Don’t worry Mom!

Black Bear Cub

This bear cub was photographed from the car. We couldn’t even see the Mother bear so we weren’t in any danger (and neither was the bear). In fact we spotted the bear already up the tree as we were driving by. We were in Riding Mountain National Park in Manitoba looking for wildlife. This park never disappoints. Mostly, we found White-tailed Deer.

White-tailed Deer Fawn

White-tailed Deer Buck

But this park has lots of wildlife, such as grouse, owls, coyotes, moose, elk and an enclosure for Plains Bison. The enclosure is a big fenced in area of trees and prairie. You drive into it over cattle or Texas gate, which is basically a bridge of rounded poles instead of planks. The poles or metal tubes are spaced far enough apart that a bison’s hoof could slip between poles. So they don’t want to walk over it but a car can easily pass over it. But don’t get out of your car! These are still wild animals even if inside a big enclosed area. Most of the herd was trying to stay cool in the trees. This big bull came out to see what Ron was up to when Ron was trying to photograph a bird by the gate.

Plains Bison Bull

He seemed unimpressed with Ron!

We also enjoyed the landscape and wildflowers in the park.

Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve, MB

Black-eyed Susan Wildflowers

On Family and Friends

Staying in Killbear Provincial Park meant we wouldn’t get to visit with my sister while on Manitoulin Island. Instead we arranged to meet in Espanola as she headed off the island and we headed on. It was her birthday and the first time in many years that I was able to wish her Happy Birthday in person! Most years we are already on the road on this day and have to sing Happy Birthday long distance. Probably the most unusual spot we’ve sang from was the confessional converted into a phone booth at The Convent, a bed and breakfast in Val Marie, Saskatchewan near Grasslands National Park. Happy Birthday again Little-Big-Sis!

The Island of course is still home to me in so many ways. My Mother is there. And there is just something about Manitoulin.

Cattle - Click for larger

Barrie Island Shore - Click for larger

After Mom’s we put in another long day on the road and drove to Pukaskwa National Park. The sound of the waves hitting the shores of Lake Superior is just so restful.

Pukaskwa National Park - Click for larger

Still following Lake Superior we stopped again along its shores in Sleeping Giant Provincial Park at Thunder Bay. There the whitetail deer are so used to people they graze right through your campsite.

Whitetail Deer - Click for larger

After getting past Lake Superior we took refuge in a lakeside motel in Nestor Falls and watched the thunder storms and pelting rain from the safety of our room. We were glad the motel was uphill of the lake as a raging river soon formed as the water rushed toward the lake from the parking lot. It would have been much worse if we had camped just south of there in Caliper Lake Provincial Park as originally planned. There we would have had to tent camp at the bottom of a hill. I can’t imagine that would have stayed dry during those downpours.

The highway north to Rushing River Provincial Park was flooded over in two places although still passable. The river was swollen but not really worse than the last time we photographed it, but then that was a wet year too.

Rushing River - Click for larger

In Manitoba we stayed with friends Dennis and Frieda - they are such good hosts! While we are with them the conversation never ends - hope we didn't talk their ears off! We also did some wildflower photography in the Tall Grass Prairie Preserve and visited with Christie and the usually barefoot Laura – the guardians of that untouched grasslands.

Wood Lily - Click for larger