We drove out into the bush about 45 minutes. Then we unloaded the truck and put the canoe onto the trailer, which we pulled with the 4-wheeler. Unfortunately, there was no room for me on the whole contraption. So I walked behind for 15-20 minutes.
Then we got to a smaller trail going down to the water. We pulled the canoe off of the trailer and loaded it onto a even smaller canoe transporter, another nifty invention of Kendall's, though I'm not too fond of it at this point. I am sad to say that I was the one to help Kendall with his canoe transporter for the first time. It was painful. We found a few kinks, to say the least. So we FOUGHT with that thing all the way down a long, rough trail.
So, this lake was where Kendall and his family did lots of moose hunting while growing up. We got to hear stories and see the actual places where familiar stories happened. (Eli later said that that was one of his favorite parts about the day.)
Finally it was suppertime. We stopped on a big rock island. We never see large wildlife because we have two young boys. They make sure to let any animal near or far know that we are around. Sometimes I really want them to be quiet for a bit so that I can hear the silence and the wildlife, but mostly we just go with it. So we were "just going with it" while we ate supper. Eli was in the middle of one of his monologues that are mostly to himself and include lots of sound effects. All of the sudden, Kendall said, "There's a moose!" That got us all quiet! And sure enough, 100-125 yards away a moose was sticking its head out of the bush! We watched as it slowly made its way out into the shallow water. And there it stood and ate for a very long time. We finished our supper in more silence than I've ever known our family to have. A beaver was also in the area and kept smacking its tail against the water, perhaps to warn the unsuspecting moose. Kendall thought it looked pregnant- moose have their calves in a few weeks. After we finished eating, we quietly got into the canoe to see how close we could get to it. We silently paddled around the back of the island and came out closer to the moose, but now she had noticed us as soon as we got into the canoe and didn't last long before moving back into the bush.
It was pretty amazing to see the moose. Especially with our noisy family along. I have been informed, however, that I am not to give out the exact location of our moose sighting. Apparently, someone has his sights set on it for moose hunting and doesn't want competition.
For all its tail-smacking, the beaver was pretty oblivious to us when we paddled up to it. When it finally saw us, it dove under the water with a huge smack.
5 comments:
That is so Awesome!! beautiful pictures, I love how you make fun things happen in the bush. Dont' think I ever jump roped in the bush, Kendall will you show your mother your show?
That is so neat that you get to take the boys to those spots and tell them some of the stories.
I like the mirror picture. It's so typical of a summer evening. Dave
Ok, what is the "bush"? Is that what you call the woods up there? What I do love is how you are always doing fun stuff with your family! You got it rough being the only girl, but man, it does look pretty fun. I love that it's not just Canada - it's history to Kendall (and now you). And now obviously becoming history to them!
As a dutiful northern wife, Karen, you are now bound to complete and total secrecy as to all your husband's moose-hunting spots. . . and if you're really dedicated, his moose-hunting spots will become your moose-hunting spots. :)
How cool that you all saw a moose!? Hope we will get to see one too when we visit...in 39 days!Probably not the same one if someone has "their eye on it".
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