My roommate showed me a short cut through the neighboring apartment complex. There are lots of small isolated woods around here, and this apartment complex has a few. Or maybe just this one.
This one has a pond that can't be more than 50 yds across (probably much smaller - I have no idea how to gauge size or circumference), and it resembles in every way the part of Lake Manitou that I've called home for the past 20 years.
The water is green - stagnant looking - covered in duck week. This pond looks like it's dying.
The only difference perhaps is the lack of crappie rolling around in the green nast.
On sunny days, I love walking on the path that leads past this little sanctuary. The turtles come out to sun-bathe on these days. There are 2 spots in the pond that are elevated enough for them to get warmed by the sun. One is right by the path - it's a cement block or something. The other is a stick situated at an angle rising out of the water that is a ways away from the path I walk on.
Yesterday there were 4 painter turtles all piled on top of each other on the cement block. There are 2 huge ones - I'd say the size of serving dishes - bigger painters than I've ever seen in Lake Manitou. They must be 25 years old or something. The smaller turtles would prop themselves up on the shells of the large ones so they could all fit on the block.
But they are not tame, like my squirrel friend from last week. As soon as I paused to watch them, a little guy spotted me and ducked into the murky green water, followed with larger splashes as the others followed suit.
My little piece of heaven - mini Lake Manitou.
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