October 26, 2017 – Life’s been hectic the past few weeks.
Oh, who am I kidding, how about for the past few months. I’ve been up to my eyeballs in brood season, but as much as it’s been busy, it’s also been very enjoyable.
I really do have the best job and get to work with the best people.
The road trips back and forth to the Island, week in and week out, are a bit tiring, and when the rain is taking the wind out of my sails, it helps to remember that some spectacular days also get sprinkled in there for good measure.
I’ve been on the Island 8 of the past 14 weekdays and I’m finally getting caught up on a few images kept hostage on the cameras.
I spent a night in Parksville the other week; I had to be at a former research facility two days in a row to work with two different stocks of concern so rather than waste more time than necessary on the ferry, I just booked a hotel. It was strange to not be rushing to the site and it was a pleasure to be able to grab a coffee and drive the old highway through Qualicum and watch the sun rise. The morning was one of those lead grey ones, where it was hard to discern where the sky started and the ocean ended.
Why did I take a picture of leaves in the gutter?
Because a moment earlier I had my back to the road and a truck went by and sent the water in the road in a soaring arc over my back as I took a photo….
I’ve probably taken this photo several times, but I always love looking down the old E&N railway tracks where they cross at Rosewall Creek. It’s one of those spots I never tire of. The trains don’t ply these rails anymore, but I keep hoping they will again some day.
This week saw the end of the planned trips; anything here on in will be responsive should anything come up. So it’s nice to finally slow down a bit and get a bit of rest….as long as a cold or flu doesn’t follow as I relax. It’s sort of the norm for me at this time of year, but I tried to front end load some of the work to reduce the pressure, although the empty days just filled up again anyway.
I was up in Campbell River earlier this week to wrap up two days for the third and final year of crosses for a genetic study that will still have five years of sampling returns to see though. On the way out of town and down to the next hatchery site I was spending a day at, I took the old highway and meandered along at a more leisurely pace, stopping to take a few photos along the way.
Another spot I seem to gravitate to is the little spit of land near the estuary of the Campbell River, and I never tire of these binoculars that look like people to me.
On the way out of town, close to the hotel I used to stay at, I saw this little dude and pulled a u-turn to go back to grab a shot. He made me smile, which I assume is his purpose in this world.
When I arrived in Courtenay for the night, I drove down to the airpark to go for a walk along the waterfront at the estuary. It was a spectacular day and the sky was clear blue and cloud free.
A heron was wading through some still water, watching closely for a fish to catch. A woman and her little daughter were standing next to me watching the heron when the little girl asked her mom “Mommy, what is he doing?”
“Fishing” she relied
“But, Mommy, we should tell him that all the fish are at the hatchery!”
I tried not to laugh, but it was so cute, particularly since that hatchery is where I was headed the next day. The mother turned to me and said “We were at the fish hatchery yesterday.” My response was that the fish at the hatchery right now are a little big for him to swallow.
I love the way the fall light at the end of the day is so golden, it’s colour belies its temperature, the day was warm when in the sunshine, but cold in the shade.
And after all that beauty, I made my way to one of my favourite hotels and checked in for the evening, and prepared myself for another day of working with fish.
My job is fun, but it’s certainly not glamorous. 😉
23 comments
Those robots seem surprised!