On my scooter on the way down to the Kennebunk Bridle Path on Sunday, I saw something in the road as I passed. It did not register that it was a toad until I was by, but the scooter makes a very easy Uey, and I circled around for a better look. It was one of the lager toads I have seen in Maine, a real grandfather by the look (or grandmother for all I know). It was sitting, apparently warming itself on the sunlit asphalt, right in the track of the next oncoming tire. If I had been driving a car instead of my scooter (on which I stay on the pedestrian side of the white line at the edge most of the time), I would have hit it myself. It was not eager to move either. I stamped petty close without getting a hop. I finally had to nudge it over the white line with my toes. Then of course, I took some pictures. 🙂

Before I got back on my scooter I did move the toad completely off the road and into the pine needles and small plants on the far side. I have no idea if the toad will thank me for that, since I don’t actually know which direction it was headed in when it stopped to sun, and I am sure it was not as warm in the pine needles as it had been on the asphalt. Still, I was not about to leave it for the next passing tire.

Canon SX40HS. Program with iContrast and –1/3EV exposure compensation. 630mm equivalent field of view. f5.8 @ 1/500th @ ISO 160. Processed in Lightroom for intensity, clarity, and sharpness.  And a second, more intimate shot at about 1000mm equivalent.