Your picnic, hotter.

I got the book yesterday. LOVE. IT. LOVE. IT. LOVE. IT. Amazing job by the both of you.

Tish said...

great geese! i love the photo of you in the nursery wearing the sling. you are right, flynn's nursery is so peaceful. thanks for sharing all of the small details...they are beautiful! like M, i have lilac lust, too...sometimes i just want to tape a bloom right under my nose.

Anonymous said...

I love Golden! We really wanted to buy a house there but just couldn't quite swing it. We go a lot on the weekends & pretend like we live there. B's favorite park in the whole wide world is just west of where you guys were.