It’s no big surprise that we work in and around water almost every day. We stay wet and muddy most of the time and, quite frankly, we prefer it that way. Why, just last week we spent two days on a river and opted out of waders just so we could feel the rush of flowing water again after an office confinement of some weeks. So, it’s not out of the ordinary for us to walk into the wilds and up to some water and need to get in.
We care about each other. It’s just a factor (that’s a joke for some who know Reggie). It makes the days better and the dangers less creepy. It also makes safety a critical thought in everything we do. Now, some might say, “Jacque, I have never really heard much talk of safety.” Well, that’s just a damn lie. We talk about safety every day in some shape, form or fashion and some days, we talk about it at every turn.
Now what we call safety talk may sound a little different to another Chick or Hick with Ticks (Yeah – we are gonna have to just go ahead and make the men a part of the club now – they are starting to whine!). We might say, “Entering and unknown depth of water,” and laugh out loud. That’s code for – I am entering water and I have no idea what’s in there or how deep – watch my back, be ready to jump on something creepy and stop me if you see something I don’t.
I can’t stress enough the need for a stick! You just STICK IT IN!! It helps you know how deep (up to a point) and if there’s something creeping. It lets us know about the mud or muck we might step into and how deep or dangerous it might be. If the water is deeper than the yard stick – well hell – you might reconsider walking to another spot to try to get in.
We talk about how the temperature affects animals and what we need to look out for. We talk about wind storms and thunderstorms, lightning and insects. We talk about scratches and eye protection. We talk about who is looking where and if you have my back or I yours. We talk about the times things went wrong and what we would do to prevent that from happening. We talk about people who broke our rules and almost suffered serious consequences. We talk about snakes and snakeboots, machetes, knives, and blood.
The one thing we can never escape (and thank goodness for that) is an unknown depth of water. That means that we are probably somewhere wild. Somewhere that has secrets lurking in each pool that plays host to things large and small that could hurt us but probably won’t. It means we might see something rare and wonderful. It means we might make it through one more adventure together without anything happening that would make us hurt or scared.
There are times when the hurt and scares happen anyway. Oh, nothing major, maybe a scratch while trying to avoid a strange-looking log or deep hole. Maybe you were listening to some strange sound in the distance and forgot to watch your footing. You know then that you need to focus. There is something exciting in stepping into the wilds and making your way through to the banks of a hidden stream. You look upstream and down and see what you can. You brace yourself for the next step into an unknown depth of water.
What a beautiful post … and the “Hicks w/Ticks” — priceless!!!!
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Well, they asked and I think it’s only fair! Hicks with Ticks has been born!
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I don’t know, “Hicks with Ticks” is a bit too pejorative for my taste. How about “Guys with Hives” – I remember getting a bad case of hives from eating wild strawberries as a young lad growing up in North Carolina; they were terrible. Or how about “Bros with Woes” or “Fellows that Bellow” or “Misters with Blisters”? Yeah, I like “Misters with Blisters” best. Any of you other “Y-chromosomers” out there want to chime in on this?
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I think I will pee my pants laughing – I want to hear more more more…..ideas!!!
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You know what? I am an armchair traveller and I really love your adventures. I am forwarding this to my Daughter-in-law who is an adventure enthusiast as well.
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Sounds like you are having a blast doing what needs to be done. More power to ya! Wish I lived closer.
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Nice work bringing your experience to life!
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Thanks. It’s always been our hope to make you feel like you were there too.
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What a truly amazing blog… I love the out of doors and the creepy crawlies, and flora too! Glad you found me today! Thanks! BTW, I stared at your lower photograph for some time before the gator came into focus! Bravo! ~ Lynda
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So glad you enjoyed it. The gators can be very sneaky!! We forget about them sometimes believe it or not. If they aren’t over 5 feet – poopoo on them! Thanks for stopping by the blog. I enjoyed reading yours so thought you might like ours.
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Sounds exciting!
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Oh – it is – found you funmbing around and thought you might find a giggle. Thanks for stopping in.
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Great Post, “You know then that you need to focus. There is something exciting in stepping into the wilds and making your way through to the banks of a hidden stream. You look upstream and down and see what you can. You brace yourself for the next step into an unknown depth of water.”
You have courage! but must admit, this adventure sounds a bit like Life!! I feel a book coming!
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I will proudly wear your first Hicks with Ticks shirt! I love blogs that grow me! Yours does!
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Harper – you flatter me!!! I will be sure to let you know the moment those shirts are available….I am working on the logo right now!! gotta get you guys dressed properly – any ideas?
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Good advice. I can’t tell how many times I’ve had folks show up at an “unimprooved” site in the woods or wetlands and laugh when they see me with my 6.5 foot field stick, snake boots and small machetti. This usually lasts about as long as it takes them to come up with a close encounter of the slithery kind or get stuck in some good old quick-mud (or get stuck in “wait a minute” vines etc.)
Whittleing the stick also gives you something to do while waiting for a tardy contractor to show up.
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Amen – never thought of whittling – will have to try that. Send us a photo!
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Your blog is the best, it always remind me some “adventure” during field work, also remind me that the worst day in the field is better than the best day in the office! Keep the great work and thank you for including us (hicks). Best wishes from Puerto Rico!!
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Yay!! We are officially international! Roberto – you just made my day….welcome and I hope you enjoy. Please share a story!
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Thank you! I will share a story some other time (my English is not perfect so it takes a while to write in this language). But I have to tell you, every time I read this blog, it validates all the things I love about been in the field and I don’t feel weird telling my “adventures” to my office colleagues (mostly engineers). Thank you again, les escribo pronto (write you soon).
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