Monday, May 27, 2024
After breakfast this morning, I took a walk around the campground passing by many sites with tent campers stirring and starting to cook breakfast. I arrived at the Nature Center and dropped in to check it out. Inside, I spoke to a friendly attendant among the displays of animals and plants of the region. She told me that there was a bald eagle nest with three eaglets near fledging in the park’s nesting area and showed me where it was located on a map. So, I walked to the eagle blind and along the edge of the protected nesting area for a glimpse.
—— Standley Lake Nature Center ——
In addition to a nice view of snowy mountains and a red-winged blackbird, I spotted the dead tree with the eagle nest and one of the parents perched above it. Unfortunately, it was too far away to see the eaglets or get a sharp photograph.
—— Eagle Viewing Area ——
I continued walking along Standley Lake shore and chatted with an early fisherman (no nibbles yet). From the shoreline, I had a great view of Bird Island Rookery. There were lots and lots of black double-crested cormorants nesting in the trees while large white pelicans paddled around in the marshy waters below.
—— Bird Island Rookery ——
Continuing along the lake, I spoke with a couple of local ladies just returning from kayaking and learned that I could get a close view of the eagle’s nest from a road bordering the park. Hopefully, I’ll be able to see the eaglets before we depart. There were also two Canada geese with their goslings feeding in the grassy area next to the shore.
—— Standley Lake Shore ——
After returning to the RV from my morning walk, Jane and I packed up and drove about 20 minutes to visit Jane’s sister, Stephanie, and her husband, John. We spent the rest of our Memorial Day with them catching up on family news.
John is recovering from a left-shoulder replacement surgery six weeks ago. While painful, especially early after the surgery, with aggressive physical therapy he is gradually improved his range of motion. He is hoping to schedule replacement surgery of his right shoulder in August. John’s injuries were sustained after a fall off their front porch and consequently, John and Steph will have porch railings installed soon. This convinced Jane and I that we also need to finally install safety railings around our front stoop and steps, something that we had been discussing doing for decades now. While Steph watered plants, we explored the back yard and deck with their three dogs running about us. And, of couse, Jane managed to get a load of laundry done during our visit.
Shortly after 2 pm, we headed out for a late lunch at a nearby new venue, the Prost Brewery & Biergarten. The brewery’s vast interior had the authentic feel of a German beer hall and offered a large selection of German-style beers on tap, no IPAs for Jane. We grabbed beers at the tap and ordered food that was brought to our table. The beer and food were delicious and after lunch, we sat in the outdoor biergarten and listened to a four-man country music band lead by Eric Golden, before heading back to John and Stephanie’s house.
—— Prost Brewery Biergarten ——
Early in the evening, Jane and I drove back to the campground, stopping at Target for drinking water, with John and Steph following in their car. At the campground, we drove past the lake, then socialized some more in our motorhome before John and Steph headed home. Afterwards, Jane and I drove the RV back to the watering station to refill the freshwater tank, then reset-up camp and soon afterwards, headed to bed.