05/01/2023: Time to explore.

Before bed last night, we had planned an exciting day of exploring forest service roads and hiking. However, when we woke up this morning, we were met with overcast skies and gentle rain. Despite the dreary weather, we were determined to make the best of our day.

We turned down a random road, curious to see where it would lead us. A quick check on Google Maps showed that the road went quite far back. As we drove, we saw a variety of birds and even a few coyotes, but they were too far away to get a good look at or take photos.

Suddenly, about a mile down the road, Andy spotted a large bird with his binoculars. At first, he thought it might be a juvenile bald eagle, but he soon realized it could be something even cooler that looks quite similar. It was a chance to check off one of the items on his bucket list of things he wanted to see on this trip.

We stopped about 3/4 of a mile away and watched it for a bit before moving closer. We slowly approached, stopping at half a mile, then a quarter of a mile, and finally about 200 yards away. Andy snapped pictures and watched it through his binoculars, switching back and forth between the two.

We sat there for about 30 minutes, captivated by the beauty of the bird and its surroundings. But, as the rain began to increase, we realized it was time to move on. We continued down the road, which changed from gravel to dirt, and we felt like we were the only people in the world.

After about 45 minutes, the rain was pouring down, and we decided it was time to head back. We didn't want to get stuck in the mud with no cell service. When we returned to our RV, Andy looked up the bird and was thrilled to check the Golden Eagle off his bucket list.

Although our plans for hiking were cut short by the rain, we were grateful for the unexpected sighting of the majestic Golden Eagle and the chance to explore the remote roads of the forest. It was a day we won’t forget for a long time.

Happy Monday!