In the two years that we have been living and working on the Kaibab Plateau, we have never driven up Hwy 67 from Jacob Lake in the dark, until last week when we came home from the emergency room. The closest we came was when we drove up around dusk one time and counted 105 deer. Those deer were way off in the meadows, close to the trees. Not right on the road.
I was pretty well drugged up that night last week, so I COULD have been hallucinating, but dang! there were HUNDREDS of deer out there, just hanging around. It was very creepy to see them, those animals that look so cute in the daytime. See:
But the other night they were standing in groups, herds, of probably 20 or 30, on both sides of the road, along the 43 mile drive. When our truck lights hit them, they seemed to turn in unison to look at us, the light reflecting from their eyes looking all red and evil. I told FabGrandpa it was like they had called a meeting to discuss taking over the world! It was sort of like that old Alfred Hitchcock movies, “The Birds”, except this was mule deer.
And as if that was not enough creepyness, we saw two cows standing on the side of the road about half way up the road. They were the weirdest looking cows I have ever seen, but of course it could have been the drugs. I only wish I had taken pictures. But it was dark. And I was on drugs. They sort of looked like this:
(This photo from U.S. Ayrshire Breeder’s Association website)
only they seemed to have a larger, shaggier body. And a smaller head. And shorter legs. And they looked really scarey in the dark.
Marilyn says
We didn't see the cow but you are right about the deer. We stayed at Jacob Lake when we were there for 4 days in 2007. It took us a long time to drive home at night we were so afarid we would hit one. The red eyes were really weird and I wasn't on drugs.
Gaelyn says
Blame it on the drugs. No really, it's a scary road to drive at night. Maybe the cows were really beeffalo.
Dee says
that description of the deer is creepy!
Sallie (FullTime-Life) says
Sometimes it's better not to know what goes on out there after dark. All those deer planning a revolution, eek! I kind of wish you had been able to get a picture — but I think it's good that Fab Grandpa just kept driving, so you could go home and get to bed.
I'm happy you remembered enough about that night to tell us about it; you made me laugh this morning.
LceeL says
It was actually a scheduled protest – an Anti-Venison campaign.