Another Bizzard...and a Day Off

Today is Tuesday, November 4...there is a bizzard raging outside and I am not on the Tundra, but I am relaxing warm and comfortable at home in Churchill.   I could not believe my good fortune at this morning's breakfast meeting when I was told I had a day off.  Not that I don't enjoy my work, but I know from last year that having a day off every now and then does help.  I have worked 7 days straight up until now.   So laundry is being done, I plan on going to visit some of the local museums and other attractions.  I even will go to the gym for a short work out.  Driving the bus is great for certain arm muscles, but the rest of me is quickly loosing any of the muscle tone I built up over the summer.

My tour from France ended well on Sunday, and I really enjoyed the opportunity to listen to their language for three days.  I know my understanding improved considerably, and I was back to thinking in French rather than English.   I found myself talking first in French rather than English.

Yesterday was way too warm for the bears so they were not too active.  I had a tour of 15 from Frontiers North (our company), got to drive the 40 footer buggy, and had an enjoyable day.  Even on a rather poor "bear" day we saw over 15 bears including two sets of mothers with twins, and some very interesting bear interactions on the "Coast".  One younger bear was sleeping peacefully in a kelp bed on the shore of Hudson's Bay, when a slightly older and larger bear simply walked up wind.   The younger bear smelled the presence of the new bear, looked up and quickly walked away as the older bear sauntered over to the kelp bed and took over the sleeping spot.  I am sure it was still warm.

The bears spend a lot of time sleeping when it is so warm (it was around zero).   They overheat very quickly and resting on a pile of snow or in a kelp bed is one way to stay a bit cooler and conserve energy.

Well the dryer has finished its cycle, and I need to get on with my day off.  

Bye again from the Tundra.

Doug