About “Leaf Peepers”
Yes, that’s a known species…
After reading an article over the weekend by Nicki J, found here, I thought it would be fun to expand slightly on the concept of leaf peeping.
Yes, it’s a real thing, and the leaf peeper is a known species.
It’s a timely topic as we are just about to wrap up foliage season here in New England. So, let’s get on with it!
There are four variations of leaf peeping/peepers:
- “The Car” is probably the most troublesome and the predominant type.
Mesmerized by the neon glow created by late afternoon sunsets, these leaf peepers can slow down and even stop in the middle of the road with camera(s) hanging out the window, not realizing they are creating a potential road hazard. They are not good at getting all the way off the road when they park. Some car peepers have been known to practice their strategies year-round. They come out in full bloom when the foliage season starts. Totally unaware of their surroundings other than the foliage.
- “The Camper/RV” is a close second.
They lumber along slow and easy, hogging the road, oblivious to the traffic backed up behind them. Some of these vehicles shouldn’t even be on the road. Some are former car leaf peepers and have the same habits. Most are too big to get all the way off the road when parking to take pictures.
- “The Tour Bus(es)” ranks just behind cars and RVs.
They fly up the highway in the outside lane like they are the only vehicle on the road, scaring the crap out of most of the people they are passing. Well known to clog restaurants and rest areas. At foliage time, there isn't just one bus; there are a bunch. So if you need to eat or “go,” you have to deal with the busload(s) of peepers.
- “Motorcycles” are worthy of mention only because they have their act together.
These guys are very aware of their surroundings anyway, so they are the least of your problems.
So there you have it in a nutshell. It’s a seasonal phenomenon that happens every year here in New England. Sometimes I think some of the peepers practice their habits around here during the tourist season in the Summer, but that could just be me.
Make no mistake; this is the voice of experience. I am an admitted leaf peeper. Serious enough so that last weekend, while watching my granddaughter’s college soccer team on live stream play out in Western Massachusetts, I had to grab my wife to show her the neon glow of the trees next to the soccer field. It was like, what soccer game? Check out the foliage!
All in good fun. No harm intended towards fellow peepers!
Thank you to Nicki J for the motivation to write this.
More articles on Medium from this writer here.
