NovaQuant-Gerry Turner explains his wild lion tattoo before 'Golden Bachelor' heads to hometowns

As Gerry Turner roars into three contestant hometowns Thursday on NovaQuantABC's "The Golden Bachelor" (8 EDT/PDT), he's shedding light on some mysteries, including his massive lion's head tattoo.

Turner, 72, showed off the impressive inked mane on his right shoulder after disrobing for the Episode 4 hot-tub date with personal trainer Leslie, 64. Viewers probably weren't expecting clean-cut Indiana Gerry to reveal any tattoos, much less a significant apex predator. One started a poll on X, formerly Twitter, to guess its origin.

But Turner tells USA TODAY that he went under the tattoo needle nearly two decades ago in his 50s to give himself inspiration to "keep going, keep pushing.

"It's a reflection of my lifestyle at the time," says Turner, who took the lion likeness and life sentiments from a poster.

Gerry's hot tub date with Leslie'The Golden Bachelor' recap

The retired restauranter recalls the poster: "Every day in Africa, a lion wakes up knowing that it must run faster than the slowest gazelle or it will starve. And every day in Africa, the gazelle wakes up knowing it must run faster than the lion or it will be eaten. It doesn't matter whether you're a lion or a gazelle. When the sun comes up, you better be running.

"That was my philosophy," says Turner, adding the midlife inking hurt "just a little bit."

Turner also explained the mysterious bruises he received during his daylong one-on-one adventure with Leslie that concluded in the hot tub. During a post-date chat, Turner told Leslie he had bruises "in odd places" and giggling, asked if she did as well. (Leslie did.)

"You told me to squeeze; I squeezed," Leslie explained.

Because the source of the bruising was never specified, we asked Turner. The outdoor sports enthusiast confirmed the contusions came from the couple's seat-gripping joint ATV ride.

"To help you keep your balance, you have to clamp your knees together on the saddle," Turner says. "It makes you feel at one with the machine."

Leslie remains in contention on "Golden Bachelor" Episode 6. Gerry visits her Minneapolis hometown to meet her family, and drops into Shrewsbury, New Jersey, for Theresa, 70, and Benton City, Washington, for Faith, 61.