Runnin' and Herpin'

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The American toad in the driveway was an auspicious sign.  We were leaving for our run and I joked to Sarah that we had fulfilled our herp quota for the day - but in truth this was just the beginning.  For those of you requiring an introduction, "herp" refers to herpetology; the study of amphibians and reptiles.  In the verb form it refers to the active pursuit of these animals.

Sarah had to catch the Sunday evening train back to New York in a few short hours, but we had this gorgeous afternoon together.  We were on our way to the South County Bike Trail - an old railway converted to bike path that runs from South Kingstown to Narragansett.  With no vehicular traffic, flat and straight, and with mile markers for reference, its about as convenient a place one can find for running.  We parked at the trail-head, stretched briefly, and were soon on our way.  No longer than a 3/4 of mile into the run, just as I was settling into my stride, a ribbon-snake made itself known on the path directly below me.  I narrowly avoided stepping on it and was able to grab the slender serpent before it fled into the grass.  At first resistant, the snake soon calmed to my handling, moving smoothly through my grasp.  Iridescent dark scales and bright yellow stripes along the length of the body betrayed a recent shed.  Sarah and I observed the animal for a few moments, then put it back on its way.

Along the trail there were dark, shallow vernal pools.  Though I didn't pause to inspect them for late-spring egg masses or nascent tadpoles, they were most likely laden with developing wood frogs and spotted salamanders.  Grey tree frogs could be heard calling from high atop the branches.  The hardwoods were in mid leaf-out; miniature yellow-green leaves of maple, oak, and ash.  The trail intersects the Great Swamp Management Area where wildlife roam the wood and water.  A wading egret tip-toed lightly along the edge of a freshwater marsh.  The natural beauty of this place was striking and made running anything but a chore.  Our admittedly leisurely pace was befitting of such an enjoyable run.  

Sarah and I reached the 2-mile mark and returned for the round-trip back to the parking lot.  From there it was home for a quick shower and then on to the Matunuck Oyster Bar for some raw oysters and cold beer. A wonderful follow-up to a wonderful run.