Swan crossing

A few days ago I found myself driving down a rural road near where I live that I had never driven down before.  I had never gone down there before simply because I never had the need to go down there.  I knew it was there, I just never paid it much attention.  Well, this particular day there was a road block and detour that caused me to HAVE to drive down that road.  The road was narrow, gravel, and very twisty-turny.  At first I was aggravated that I had to drive down the road; it was rather badly washboarded and it was slowing me down!  However I was really rather amused when about a mile down the road I saw a road sign that said “swan crossing.” 

I’ve seen “deer crossing” and “moose crossing” signs before, but never “swan crossing” signs.  Well, immediately after the next turn, sure enough, there were three swans walking across the road!  There were two beautiful ponds with waterfalls on both sides of the road, with swans in both of them.  Some of them were simply switching from one pond to the next.  These swans had wide gold bands around their necks.  I had to wonder who put the bands on them, and if it was simply a declaration of ownership, or some kind of scientific research!  Either way, I was glad I went down the road and experienced the swan crossing!