November 1, 2004

November 1, 2004

Trout Lodge

DAY 137

 

Today was a little cooler weather, and it rained hard for most of the day. We experienced a power outage for about half an hour this afternoon, just before it got dark.

Today Joanne started working in the Country Wheel Store. Seems she's needed there more than at the front desk. Great !

I was assigned to help clean up Hillcrest Hall, where the Hallowe'en Candy Carnival had been held on Saturday night. While I was at the beach, emptying the sand out of the luminary paper bags < sigh > I watched a bald eagle soaring over Sunnen Lake, and a mink scampering along the pontoon boat dock. Cleaning of Hillcrest Hall was finished by noon. After lunch, I met with Lunny the Program Director, and Jessica the Volunteer Co-ordinator, to plan how my time and skills could best be put to good use for the next month.

As we drove out of the RV Park, to go to Trout Lodge for supper, we encountered an adult female skunk with her 2 babies, on the road just outside the RV Park gate. When we drive out of the RV Park, we have to drive about 1000 feet down Hwy. AA, and then back onto the YMCA property through the Triangle Y Ranch entrance. As soon as the headlights hit the skunks, the babies ran into the ditch. The mother waddled slowly down the middle of the road in front of us, enticing us to follow her and leave the babies alone. If I allowed the truck to get a bit too close, she would stop and raise her tail. That was my signal to hit the brakes and allow her to get a bit more ahead of us before proceeding. Now this event wouldn't be all that extraordinary, except that ... are you ready ... all 3 skunks were white ! ! ! We discussed it with other staff over dinner. These white skunks have been spotted around the property before. They're actually a sort of light grey colour. Their fur is white on top, with a black under coat. Most unusual !

DSK