Run for your lives...

   With all the planning we do before an expedition, I don't know why we keep getting caught off guard. But that's what happened to us, yesterday. It was bad enough having to tromp through a sticker patch to follow the ant trail, but we don't have any wimps in our patrol, and even the girls did it. The trouble happened when we decided to pick up that rotten log over the top of the ant hill so we could see better.

   We saw better, all right. Man-- we saw better than TV. Ants running all over the place to save their kids (OK, they were still just eggs -- but you wouldn't believe how they all worked together to carry them away safe somewhere). It was way amazing, and C. and S. were getting it all on film. I mean, we were really into it. Only just about the time I was figuring this was gonna be so good The Nature Channel would probably want it...

   The ants attacked! And I'm not just talking a bite, or two, here. I'm telling you -- they had to be mobilized like a regular army, or something. Because they sneaked up onto our feet and legs by the hundreds before we even realized it, then bit us all at the same time. No kidding. They must have been soldier ants. Probably had to go through some kind of training to learn that stuff.

    Anyway, we hauled off to the creek to get rid of them (more stickers, but we didn't even feel it till later). Had to go in up to our knees before we finally got everything under control, again. It's a good thing I had the first aid kit in my backpack, so we could take care of all those scratches and bites. Which -- being the Captain -- I felt pretty good that I was prepared for all that.

   I'm not way proud about how much I hollered, though. But I'll tell you something. The next time we go busting into some ant city, again...

   I'm gonna keep my eyes on the soldiers instead of the babies.
   W.K.

PS... I think maybe Buddy hollered even louder than me. He said next time he goes in, it'll be with armor. Hey-- I wonder if they know anything about ant armor over at Wilderness Kids club...