Several days ago, I received notice that because the female harlequins were on the nest incubating their eggs, we would get a few days off from work. Knowing Mom was in Seattle visiting family, I thought- why not surprise her? It worked out to fly out to Washington the following morning, and spend a few days hanging with the family. It was great! I was able to stay in Bellevue, see some old friends, and visit "the beach" which only gets better as time goes on! The landscaping was gorgeous, and it was wonderful to spend some quality time with Papa and Nana. My visit was enriched with wildlife encounters, from hummingbirds to raccoons!
Now that it is July, the mosquitoes are out here in Glacier, and we had a big thunderstorm early this morning, with lightning that splits open the sky, freeing the rain that seems to have been trapped in the giant clouds for the passing weeks. My recent trips have taken me past Polebridge deep into the heart of the park, where I hike alongside wolf tracks and step over missing sections of the trail, dug up by grizzlies looking for spring bulbs to eat. I am actually supposed to be on a trip right now, but we returned yesterday due to un-surveyable habitat and a campsite mix-up. Who knows where the next week will take me, but hopefully I'll have the 4th off to celebrate with other locals the great country we live in.
I biked past a bear cub the other day! The mom was nowhere in sight, and he kind of approached me- so I snapped a few pics and biked quickly away!
Right now I'm sitting outside the Canadian Embassy in West Glacier (???... that's what I thought, too!) and the "Canada Day" celebrations are winding to a close. It's the 141st birthday of Canada or something. I plan to do a quick 15 mile hike into the Belly River again and survey some tributaries tomorrow and on the 3rd, and hike out on the 4th. No fishing this time!!!
Seattle family- it was great to see y'all! Sending my love West- I'll be back!
