Back in early September, we had a gnarly old snapper come up out of the deep like some monster out of a horror movie and almost take a fillet out of the hand of guy washing it off in the water.

Talk about someone who jumped back from the water's edge.

(We told 'him he shrieked like a 2nd-grade girl.)

The turtle hung around for hours, poking out his head to stare at us and sniff around. He (?) was not afraid of ANYTHING.

We tossed it a few fish scraps (I know we shouldn't) but he ate 'em up and then looked at us for more.

Another turtle came in at one point, and they sort of stared at each other in a sort of stand-off for a while, and then they lunged at each other like bulls. The first turtle promptly flipped the other one on its back, and that was it: the second turtle took off.

It was fascinating.

-- kypaddler

We were canoeing some crown land a few years ago and our campsite had a nice 20' +/- cliff off the south side.  With our plates full of dinner we set up our chairs to eat on the top of the cliff.  A few minutes into our meal we hear something creeping up on us from behind.  We turn around to see this painted turtle on a mission coming up between us.  She walked between us and without so much as a pause did a flippin' Harry Carey right off the cliff into the water.  Just like Harrison Ford in The Fugitive.  Weirdest thing I have ever seen.

Are we telling tales now? I had some turtle fun. The last was after a long rainy day after which my bow paddler had an unexpected break down. I found her in tears with everything that went in the tent piled around her in the middle to avoid the half cup of water she brought in. But as I wiped up the puddle, the rain kept pouring down and in her defense, it sounded nasty in the tent.

Meanwhile a snapper was eyeing our hard won dinner and it took a couple of good whacks with the spare paddle to convince him to let go. Once  he did, he resurfaced five feet out and continued to hiss for a very long time, loud enough to be heard in the tent once the rain stopped.

The rain did eventually subside and I'm happy to report neither held a grudge although I did keep an eye out for that bad ass turtle the rest of the evening.