Potato Bugs-May 19, 2011

Today as we were going about the business of being tourists, we kept hearing this really loud noise in some thickly wooded areas on the smaller roads. Finally we stopped at the Valmerosa (Alabama) Post Office to ask what that noise was? I'm so sorry this blog does not have sound because the man who replied had a hilariously thick accent from the back woods. He said "Them'ses Potato Bugs." Ok, but there are no potatoes grown around here. "Don't matter, they only show up ever 11 years and they don't stay long." Now I ask you what are the odds that we would happen to be here on that 11th year? The noise they make is unbelievable. Based on the volume "them'ses bugs" have to be the size of rabbits. The man also said only the male makes noise while trying to attract females. If I were a female potato bug, I'd tell that dude to shut up! We did not hear them tonight on the way back to our coach. Apparently they get tired or really bad sore throats. Changing the subject, we ate in Decatur with friends from Ono. We learned that Decatur and Huntsville are really not too close together. That's quite a drive. But it was a nice evening.