Yesterday I noticed a very large, brown spider walking down a tunnel that traverses about 250 yards through solid rock at Boundary Dam. Now, there are a lot of spiders up here, no doubt, but this one was different. He seemed old and didn't scurry away when I walked up.
I know he noticed me just by his actions yet he kept walking, slowly deliberately towards the exit of the tunnel. His pace wasn't hurried and it almost seemed to be arthritic in its manner. But he was making progress.
I was in the middle of doing a round and didn't have time to watch him for more than just a couple of minutes. But he kept going, never waivering in his direction of travel like a man lost in the desert that sees the glow of civilization only a few miles ahead of him. One spider leg in front of the other, nothing hurried just determined.
I don't really like spiders other than they are interesting in their colors and their web designs and their patience but this one seemed different.
Today, I am starting up the same tunnel but I have to take a detour that leads down some steps-14 to be exact to a visitors area. I go down the steps, then as I am coming back up, half way down the steps is the body of the spider. I have no doubt it is the same one. He is on his back and his legs are curled up. He has walked probably 75 to 100 yards from where I last saw him.
I truly felt sad for this old spider was trying to get to the safety of the outside world and failed. He took the detour which led him down the stairs. I assume he died trying to get back up them after he realized he had taken the wrong path.
Why would I feel sorry for a spider? I don't know but I know I could relate a lot of the human existence in him and his travels. He had somehow got into the tunnel, probably because of the warmth it provided. But the tunnels are almost sterile of life and who knows how long it took before he wanted the warmth of the sunlight on him again.
To me it's a sad story but it is the story of life....
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