Close Encounters of the Mink Kind
October 21st and 22nd (Monday and Tuesday)
On Monday we awoke to lighter winds and rain. It had been windy on and off all night, so the relative quiet was relaxing. Based on the wind that we had gotten overnight, and the forecast, we were hopeful that the wind had come early for us, and that it would remain calm.
On Monday we awoke to lighter winds and rain. It had been windy on and off all night, so the relative quiet was relaxing. Based on the wind that we had gotten overnight, and the forecast, we were hopeful that the wind had come early for us, and that it would remain calm.
When the sky looked promising that it might not rain for a while, we got ready to head out in Kiki to go ashore. Just as we were almost ready, however, it started to rain. That is one disadvantage to having mountains all around us; we have a very limited view of the sky and of what is coming. We ended up staying home, but we had a very productive afternoon of projects on board.
As the afternoon progressed the wind increased once again; so much for our hopes for a calm night. As the evening wore on, the wind became the strongest we have had it over the last ten days of being anchored in Discovery Bay. Although it was not the strongest forecasted winds, we were getting strong and sustained gusts that shook the boat and blew smoke down our chimney.
Often our fire remains untouched by the winds, and it seems to have more to do with how the gusts hit our boat rather than the strength of the gust. On Monday, however, it was a frustrating battle. Unfortunately the wind continued through most of the night, so we were poorly rested for the next morning.
However, the first thing that we noticed when we awoke on Tuesday morning was the complete lack of wind. It was calm and quiet. Ah! So nice!! The mountains were still socked in, but the sky was brightening, and the showers were becoming less frequent. By the time we had done some Spanish, and had had some breakfast, there were patches of blue sky amongst the darker clouds. We headed to the area of the bay where the river comes out from the lake.
We were hoping that we might find some Chanterelles, but either way, we were just happy to be outside and active. It felt great to be in the forest surrounded by the many forest colours and smells. We did end up finding some Chanterelles, but no patches of them, and not enough single mushrooms to bother picking. We made our way along the same stream that we had hiked along back in August when we first went up to the lake.
Now, the river was raging and the banks were littered with salmon carcasses, the smell reminded us of Eucott Bay. We saw several Eagles that were down in the forest feasting on the last remains. It was amazing how picked clean the bones were as the different scavengers had had their turn with the carcasses.
As the afternoon progressed the wind increased once again; so much for our hopes for a calm night. As the evening wore on, the wind became the strongest we have had it over the last ten days of being anchored in Discovery Bay. Although it was not the strongest forecasted winds, we were getting strong and sustained gusts that shook the boat and blew smoke down our chimney.
Often our fire remains untouched by the winds, and it seems to have more to do with how the gusts hit our boat rather than the strength of the gust. On Monday, however, it was a frustrating battle. Unfortunately the wind continued through most of the night, so we were poorly rested for the next morning.
However, the first thing that we noticed when we awoke on Tuesday morning was the complete lack of wind. It was calm and quiet. Ah! So nice!! The mountains were still socked in, but the sky was brightening, and the showers were becoming less frequent. By the time we had done some Spanish, and had had some breakfast, there were patches of blue sky amongst the darker clouds. We headed to the area of the bay where the river comes out from the lake.
Lake at the top of the river.
We were hoping that we might find some Chanterelles, but either way, we were just happy to be outside and active. It felt great to be in the forest surrounded by the many forest colours and smells. We did end up finding some Chanterelles, but no patches of them, and not enough single mushrooms to bother picking. We made our way along the same stream that we had hiked along back in August when we first went up to the lake.
Now, the river was raging and the banks were littered with salmon carcasses, the smell reminded us of Eucott Bay. We saw several Eagles that were down in the forest feasting on the last remains. It was amazing how picked clean the bones were as the different scavengers had had their turn with the carcasses.
Up at the lake we were shocked to see trout jumping in amongst the logjam at the end of the lake. Then, as we were enjoying the beauty of the evening at the lake we saw an animal swimming towards us from the far shore. We fell silent and still. We watched as a Mink climbed out on one of the logs in the logjam. We watched as the little guy scampered from log to log, sometimes swimming across a gap or bounding gracefully across one. I was of course taking pictures, and as my shutter went "click" for the first time, I wondered how he would react.
He stopped, looked around, and then carried on. Sometimes when a fish would splash he would also stop, look around, and then continue on his way. He went from log to log, around a stump, behind a log and then he popped his head out of a hole in a hollow log. So cute!! Next thing we knew he was trundling his way along a log that led him very close to us. At his next junction he turned straight towards us, literally on the same log.
We were frozen in awe, except for my finger pushing on the shutter button. Even at that close of a distance he still remained unfazed by the noise of the shutter. He was about ten feet away from us, and acted as though he did not even know we existed.
We headed back to Kiki as it was getting dark in the forest. Back home we loved the stillness and quiet that was surrounding us. Ah, what a lovely day, and what a treat to have good weather again. Another gale was forecasted for the following evening, oh yay.
Just a lovely day!
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