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Upstate New York

I've never seen a genuine porcupine up close and personal. It's rather fascinating. Look at those odd feet and that thick tail. It's a fresh kill, no bugs are on it and it doesn't stink. I not sure if it's bloated or maybe it's a pregnant female?

Feeling compassion and pity for the porcupine I take a stick and push it off the roadside into the weeds. It's sad, the poor critter is no more.

This is its "death stain." Kinda gross. Hope all this hasn't grossed you out. It's rare to come face-to-face with a porcupine and I think it's worth documenting.

Okay, enough of that, back to the bike ride. My odometer tells me I've surpassed the 30-mile mark so it's time now to turn around and head back. Looking at my watch I notice my time is rapidly running out. It will start getting dark around 7pm and I have more than 30 miles to go on my backtrack before my ride is over.