the bus and the turkey

This morning I got stuck on one of the steepest hills because I saw a hen turkey. They usually have their chicks with them in June, so I stopped for Miah to learn about a new animal. She was excited, and I was sad that I am not strong enough to use my parking brake, so I was unable to capture the moment with the camera. Then I couldn't get my feet coordinated enough to get the bus moving again. After a few attempts, Miah was cowering behind one of the back seats. It was either back all the way down the longest hill on the ranch, or engage the brake. I engaged the brake, leaving the bus in the middle of the road and piggy-backed Miah back to the cabins. The other driver retrieved the bus.

Last night, our first night with the campers, we discovered that the buses had their headlights disconnected. With buses loaded, the Assistant Program Director drove behind us and beside us (when the road was wide enough) to light our way back to the cabin. The first part was the worst as we took to turns down hill, so the headlights didn't help at all. We made it. The campers were great as they sat with bated breath as we all crept the four miles back to the cabins at a whopping 15 mph. By now they had learned that the center is covered with wildlife, so we had a few concerns during our trip. At least one bus had lights now, and we expect to reconnect my bus by tonight.

Last night Miah made best friends with Tennyson, the Executive Director's daughter. I'll upload pictures of them holding hands in a few days.

Miah has warmed up to most of the camp now, and asks me where the "kids" are all the time. If they're kids, what does that make her?

We're going outside in a moment to lend an extra pair of eyes and ears to supervise the wild group. They are entire group of 13-year-old boys. What could possibly go wrong?