Bzzzzzzt!

I told you a few days ago that I got some good pictures of birds and a lot of other things, but I'm going to give you something a little different today. Something happened to me when I went on my usual hike yesterday. I think it was the worst time I ever had!

Many of you know that I've been shamelessly bragging about my new GPS lately. There is a treasure hunting game called geocaching that you can do with it. Well I found out in quick order from the geocaching website that there was a cache in one of my favorite parks, so I was off to do my first serious search for one of these little treasures.

When I got there it started out as a normal beautiful summer day. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary, and I headed for the trail following the directions the GPS was giving me. I did notice that I wasn't hearing as many birds as I usually did, but it really didn't seem to be a big deal. Then, as soon as I entered the forest, it happened!

Along the sides of the trail there are several pools of standing water. It's there that I've been watching tadpoles. It wasn't tadpoles that I found though. It was millions of mosquitoes, and they were huge! I think every last one of them were after my blood!

Every time I stopped they would come in huge swarms, so I quickly made my way through the forest, only stopping very quickly to sometimes check for the direction of the treasure. It must have been ten or twenty degrees hotter in that forest than it was outside. I was quickly sweating as if I were in a sauna, and it probably attracted every mosquito in the place.

It got so bad that I forgot the treasure and ran down to the fishing platform just to get out of the forest. It was much cooler there on the platform looking out at the lake. There were still mosquitoes, but they weren't nearly as bad out here. It felt like heaven out here in the open air.

I wish I had a kayak or something so I could float down the lake to get to the back of the park, which was my destination. I really didn't want to go back into the forest, but I had no choice. I was at least able to collect my thoughts out there, so I renewed my quest for the hidden treasure. Back into the woods I went to seek my fortune.

I followed the directions of the GPS with mosquitoes tormenting me the whole way. When I reached my destination, there was no treasure in sight. I guess it wouldn't be hidden if it was in plain sight. I began searching the area but it was becoming impossible with the mosquitoes feasting on my blood. I eventually had to give up. No treasure for Ratty.

At one point I felt a stinging pain on the side of my right hand. I looked at it and there was a huge mosquito getting its fill of my lifeblood. I smashed it dead! That evil bug gave me the worst pain a mosquito ever had. I still feel it now as I'm writing this story.

I still wanted to reach the back of the park, so I went that way. That was a foolish mistake! I made it there, and so did those evil flying little vampires! I had to get out of here! Finally, I decided to give up and flee for my life!

Since this story is already becoming very long for a blog post, I'll just say that I ran all the way back to the front of the park. I hopped into my truck, turned the air conditioning on full blast, and went home as fast as I could. No treasure, and I had been torn apart by voracious mosquitoes.

This should be a lesson to you all. Don't be stupid enough to go into the forest in hot weather without covering yourself in bug repellent. I itch all over right now, so I am paying for it in pain. Always remember this. Always remember.