Driving the school bus this morning, I almost had 2 accidents within 6 minutes. I had reported before in another post about the turkeys. I had said that they were in flocks of between 6 to about 12. This morning, my first pickup is at 6:53 AM for Galloway Middle School, which is 7th and 8th graders. The first house is in a wooded area. I pick up the student and continue to drive down his street, which is Elm Street. About 100 yards from his house I have to hit the brakes as 2 turkeys STROLL out in front of the bus. They were walking across the street to join the rest of the flock on a neighbor's lawn. My jaw dropped as I looked at the front yard. There had to be between 30 to 40 of them milling around. It looked like a turkey farm. Tomorrow morning I'll have my i-phone camera ready on the side so I can take a picture or a video so you can see what I'm talking about.
So I figure it was a close call. OK, I made it through that and I can settle down. I take the next right on Ridgewood Ave. and then the next right onto Pitney Road. A half mile up to Jimmy Leeds road and make a left. One mile down to Wrangleboro Road and make a right. Cross over Great Creek road a hundred yards later. Go about 300 yards and have to slam on the brakes again. Now there were a good amount of cars on this 2 lane road and I noticed something darting across the road from the other side between the cars. Remember now that we drive on the right side of the road so I am noticing this movement from my left moving to my right and soon to be right in front of me. I stop in time so that I don't hit what looks like a dog. But as it passed right in front of the bus I realize it's not a dog but a COYOTE. What is this, National Wildlife Week????.. While I know that we now have coyotes in New Jersey, I never actually saw one in this area. Now the first one I see, I almost nail him. Just another day in the life of a school bus driver.....Frankie
So I figure it was a close call. OK, I made it through that and I can settle down. I take the next right on Ridgewood Ave. and then the next right onto Pitney Road. A half mile up to Jimmy Leeds road and make a left. One mile down to Wrangleboro Road and make a right. Cross over Great Creek road a hundred yards later. Go about 300 yards and have to slam on the brakes again. Now there were a good amount of cars on this 2 lane road and I noticed something darting across the road from the other side between the cars. Remember now that we drive on the right side of the road so I am noticing this movement from my left moving to my right and soon to be right in front of me. I stop in time so that I don't hit what looks like a dog. But as it passed right in front of the bus I realize it's not a dog but a COYOTE. What is this, National Wildlife Week????.. While I know that we now have coyotes in New Jersey, I never actually saw one in this area. Now the first one I see, I almost nail him. Just another day in the life of a school bus driver.....Frankie
