It was a dark early morning, a little chilly at -7C (~20 F) and being a Friday, there wasn't much traffic on the MUP as usual. So I let myself zip along at about 30km/hr. About 1/3 into my commute, I cross a wooden planked bridge that spans 40 ft over a creek. The planks always make a racket as they are loose and rattle as you travel over it.

As I start to cross the bridge, my light starts to shine upwards towards the crest of the bridge and I notice 2 legs standing right in the middle of the 6 foot wide bridge, white on the insides and beige on the outside. (A bold fashion statement no less) I say to myself, “Geez! A ninja pedestrian out this early in the morning? Move over you moron, let me by….” But, just as the planks start to rattle, my light continues to shines upward revealing a “deer caught in the headlights” Just then, the racket of the rattling planks spooks the deer and it starts to turn around to run, blocking almost the entire width of the bridge. With no time to brake, I squeeze right, inches from the railing, brushing the deer’s butt with my elbow as I pass.

Avoiding sure disaster, I relax a bit but just as I crest the bridge, my light shines downward reavealing another deer standing in the middle of the MUP about 10 feet past the end of the bridge! Also, spooked by the rattling and the fast approaching light, it draws back to start to bolt as I get to the end of the bridge. I felt like a goalie faced with a penalty kick at a championship soccer match. I guessed to swerve right onto the grass. Luckily, the deer”zigs” instead of “zags” and I avoid a second crash.

I didn’t fill my this shorts morning (yes I checked) but was a bit rattled for a while.

That is all… have a great weekend.

T.J.