Thread by @TheRealHoarse

So, funny story…

As it turns out, one of my secret ‘trespassing to birdwatch’ spots is apparently also a local cop’s ‘drink his morning coffee in peace’ spot.

I should note that I am clearly trespassing. I mean, it is signed and fenced off.

But, hey, I know enough about the law to be dead wrong about my rights.

One gate is always open. That makes it like a swimming pool: an inviting nuisance.

They invited me with their nuisance.

Now, “technically” none of what I just said is true. But it **could be true** if it weren’t false.

That’s enough gray area for me.

So, I do a little (finger quotes) trespassing (finger quotes).

Big deal. Is that really a crime?

Well, yes, but I was being figurative.

Being a smooth criminal, I had crafted a perfect plan to enter the property undetected:

I look around from the main road and if no one is coming, I barrel through the gate and whip around the corner like I’m trying to stash a getaway car,

…and then, as a man who entertains all possibilities and plans for the unexpected, I had a contingency plan in case caught.

I’d just go right ahead anyway with the relaxed confidence of someone who is clearly driving an old Honda on important, official business of some kind.

Which brings us back to the beginning of the story…

There I was, barreling through the gate and around the corner only to find a police car literally **in. my. secret. spot.**

Contingency plan: activate!

I mean, in for a dime, in for a dollar at this point…

So, I drive right up next to the police car and roll down my window.

Officer rolls down his and looks at me all confused.

So, I smile wide, hold up my camera and say “I hike around in here for birds. That’s cool, right?”

Officer was like “Well, technically it’s trespassing…”

To which I laughed and rolled my eyes as if to dismiss the concept of trespassing as even an offense altogether.

Then he just looked at me for a minute while I smiled.

Then he laughed, picked up his coffee, and said “Yeah, I hear ya. I don’t give a shit either.”

Then he told me about where a couple eagles like to hang out and I told him about the post the osprey likes to perch on.

And then I went on my merry way.

Next time, I might bring a thermos of coffee and an extra pair of binoculars.

There’s a buddy movie in this, right?

Birdman and the Heat or something.

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