Tid Bits (Part 1)

Below are a few recent adventures the forest folks have experienced.

Bears

Nothing makes a converted country girl idolize her city roots like a bear at the front door. My love of nature was tempered with a healthy dose of fear. How could I protect my baby against a hungry bear?

This was the second time this bear had visited in broad daylight. Jon spotted the bear on the previous occasion as we were heading out to our friends' house. The bear was clearly conscious of our presence, and clearly unconcerned. He rummaged through our trash, explored the back yard, then sauntered off into the ravine. Being outside when the bear announced his presence, we only had our cell phone available to document the visit.


The bear is between the tree and the wheel barrow. The mess will be explained at a later date.

Gratefully, Talia and I were inside today when I heard the tell-tale crash. Hoping it was just a neighbor dog searching for a snack, I peeked out the front door. When I saw the bear, I walked around the house locking the doors. I grabbed the phone but was clueless about who to call. My internet search for animal control brought me no promising results. I tried a couple numbers without reaching a live person. When I saw the bear meandering towards the house and finally sniffing the front door, I called the only number that guaranteed a helpful human being. Apologizing for using the emergency number prior to a true emergency, I asked for the best way to reach animal control. The kind operator gave me the statewide Fish and Game line.

Lest any reader believes differently, let me assure you that some government offices are inept and technologically backwards. The telephone hot line gave me seven options to reach Fish and Game in Rancho Cordova, San Diego, Knoxville, Redding, and other marine areas. We live in none of these areas. Replaying these options three times, I finally pressed "1" for Redding. But wait, the machine won't let you make a selection until you are done listening to the whole menu. After listening to the menu the forth time, I was given the phone number to the Redding office. Too bad I was not quick enough to write the whole number before the message ended. The message would not repeat and I was returned to the main menu were I was privileged to listen for the fifth time to the entire menu before pressing "1" for Redding. Gratefully, the message at the Redding office confirmed that the line was intended for Redding AND the northern California areas. Is it too much to ask that this be stated on the statewide hot line? I was so relieved to reach a live operator that I didn't mind a transfer, until I realized I was transferred to an answering machine where I was told to leave a message. They promised to return my call within 48 hours. Perhaps I will invite the bear to stay with us for the weekend to ensure that he is present when they finally give me advice.





I would like to say that this story has reached its conclusion. The critter proof can proved impenetrable, the bear departed, and disaster was averted. But, I am still awaiting a call.


Rescue

God's timing is perfect.

Several weeks ago our family was enjoying our daily walk when we heard barking and whimpering. We continued to the canal and discovered a lab puppy trapped in the water. He was clinging to the side of the canal while an adult lab jumped in and out of the water barking frantically. After debating over whose shoes would best survive a muddy bath, I jumped in to rescue the puppy. I passed the puppy to Jon and was soon pleading for a hand out of the frigid water. Jon and I worked to warm the shivering puppy by rubbing him and holding him in the sunshine. The adult lab grew bored and jumped back into the canal. Soon she began to whimper as she could not find an area shallow enough to climb out. I held the puppy while Jon coaxed the dog to a lower bank. With shivering puppy in hand, wild dog afoot, and Talia getting more doggy attention than Mommy and Daddy prefer, we were wondering what to do. Just then, a biker rode by and saw our predicament. He "happened" to know the dogs' owners and was able to contact them by phone. The man volunteered to watch the dogs while he waited for the owners to arrive. We lent him the emergency strap to our stroller as a leash and returned home.


Tunnel Zero

Jon was doing some informal research on our small town when he ran across scraps of evidence of a mysterious train tunnel built in the 1870s. Train tunnels are a dime a dozen here but this tunnel was different. Curiosity led Jon to discover that even government records are sketchy as to the reason this tunnel was constructed. Railroad tunnels were sequentially numbered along the East/West line. This tunnel was never numbered and has been nicknamed "Tunnel Zero." Interest piqued, Jon pulled records from various internet sources (including the online Library of Congress) and began to piece together the mystery of this tunnel. Apparently it was built by the Union Pacific Railroad and abandoned when a second line was constructed. Some records suggest that the tunnel was never used, others claim that the tracks were removed during the construction of the second line. Tunnel Zero is also significant in that it is virtually the last extant unmodified Central Pacific Tunnel. The other Tunnels east of Tunnel zero were later enlarged during the early 1900's. Now keenly interested in our neighborhood mystery, we decided to search for Tunnel Zero.

We began the search with an old black and white photo and a few written descriptions of the tunnel's location. Pinpointing the exact location on Google Earth proved ineffective. This 800+ foot tunnel remained completely hidden. Jon found some documents that provided Tunnel Zero's location using an antiquated navigational notation code. Further research provided a formula allowing him to mathematically change the old notations to the modern hours and minutes coordinates. We were now prepared for the hunt.

We packed up and drove to a railroad access within a mile of the suspected location. We traveled along the tracks, each step bringing us closer to this mysterious landmark. Our handheld device sounded, suggesting that we were within 50 feet of the tunnel's southern entrance. We began our search in earnest. Jon and Talia stayed by the tracks, I ventured into a ravine. Twenty minutes later we were questioning the accuracy of our coordinates. Jon and Talia explored the lines of track while I increased my search radius. Not hearing from Jon for several minutes, I began to call out to him. My calls were met with silence. A sense of panic grew within me as I continued to shout. Relief washed over me when I saw my two loves heading towards me. Jon's look of concern dissipated; his grin revealed that he had met with success. He had wandered down the tracks and happened to notice a slight change in the terrain between the two rail lines. Strangely, our search began within one hundred feet of the southern entrance, but it was the northern entrance that Jon had eventually located. Both entrances were so well camouflaged with overgrowth and ancient oak that one could pass by daily and never discover the tunnel.

The tunnel was simultaneously beautiful and eerie. The outer stones produced a unique horseshoe form. Within 50 feet of the entrance, the walls and ceiling became earth and jagged stone. We entered the tunnel with excitement. Our flashlight soon proved inadequate as the darkness surrounded us. Deep in the tunnel the stale, black air weighed heavily upon us. Though our feet were in motion, it seemed we never moved. Our voices did not travel and the exit continued to loom before us. Darkness had never felt so oppressive. Thankfully, we neared the exit. Though I love adventures, it came none too soon. Grateful to see light and feel a breeze, we exited the tunnel. After passing an enormous oak we turned back. It was as if the tunnel had disappeared. The mystery of Tunnel Zero had been experienced, but left unsolved.

Don't let the photos fool you, this tunnel is quite long.








Tid Bits will be continued at a later date. Those of you who are (understandably) eager to see pictures of talia can find some updated photos in our Flickr page.