{"id":48,"date":"2007-08-03T16:46:08","date_gmt":"2007-08-03T15:46:08","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/bakkerbugle.com\/blog\/2007\/08\/03\/fallow-deer-in-phoenix-park\/"},"modified":"2007-08-07T13:58:15","modified_gmt":"2007-08-07T12:58:15","slug":"fallow-deer-in-phoenix-park","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/bakkerbugle.com\/blog\/2007\/08\/03\/fallow-deer-in-phoenix-park\/","title":{"rendered":"Fallow Deer in Phoenix Park"},"content":{"rendered":"

I think we had a proper summer week. There wasn’t much rain at all. It was even humid today! It felt like a late June day in Chicago, although the high was 71° F with 88% humidity. I guess I’ve adjusted.<\/p>\n

I have a standard exercise ride — to and through Phoenix Park<\/a>. I discovered a hill today that I couldn’t finish without dismounting, so now I have a goal on my standard ride.<\/p>\n

Here’s the real story: I happened across a small group of the Park’s fallow deer<\/a>.\"Fallow There were two bucks with antlers just like the photo here. There were three or four smaller deer — whether juveniles or does, I don’t know. They were all tagged on their ears.<\/p>\n

I was awestruck. I didn’t even stop to think. The two bucks ran in different directions. Their loping run is even more graceful when they have a large set of antlers that move up and down much less than their bodies. It’s been several hours, but I’m still struck by the memory.<\/p>\n

I was biking along a road through a little-used part of the Park, southwest of the Papal Cross<\/a>. It’s not as quiet as other parts of the Park, because it’s close to the River Liffey and the traffic noise from the roads that run alongside it. But now I think I’ll return often.<\/p>\n

Nothing routine about my life in Dublin so far, even when I try!<\/p>\n

I don’t know much about deer. For those who know and care more than me, here’s a few links. (No, you can’t shoot them<\/a>, even with a bow.)<\/p>\n