Bears, Shaggy Sheep and Bad Campers

Bears, Shaggy Sheep and Bad Campers

Another week has passed at Spray Lake and as usual there is a lot to tell.  It was an unusual July 1^st long weekend because Monday landed in the middle of it and not everyone was able to get away from work that day.  We were full on Friday night and Saturday but many campers left on Sunday and new ones arrived on Monday.  That kept us hopping.  Of all our 50 sites, 48 of them were wonderful campers…the other two were kids partying and they of course were disrespectful to their neighbours, loud, messy and drunk most of the day.  We had to have them evicted from the campsite so they would not continue to disturb the other people camping.  This is the one part of the job that is difficult because you want everyone including those kids to have a good time but if they can’t listen to the warnings given, then they have to leave.  We called the conservation officer and she came and booted them out.  We actually had one site next door stand up and clap as the kids were leaving…at least the rest of the weekend was nice and quiet for people.

We had a black bear come into camp on Saturday night…he strolled across the dam, then up the road munching on grass and dandelions.  He criss-crossed the road a couple times and finally found a nice little meadow near the end of the campsite and spent the rest of the day there eating whatever flowers and clover he could find.  He had an audience of about 20 people watching him but he didn’t seem to care.  He was a nice looking guy about as tall as a picnic table.  We kept an eye on him till dark when he wandered off into the bush.  The next morning he was back and actually ended up walking right through a campsite.  The people there had an air horn and gave it a good honk and the bear disappeared into the bush not to be seen again.

 

There are always sheep on the road and they are really shaggy this time of year.  We came across a nice bunch with a few big rams the other day and got a couple good pictures.  One baby in the bunch…they are so cute!  I’m not sure what they were eating on the road but it must have been some sort of salty tasting rock.

The wild flowers are really starting to look pretty.  The meadows are now dotted with red and white and blue mountain flowers.  The Indian Paintbrush is so pretty and bright…I’m still looking for a good Rocky Mountain plant identification book…There are so many flowers and I know the names of so few of them.  These are so pretty but not sure what they are called.

 

Tom made a quick trip to Castlegar to get some paperwork for his residency and get that all sent off.  He got his drivers’ license renewed as well so he’s good for 90 days…hopefully his residency card will arrive in that time and he can then get his permanent drivers’ license.  It’s amazing how much red tape and paperwork is needed just to live on one side or the other of that imaginary line they call the border.  Anyway, it’s a lot easier on this side than on the US side and we’ll still get to spend 6 months or more in the states as we want to.

Here is the big lake trout I told you about in the last blog…27” long and 17lb…this guy was pretty proud of it.

 

Oso is doing well and looking forward to his haircut on Wednesday…he’s shaggy as these sheep and since it’s starting to warm up here, needs a good grooming so he can stay cool and comfortable.  He’s bounced back from his surgery pretty well…still has trouble jumping up on the couch but has no trouble biting at Tom’s shoes and untying the laces when we go for a walk.yes, smartest dog in the world…and he does love his bed!!!