The long hot summer has brought literally tons of customers from all over the world. At Cable Car the sheer grind of bringing this endless parade of people to the Top of the Rock has taken it's annual toll. Leaving everyone working at the top and bottom stations, feeling like deep fried toast from the heat and crush of summer's tourists. The Ape's have reached their own saturation point as our furry cousins are whacked up on all the junk-food coursing through their blood streams. These items having been liberated from those foolish enough to bring food into the Nature Reserve. Of course we warn people on the way up in the Cable cars about the ape's teeth and claws. How you shouldn't feed or touch them and never...ever...ever touch their babies. Strangely, nearly everyone laughs when we tell them to be careful about their plastic bags? The laughter is mostly a mixture of hubris from the men, nervous chuckles from the women and squeals of glee from the children who imagine cheeky monkeys a la mode of Curious George.
This is my third summer watching Ape vs Human and it's truly humbling to see them work the crowd with such dexterity, intelligence and quick silver speed. These Simians are professionals at the re-distribution of snacks. Leaving some visitors in a pile of scattered potato chips only a few yards and moments after leaving the cable car.
All we can do with this barrage of monkey activity is muddle through and try to keep people from being bitten. The silver lining though is every season someone visits our Nature Reserve who is so stupid that they bring deep, dark chuckles to our weary hearts and minds. This year's was a young man who bragged to his large adoring family on the way up that, “No thieving ape was going to get the drop on him and he would punch one if they tried!” I smiled and told him that we had a hospital. He scoffed and strode off the cable car with that serious hard-on stroll men use when they're puffing up their feathers.
I didn't see him again for about an hour. Then as my cable car was about fifty yards out and approaching the Top Station. I heard a voice screaming for help and caught sight of the owner of the blood curdling cry running across the platform. His two legs pounding away in cartoon style as he desperately tried reaching Warp speed to escape our Alpha Male Gregory, who was in hot pursuit.
It looked Kinda like this!
This is my third summer watching Ape vs Human and it's truly humbling to see them work the crowd with such dexterity, intelligence and quick silver speed. These Simians are professionals at the re-distribution of snacks. Leaving some visitors in a pile of scattered potato chips only a few yards and moments after leaving the cable car.
All we can do with this barrage of monkey activity is muddle through and try to keep people from being bitten. The silver lining though is every season someone visits our Nature Reserve who is so stupid that they bring deep, dark chuckles to our weary hearts and minds. This year's was a young man who bragged to his large adoring family on the way up that, “No thieving ape was going to get the drop on him and he would punch one if they tried!” I smiled and told him that we had a hospital. He scoffed and strode off the cable car with that serious hard-on stroll men use when they're puffing up their feathers.
It looked Kinda like this!
(click here)
This normally gentle monkey was running at full speed, in battle-mode with his teeth and claws out. His intent to dispatch a little discipline on Mr. Muscles who was by now a wailing, cry baby of his former heroic self.
In seconds both human and Ape flew up the stairs onto the crowded terraces. Drawing fresh screams from the people up there who had now inadvertently become eye-witnesses to this primal chase. Meanwhile as my cable car docked at the top station. His desperately worried and completely breathless family members rushed onto the platform. They had been following the plight of their wrinkled paper tiger as close behind as they dared. Having of course to be careful to keep their distance from the ape going postal in front of them! I halted their race towards the stairs and asked them what had happened? A literally shaking woman explained that her brother had done the one thing you must never...ever...do. Never touch one of the Ape's babies! I hope this finds you all well and I shall write at you again soon.
This normally gentle monkey was running at full speed, in battle-mode with his teeth and claws out. His intent to dispatch a little discipline on Mr. Muscles who was by now a wailing, cry baby of his former heroic self.
In seconds both human and Ape flew up the stairs onto the crowded terraces. Drawing fresh screams from the people up there who had now inadvertently become eye-witnesses to this primal chase. Meanwhile as my cable car docked at the top station. His desperately worried and completely breathless family members rushed onto the platform. They had been following the plight of their wrinkled paper tiger as close behind as they dared. Having of course to be careful to keep their distance from the ape going postal in front of them! I halted their race towards the stairs and asked them what had happened? A literally shaking woman explained that her brother had done the one thing you must never...ever...do. Never touch one of the Ape's babies! I hope this finds you all well and I shall write at you again soon.
