7/3/19 – Did about 170 miles yesterday from Flin Flon to the this Provincial Park (now Saskatchewan) called Narrow Hills. It’s about 80 miles NE of Prince Albert. Lots of people here and for a government camp it was pricey -$42 (Canadian $).
Susan got a picture of our first big black bear. It was on the side of the road and quite a ways away – couple hundred yards at least. But, wild animals were virtually nonexistent today until this bear showed up.
In Boreal forests (which is defined simply as far north), like we see here, there are Bonaparte Seagulls, very distinctive as they have black heads. Previously I have only seen them on the Gulf Coast. They are the only gull that nests in trees. Back at Paint Lake, we were bombarded by them as they were protecting their nest/young. Everest was watching them and wishing they would just get a tad closer. They are the smallest gull apparently, very acrobatic, even catch insects inflight.
Well, it’s the end of the day now and we are still about 80 miles from Prince Albert, NW not NE, Prince Albert National Park, one of only two in the province. I think this is their largest and most popular park. Lots of bears here so caution is needed. Total wildlife seen was 4 bears, 5-6 bull elk, one doe elk (that bedded down across the road from our camp site), lots of deer, one fox, and some ducks and herons.
Waterfowl have been missing on this trip due to summer, most are well north of us and won’t start this way for a couple months. We got photos of most animals except for the fox – they are sly critters.
7/6 – We went south on the road to the city of Prince Albert and Walmart. Done. At one point, in 30 seconds, we saw a coyote and across the road from him a fox. We continued west for several hours stopping at Little Loon park on Highway 3 about 75 miles short of Alberta. Susan says when we stopped to register “Get me a maple nut ice cream cone.” Riiiiight. Sure enough they had an ice cream station with, you guessed it, maple nut. So we drive to the site they gave us and there’s already someone there. I call them and we end up with another, a really nice site.
7/7 – At 2:30 this morning we started getting constant lightening, then around 3 we started hearing the thunder, and then on came the rain. No way to say how much rain we got but it was a bunch. We actually had to back the trailer down a pretty steep hillside into our site. It was so muddy next morning I used 4WD to pull out.
So today, we are deviating somewhat again, heading due north then west avoiding interstate highways, Edmonton (capital), and Grande Prairie, and then connecting with the Alcan at Dawson Creek (NW BC) or thereabouts.
For about a week now we have not had WIFI. Getting that unlimited plan for the iPhone was smart, and most of the time we have had phone signal. .
7/10 – Got to Athabasca, AB, yesterday for one night and found a groomer. They did some of the work yesterday and will finish him today. Then off again.
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