River Tank

The river is beginning to drop, but it will take another week of rain-free weather before she begins to clear. Regardless, I was out looking for tails today, and I almost stepped on this guy - having mistaken him for a rock. I would guess nearly 30 inches from tip of snout to tip of tail ... one of the biggest I've seen locally.

He ordered nine turtles to swim to his stone
And, using these turtles, he built a new throne.

He made each turtle stand on another one's back
And he piled them all up in a nine-turtle stack.

I’m Yertle the Turtle! Oh, marvelous me!
For I am the ruler of all that I see!”