“So I was in a stand-off, not sure how this would end”

“Dear PoPville,

I was running on the Anacostia Riverwalk Trail near the aquatic gardens early this morning when I spotted a huge turkey sitting in the middle of the trail. Here’s a video I captured while still in the “what a lovely bird” mindset.

But it just kept walking towards me, so I decided I’d better be on my way and turned to run in the other direction. But it followed me–chased is the better word. And when I realized, looking panicked over my shoulder, that it was closing in on me like a velociraptor road runner, I saw that I definitely could not out-run a turkey and probably shouldn’t try to. So I stopped and yelled “I’m a vegetarian!”,

waving my arms, stomping my feet, and blowing a whistle I always carry. But it just stared at me with its beady, soulless turkey eyes and gave a gobble before taking another step closer to me.

So I was in a stand-off, not sure how this would end, when an amazing cyclist came along and used his bike to block the path while telling me to make my escape.

A HUGE thanks to that cyclist for saving me, and a warning to all out there to have a happy Thanksgiving but watch out for those turkeys.”

The video: