The Null Century

My plan to skip (that is, not study) the 19th Century for my comp exam (which is in less than 10 days) underwent radical revision last night after I noticed that one examiner's questions all begin with a phrase like "In the 19th Century..." Though this century is known by many for its lack of history, and indeed was hailed "the null century" by a woman I met at the coffee shop a few days ago, I am now reading about the revolutions of 1848. What is this world coming to.

The Mountains

On a hike in East Sook park, looking east from Vancouver Island across to the Coastal Mountains on the mainland. The mountains were pretty amazing to me who grew up in flater places.

Bald Eagle, Mom!

By far the most exciting animals sighted, in terms of lording it over my family, were the two bald eagles we saw on the ferry ride through the San Juan and Gulf Islands from Victoria to Vancouver. (Bald eagle lower left, baby!)

OK, I know you can't see it so well in the picture above (although in person, I clearly saw the white head and feet feathers, causing me to burst into the national anthem, which rather shocked my Canadian fellow-passengers on the ferry) but then the thing totally landed right near us.
(below--note glorious sunrise behind magestic eagle)

269 pictures of Canada: to the reader

We did not just take 269 pictures of public transportation, British Columbia, and my face close-up. We took 269 pictures of Canada in the service of several highbrow themes!

Two themes dominate: vehicular transportation and (related) the VW buses of British Columbia. Here (right): the train to the airport.

But, knowing the interests of my reader, I will cut right to a secondary theme: the potentially dangerous/occasionally slightly threatening plants and animals of Canada. Yes, CBAM, nature.

Back from the true north

Your blogger is now back from the Canadian wilderness so you can stop staring sadly off toward said wilderness and wondering forlornly if a cougar has eaten me yet. But now I'm about to be eaten by my comp exam, which is in a week and a half--yikes stripes fruit gum! (as a colleague, skinnier-than-you, put it.) Stand by for way more pictures than you want to see of me and fellow traveler on various modes of transportation and interacting with Canadian plants and animals.

Safety Guide to Cougars

Research (thanks to Tom) has shown that cougars are far less likely to eat me than I'd previously thought. I learned that if I meet a cougar while frolicking through the wilds of British Columbia, there are important safety precautions to take: Do not approach the cougar. Remain calm. Wave a large stick over your head.

Sounds pretty simple, eh?

This bit was a little disheartening:

Cougars seem to be attracted to children, possibly because their high-pitched voices, small size, and erratic movements make it difficult for cougars to identify them as human and not prey.

Sadly, you could replace the word "children" with "Your Small American" in the above sentence and it would be a fair description. While in Canada, I'll try to cut down on my erratic movements.

In another another country

The author of this blog will shortly be in Canada! Will my powers still work? Unknown. But now with the happy addition of a digital camera (thanks to all who helped!) this blog will feature photos of upcoming Canadian Vacation (contingent on aforementioned blogger not being eaten by a couger).