Gene

I am still planning on coming.  The predicted high is only 91 and less 
humid.  I will bring lots of water and not the heavy equipment.  A dumb kid 
(Mike) and another old man (Jim) may also show up at the peer.

See you unless you cancel.

George

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Eugene J. Scarpulla" <>
To: <>
Sent: Monday, July 18, 2005 7:22 PM
Subject: [MDOSPREY] Hart-Miller Island: A Reflection


>I know that friends and family have often thought that I was a bit 
>unbalanced to visit Hart-Miller Island year-round for 10 hours almost every 
>Saturday.  This past Saturday, I began to question my own sanity.
>
> Originally, there were three of us who were planning to go to the Island 
> on Saturday.  The other two had a weather reality check on Friday evening 
> and decided to cancel out --- but not me.  I have been on many of the 
> legendary summer "death marches" around Hart-Miller Island.  The worst one 
> I can remember was over 100 degrees Fahrenheit and had most of the 
> birder's dropping  out along the way to return to the air-conditioned 
> comfort of the administration building.  That day, I remember that Rick 
> Blom, Sue Ricciardi, Bob Dixon, and I jumped into the Bay at the north end 
> of the remnant of old Miller Island to keep from getting heatstroke.
>
> So what if more rational heads had cancelled out for last Saturday, I was 
> determined to go to Hart-Miller since fall shorebirds were probably 
> arriving.  When I walked out of my house Saturday morning, I crashed into 
> a wall of humidity.  Undeterred, I climbed into the car and drove to the 
> boat dock.  With the windows open, the drive was pleasant, as was the boat 
> ride to the island.  Once on the island, the horrendous "H"s became very 
> apparent:
> HAZY
> HOT
> HUMID
> HARDLY any breeze
> HATCHES of tiger mosquitoes
> HEARING distant thunder
> Still undeterred, I began the survey.  It had rained the night before, and 
> the vegetation on the island was drenched.  Before entering the chest-high 
> vegetation of the South Cell, I slipped on Gore-Tex rain pants and duck 
> boots.  This is NOT appropriate apparel for hot, humid weather.  While the 
> rain pants did keep me dry from the vegetation, the sweat factor was 
> increased dramatically.  The non-waterproof duck boots offered little 
> protection --- resulting in wet feet.  I tried to cover up as much skin 
> surface as possible, but the mosquitoes were undeterred as well.  They bit 
> right through my two shirts.
>
> After completing the South Cell, I headed to the North Cell dike to begin 
> the survey there.  I could finally take off the rain pants.  At this 
> point, the thunder was pretty consistent but still distant over the 
> mainland.  Did I mention that I was undeterred?  I started walking north 
> on the upper dike keeping an ever vigilant ear for thunder and an eye for 
> lightning.  In spite of the heat and humidity, I managed to reach the 
> northeast corner of the island and count the majority of the birds in the 
> North Cell.  It was at this point that the thunder began occurring above 
> me in the clouds.  I was at the halfway point of the island --- should I 
> continue ahead and hike three more miles around the island and eventually 
> reach the boat dock (the undeterred me) or should I turn back and retrace 
> two miles back to the administration building (the common sense me)?  The 
> thunder was getting louder and I came to the realization that I was the 
> highest point on the North Cell dike carrying a 5-foot aluminum Bogen/Kowa 
> lightning rod.  For the first time of the day, common sense prevailed.  I 
> decided to fold up the tripod, retreat to the lower perimeter road of the 
> island, and head back to the building.  There was no breeze on the lower 
> road, and I was loosing pounds from profuse sweating while trying to walk 
> briskly back to the building.  After about one mile, I knew that I should 
> rest for a few minutes.  I could feel that I was overly overheated and my 
> clothing was drenched.  It was at this point that I finally questioned my 
> sanity.  I asked myself "Scarp are you nuts for being out here in these 
> conditions?"  I had an epiphany --- I think I MAY be nuts.
>
> Upon my arrival back at the administration building, I walked into the 
> employees' break room and was asked "Is it pouring rain outside or is that 
> sweat?"  You know the answer.  After being in the building a few minutes, 
> the storm finally hit the island with copious rain, lightning, and 
> thunder. All I could think about was what conditions I would have been in 
> if I had decided to continue around the island at the halfway point.  The 
> alternative was not very appealing.
>
> Oh well, there is always next Saturday.  George are you canceling out on 
> me on Friday evening?  If you do, convince me to cancel also.
>
> Your man on Hart-Miller,
> Gene
>
> Gene Scarpulla
> Millers Island, Maryland
>