In Search of Foxes

Last Friday was yet another glorious sunny day in the *City by the Bay*....so, I set off on a walk with my friend Carol.  My knee is healing and it feels GREAT to walk with no pain.   Carol asked if I would like to walk to Golden Gate Park and visit the AIDS Grove.  I was sort of embarrassed to say I didn't know there even was one...so of course, I wanted to visit.  We started off...... and were following the signs that led to the Grove....when we came to the great algae-covered pond.  The pond sits amid a tree-covered grove...it is quiet....and there were no other people around....just these Ducks.....quacking to *greet us*.  They seemed quite content to swim in the greeny waters...in fact, they were *lunching* on something...perhaps they love the algae.  The place was so mysterious and old....like something out of Jurassic Park..

We passed the Ducks and headed up the path to a hill that led to the Memorial.......suddenly, the Ducks began to quack in a very different way....shrill, scared...   I immediately turned around to see what was causing it....and...there, not 20 feet from me, I was thrilled to see:

 Alas, I did not take this fox photo,  BUT, it was taken in Golden Gate Park!




I was scrambling to get my camera into focus....but Mr. Fox was too speedy for me....  the Ducks, quacking furiously, immediately swam into the centre of the pond and formed a tight circle.... the fox, decided that since two humans were also there, it wasn't worth it, so he trotted nonchalantly back into the grove of trees.  I was so delighted....he was beautiful!  Meanwhile, Carol, (who had continued walking up the hill), heard my excited voice and turned around to see what happened.  She missed it all!  (The entire encounter took all of two minutes!)  When I told her, she said, "No way....what have you been smoking?". She thought perhaps I had seen a dog....but I assured her I had seen a Red Fox.....

We continued up the hill and across a path where we finally came to the AIDS Memorial.

This is the AIDS Grove.... there are huge stones, some benches and even a small bridge around the base of the glen....they are inscribed with the names of loved ones who died from this awful disease.  It is a peaceful place...quiet, yet sad.  One can feel the emotions of loss and love. Carol and I were very moved.

 A ghostly Spider's Web, transparent, but glinting in the afternoon sun!

After our emotional trek....we decided to walk over to the de Young Fountain, to sit in the sun and recount our *adventures*......  finally, we were in the *Realm of People*.....and what did we see but this hysterically funny Segway *tour*!  *Only in San Francisco*, right?

We were also pleased to see two of the *resident mascots* of the de Young Fountain.....two turtles!  I wish I knew their names....but they have lived in the fountain for eons!  (For those of you who have been following this blog since its onset, this is the same fountain where the 13 ducklings were born two years ago...)

They were enjoying the sunshine too!

After I came home, I immediately *googled* Red Foxes in Golden Gate Park...and came across the three photos I have posted!  Apparantly, they *arrived* in the park in 2007.....  it's wonderful....sort of like living in an *Enchanted Forest*!  (You know me, I am the girl who loves *Red Riding Hood*!)

Here's the gorgeous painting I was given by the one and only Lo.....it's her version  of *Red and the Wolf*...

I leave you with yet another wonderous photo of a Fox with her Kit - taken in Golden Gate!  I hope that one day, I will be able to capture a Fox on film!
  

Love,

♥ Robin ♥

p.s. I e-mailed Carol the Google Information!  Now, she believes me!