Hotel Canoe: Leave It to Goats to Hang Out in the Strangest Places

Well, I’ve seen a lot of odd things on this farm, but this one takes the cake—or maybe the canoe. There she was, one of my goats, stretched out like royalty in the dry end of an old canoe that had collected a bit of rainwater. Out of all the cozy spots in the barnyard—fresh hay, dry bedding, even a nice shady corner under the lean-to—she picked a wet canoe for her afternoon nap.

Now, goats are nothing if not creative when it comes to finding places to rest. I’ve found them sleeping in wheelbarrows, on hay bales, and even balancing on feed bins like furry acrobats. But this? This was new. She was completely relaxed, legs tucked, chin resting just so, with that blissful expression that says, “Don’t judge me, human. I’ve found perfection.”

To be fair, the canoe did have one dry end, and goats have a remarkable sense for staying high and dry. She looked quite proud of herself, as if she’d discovered the farm’s first luxury spa—“Goat-a-Float.” Maybe she liked the cool breeze off the water, or maybe she just wanted to keep her hooves clean. Hard to say with goats. Their logic runs somewhere between “brilliant” and “questionable," occasionally at the same time.

I had to laugh as I stood there taking pictures. She looked too comfortable to disturb—like she was on vacation, waiting for someone to bring her a tiny umbrella drink. I would’ve thought there were more comfortable spots for a nap than a damp canoe, but goats clearly operate on a different comfort scale.

Just sayin’—next time I lose track of her, I’ll skip looking in the barn or pasture. I’ll head straight for the canoe. Apparently, it’s the new suite at the Goat Hilton.

"Do you mind? I'm trying to take a nap here."

"Huh? What? Who's clicking the camera?"

"What's that? There's water in the other end of this thing? Well, I'm sure it'll come in handy if I get thirsty."

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©2011 Sandy Davis | American Way Farm