The first part of our safari has been dedicated to photographing Grizzly and Black Bears in the wild and we certainly haven’t been disappointed. For those of you more interested in the Autumn Scenery and other Wildlife, don’t worry … that is all still to come. We left the Chilko River Lodge and our wonderful hosts, HOUSI and ANNETT for a change of scenery and have some nice accommodation, with power and an internet connection at Hagensborg, just down the road from Bella-Coola on the west coast of British Columbia. We had an early start on Monday in the rain with Fraser in his inflatable (Raft that is … not “Special” friend) and floated down the river. I’m really glad my deodorant isn’t made from fish oil because these Bears only have one thing on their mind at the moment … and that’s eating.
We have seen so many bears now I’ve lost count and it’s quite an adrenalin rush sitting in a little dingy only metres from these very powerful animals … did I mention they only have eating on their mind at the moment? On Tuesday, we had the pleasure of LES’ company for the “Cruise” in his fibreglass dingy which was a little more comfortable and my camera bag didn’t have to go swimming like the day before either. All in all, this dingy was a win for both my butt and my camera gear, plus it wasn’t raining. It is truly awesome to be sitting silently, with nothing more than camera shutters whirring at six shots a second, to record the action from just metres away from an animal that could happily make you their next meal. Did you see those claws? I think I’d be little high in cholesterol for them after eating all that Canadian Bacon and Maple Syrup soaked Pancakes for breakfast though. PAUL has been looking after us in the meals department and for those of you who know my Dad and his clockwork stomach well, telling you he had breakfast at 10:00am, lunch at 7:45pm and Dinner at 10:00pm yesterday will seem unbelievable, but it’s true!
The only really sad thing we’ve experienced here is seeing the thousands of Salmon, yes the ones John West Reject … dead or dying right in front of you. I understand that this is their natural life cycle, but it seems such an undignified end, to what is ultimately such a triumphant journey … all for the kids, which are those nice little red balls you saw the Bear eating in THIS PHOTO. Before they die, they are almost a fluorescent red colour, but after jumping their last rapid, they fast become a smelly, colourless rotting carcase. Depressed yet?
So this will be about the last of the Bear photographs for this trip, as tomorrow we have a short drive (about 10 or so hours) to our next destination, where we will begin to photograph some of the other scenery and wildlife we had on our list of things to do.MORE PHOTOS ADDED TODAY : ALBUM 2
If you would like to see some more photo's of what we've seen so far, please visit our PICASA Web Albums page!
Go To: http://picasaweb.google.com.au/styleid/Safari2008Album02#
Keep smiling ...
Darren & Keith Gardiner
Grizzly Hunters Extraordinaire
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