Happy Mother's Day (2)

ムースに感激した後も、まだまだカナダの野生動物との遭遇は続きます！

次の動物はこれ、カナディアン・ギース(雁）です(*^^)
Our impressive encounter with the moose turned out to be only the beginning!  We then had a seemingly endless series of Canadian wildlife sightings as we continued on down the river!

この前のブロクに載せた国歌のビデオの一番最初に出てくる鳥がこのカナディアン・ギースです。

Just like at the very beginning of the Canadian National Anthem video I posted on a previous blog, these are Canadian Geese!

次は、この木です。他の木と比べても分るように太い大きな木ですが、根元をみるとビーバーがかじった跡があります。川のほとりにはたくさんビーバーがかじった木がたくさん見られます。私たちも実際にこのカヌー中にビーバーを見ました。実物は全長１ｍくらいはあるんじゃないかと思うくらい大きく、あまりの衝撃に写真を取る余裕がありませんでした。かわいいというより怖いくらい大きく素早かったです（笑）

In looking at this picture you might notice that there is one tree that is much bigger than the other trees around it.  If you look at the base of this tree, you might be able to see that part of its trunk has been chewed away! It looked as though if we were to give it a push, it would easily come crashing down!  This is the work of Canada's National Animal: the hard working beaver!　We could see lots of trees that had been fallen by beavers.  The left-over tree stump look like a roughly sharpened pencil.

I was just thinking it was strange that we hadn't actually seen any beavers, when....  Suddenly a huge beaver scampered along the edge of the river and splashed into the water.  I jumped in my seat!  We must have startled it, but it also definitely startled me!  It was much bigger than I expected!  It must have been around half a meter big!!  With all that excitement, unfortunately I wasn't able to take a picture...

次に紹介するのは、マスクラット（Muskrat）というカナダの水辺に住む動物です。マスクラットにはこのカヌー中に10匹以上は遭遇したと思います。最初はビーバーかなぁと思ったときもありましたが、本物のビーバーを見たあとは、もちろん、はっきりと違いが分ります。マスクラットは小さめのうさぎくらいの大きさですし、名前にラットと入っているだけあって、尻尾がネズミのように細いのが特徴的でした。見る分にはビーバーよりマスクラットがかわいいなぁと個人的には思いました(*^_^*)
We also saw a Muskrat.  

Muskrats are called that because they have a tail that looks like a rat's tail.　We saw lots and lots of Muskrats...and in keeping with the season, we even saw two muskrats having a romantic encounter!

雪どけ水のせいで増水した川で、途中どちらに行っていいか分らない場面がありました。下の写真は現在地を確認するためにJoanさんが上陸した写真です。川を下るだけで下流に簡単に行けると思いましたが、そんなに簡単ではありませんでした。(>_<)

The river was so flooded, at one point it split into two opposite ways.  We paddled back and forth.  Eventually, we had to get out and have a look around to see which way the river went!  

進む方向を確認して再度出発です！！Howardさんの待つゴールを目指します！！

カヌーをこぎ出して2時間半が経過したところで、ようやくゴールに着きました～！岸で待つHowardさんが見えます！！（Joanさんの左方に小さく映るHowardさんが見えます(*^_^*)）

Finally, we found our way...but what had started out as an easy little paddle down the river had turned into a 2 hour plus canoeing adventure!!  We were happy to see Howard waiting for us along the river bank (you can see him   just beside Joan's left shoulder).

くたくたの私とJoanさんはここでカヌーを降りて、カリナの家のディナーに向かいます(*^_^*)Steveはカヌーが拾いやすいところまであと一頑張りです！！ガンバレSteve！！！
We found a good place for Joan and I to get out.  We were late for dinner, so Howard drove us quickly to Karina's.  Steve continued-on by himself further down the river to a place where he could more easily load the canoe up onto the truck.

私たちがKarinaの家に着いた時は夕食の準備は完璧にできていました☆☆Karinaありがとうございます！！
この日のディナーはギリシャ料理でした。
フェタチーズたっぷりのギリシャ風サラダ、タズキと呼ばれるきゅうりとヨーグルトのソースで頂くチキン、スパナコピタと呼ばれるほうれん草のパイ包！デザートはイチゴのスコーンでした♪全て手作りでおいしい～！！！の連続でした。

When we arrived at Karina's, she had already prepared everything!  It was an amazing Greek Feast!!!  

Seasoned grilled chicken with home-made tsatziki on the side (made with yoghurt and cucumber slices), hand-made spanakopita (filo pastries stuffed with spinach and feta cheese) fresh out of the oven, even a greek salad with lots of Feta cheese!  All wonderfully complimented with a nice Greek wine. 

And for desert, freshly baked scones topped with piles of nice and ripe sliced strawberries.   It was soooo delicious!

とっても素敵な母の日でした(*^_^*)

It was such a lovely Mother's Day!  I feel so fortunate to have been a part of it(*^_^*)