Ray spent a few days kayaking-cycling-birding-camping near the Prince Edward Point Bird Observatory. It’s migratory season for the warblers and he was lucky enough to see a few being tagged. And, when Ray’s away, sisters get to play.
When he got back, we spent a weekend pet sitting for a friend who has a lovely waterfront property inside Presqu’ile Provincial Park. It was a treat to spend a sunny weekend with Sunny.
Sunny, however, was laser-focused on the ‘human-throws-ball, I-chase-the-ball’ game.
After we’d worn the dogs out with a walk and a swim, Ray went for a “quick walk” to spot birds. Several hours later, he returned, chattering away about the birds he’d seen, then he apologized for talking so much about birds, waited 60 seconds, started talking about migration patterns, noticed my eyes glazing over, apologized, waited 60 seconds, started up again, and so on.
I think I have an addict on my hands. I can see the appeal though. It forces you to be present, and to really observe, and listen to, the world around you.
Back at home, Ray was working on the gazebo roof when he came running in the house talking excitedly about a nest he’d spotted in the marsh behind our house. “It doesn’t make sense for a bird to be nesting at this time of year…but I’m sure I’d have seen it before if it had been there..it looks like there’s a BIRD in it….”, he said, as he ran back out with his camera.
One of these things is not like the others. Ray hasn’t nailed down which of the neighbours set him up, but I’m sure they had fun doing it.
Nick and Megan, meanwhile, have had a very active week hiking in Norway. I may need to take a nap just from writing about it.
Their first hike was Trolltunga, “a long, 10–12-hour, 27-km trek through high-mountain terrain.”
Norway has over 500 huts/cabins scattered across the country, where hikers can stay. Some are serviced, with a reception area and food service, like a hostel, and others are self-serve.
Their second hike was Kattannakken (the cat’s neck) Ridge, “a very difficult out-and-back day-long hike…The trail is steep and demanding, with sections of scrambling and chains for handholds”.
For their third hike, they climbed Mount Skåla, “featuring Northern Europe’s longest continuous ascent, gaining 1,848 meters in elevation from the sea level” (over 6,000 feet).
I’m impressed by Nick’s fitness level, but I’m in awe of Megan for keeping up with him. Nick said she was a real trooper and that she did a lot of “comfort-zone-expanding activities” during the trip.
The next morning, they woke up to a surprise…the first snowfall of the season!
It’ll be fun, he said.”
One might argue that they had bad luck with the weather, with several days of solid rain and virtually no blue sky, but Nick – the eternal optimist – said they had “great luck” with the weather because it didn’t rain on their hiking days (“well, except on the way down one day, and snow on the other hike down”). But, like, other than that…
After their wilderness adventures, we treated them to a night at a hotel and a dinner out in Ålesund, as an early graduation gift for Nick.
They spent a rainy day in Ålesund, then drove to Bergen, where Megan caught a plane to Copenhagen en route back to Toronto, leaving Nick to carry on solo. (To clarify, she had to get back for work. She didn’t abandon him there.) Stay tuned for part 2 of Nick’s Norwegian Adventures in my next post.
Bill. It was definitely Bill.
He is the prime suspect.
I don’t se