A Full Day With Roy Hilbinger at the Norman Bird Sanctuary

Today at the Norman Bird Sanctuary in Middletown, Rhode Island we went to the Annual Fall Festival with fellow Gatherite Roy Hilbinger.  Last night when I got home from school I found an email from Roy saying he had the day off on Saturday and would we like to come down for the day.  I immediately called his cell phone number and confirmed we would meet at 9:30 in the morning.  Wasn't he surprised when we actually showed up at 9:32 A.M.  There he was standing in front of the 200 Club in downtown Newport....just as he said he would!  Being too early for the Festival, we rode over to Ballard Park, Roy's favorite place and one he has done an article on.  As Papa and Roy talked under his sacred oak in the old quarry, I couldn't help but take out my camera.

 Leaving the Sacred Oak we started on the trails with Roy excitely telling us all his favorite places.

After the early morning hike at Ballard Park, we headed over to Hazard Road where we saw a fantastic airiel display put on by the resident ospreys!  I have never seen so many at one time.  Soon enough it was time to head over to the Festival.  Roy was excited....he loves kettle popcorn and first thing he buys us is a super-size bag to hold off the hungries.

 We take a stroll through the harvest tent and see Roy's friend Nikki has won a first prize in "Home Grown Harvest".

 Then we watch a little spinning....

 and meander over to the old farm equipment.  Couldn't help but take this picture of two old foggies!

 Then we strolled over to hear some sea shanties and Irish music by friends of Roy's.  I couldn't help but sing along with them!

  The festival is not only for old hippies like us....it's a real family affair and lots of great games for kids.....such as mud wresting....

                                              greasin' the pole

                                                   and rope pulls

It was now about 3 ish  and  I  had my full of popcorn,  a picnic lunch,  fried dough and scads of people and asked Roy if we couldn't run over to Sachuest Wildlife Refuge which was just down the road a mile of two....so off we went.  Unlike my last visit to Sachuest, the tide was out and I couldn't wait to scamble down the rocks and go out to "The Big Rock" I could only see before across the expanse of water. 

Along the way, of course I had to stop and take a picture of some hermit crabs in a tide pool. 

I wonder if this is what we look like to God when he views us...all scrambling around, knowing not where we are going?

                                          Fisher folk on the Big Rock

 With low tide, I finally reached my goal:  "The Big Rock".  My day is complete...I met a new friend, had a little exercise, witnessed happy families at play, saw a little girl push herself to her limit, reached the Big Rock and most of all got to have my first Fried Dough of the Year!