Camping Trip, Day Four

Thursday, Sept. 23: Up around 7 a.m. Water at river high, so no trout fishing. Boo-hiss.

Since we couldn't fish, we went to a bird watching program at 9 a.m., where the interpreter showed us how to properly adjust our binoculars. We learned that each individual needs to adjust binoculars for their own visual needs. This is done by first looking for a distant object to focus upon...in our case, it was a sign. The second step is to close the right eye and use the focusing wheel on top of the binoculars until the object is in clear focus. Then close the left eye and adjust the diopter on the right lens until the object is in clear focus.

We have binoculars, though they are not a top brand, and not exactly the strength recommended. Still they worked fine, once Hubbie adjusted them to his eyesight. The rest of us used binoculars provided by the interpreter. If I remember correctly, the interpreter suggested 8x42 strength. Ours are 7x35. She said to look for any strength divisible by five.

The interpreter related a story about a guy visiting from a northern state, who saw for the first time a cardinal, and declared it to be the most beautiful bird he'd ever seen. Cardinals are as common as blue jays all year round in our part of the country, so we are accustomed to seeing them. They are most striking in winter, bringing color to gray days, and standing out brilliantly against snow.

After we'd set our binoculars, we trooped to the river overlook, where the interpreter pointed to a large sycamore tree on the other bank. There, through binoculars, we saw amazing Great Blue Heron rookeries...huge nests built onto the tree branches. These large platforms of wooden sticks are built 20 to 90 feet above the ground.

The park is also home to turkey vultures, and a flock was circling above us today in search of food. With our binoculars, we were able to get a better look at them in flight. They are a decidedly unlovely bird, but they are very efficient at cleaning up carrion.

This bird watching program made us enthusiastic to pursue the hobby, which the interpreter noted is the most popular hobby in the world...because there are birds everywhere, and studying them is relatively inexpensive and easy to do (once the hobbyist obtains binoculars, a bird identification book, and a life book, which is a journal for noting the birds one sees).

There are also bird watching clubs in many communities that enthusiasts can join for a nominal fee. These groups plan bird watching outings that help the novice learn more about identifying bird songs, as well as about identifying the birds themselves. I searched for such a club in our area, but found none.

No matter, I still plan to get the recommended bird identifier book and life book and begin this new hobby, even if I only watch birds in my own back yard. The interpreter said that every year there is a worldwide bird count, including a count of backyard birds, so I can participate in that. Who knows, maybe someday, I'll start a club in our community.

Later, after lunch, we went to an 1890s village. This village is many years old and the worse for wear, but it's still interesting. There's a hotel, a general store with post office, a house, a church, a jail and a livery, where coffins were made. There's a barn and barnyard with friendly ponies and a donkey. There's also is a train engine on a track, and a gold sluicing box with water pump. The schoolhouse, unfortunately, burned to the ground, and all that's left are blackened timbers.

The village includes a cavern that can be toured for a fee (entrance to the village was free), but no one was interested in seeing it. Mother and Sis are not into caverns, and Hubbie thought the entrance fee was too high.

So we returned to camp and enjoyed cookies and ice cream while sitting outdoors. Sis is lactose intolerant, but Hubbie and I found lactose free ice cream at grocery store.

This afternoon, Hubbie, Sis, and I made another trip out (Mother stayed at camp to rest). We went to the Visitor's Center to look for the recommended bird watching book, which was unavailable, and then went to several stores looking for a Styrofoam ice chest for Sis, so she could take home her ice cream, and the two trout we'd caught.

The only store that had one was a package store, and the cost was over $5...way overpriced. At a discount store, we were advised to go to the WDCS, seven miles away. We did, but no Styrofoam chests there, either. Sis settled for a regular plastic chest.

On the way back to camp, I asked if Sis could spend a few more days with us when we got home, and she agreed. Hubbie said that if he'd known she was going home with us anyway, he could have given her one of our Styrofoam chests. Oh well, she said, she'd been needing a regular ice chest, anyway.

Later, we had goulash for supper, and then afterwards, we fished from the bank near the boat dock. I promptly broke my fishing line and lost my hook and sinkers, so I abandoned the effort and went rock hunting along the bank. Hubbie and Sis continued, and eventually Hubbie brought in a small brown trout.

Back at camp, we played Skipbo, with Sis winning two games, and Hubbie winning two.