August 19th

The tide was in today and for the first time Dad and I weren't catching those fish endlessly like we were in the previous days. It took about two or so hours before the tide went out and our awesome fishing returned. We caught and bagged our limit, six to be donated to the Raptor Center and six to be flayed and smoked for future eating. What a gorgeous day. The sun made frequent appearances as blue sky showed itself. I could tell Dad was sucking it all in as much as he could for tomorrow he returns home.


-Look at how much the water carved out the river banks.






-We weren't the only ones out fishing that day.




-Our catch.



The bike ride back to S.J. is something I'll never forget. With a garbage bag containing six whole salmon for the Raptor Center, I road back to the dorms with Dad carrying our salmon keep. It didn't take long before the tiny hole in my bag split wide open and the slippery salmon scattered across the bike trail. Luckily we had a few grocery bags to stick the fish in and make it the rest of the way. What a sight that must have been for all of the cars driving by.

After dropping off the fish at the dorms we rode down to the Indian River bend directly across from the Raptor Center. This is the spot where Dad had located the bears runway and is also where the salmon ramp is located. We waited and watched for the bears and I began to take pictures of the salmon making there way up to the start of the ramp. It was so loud by the rapids I couldn't even hear Dad trying to get my attention. When looking up at him for what ever reason he pointed across the river. There feasting on a salmon was a much large bear than what we had been seeing at the center. It never even saw us as we gazed upon it. I couldn't seem to get a good picture though with the low lighting and my unsteady arms. Seeing this bear super close in that setting made me feel like I was on the Disneyland Jungle Safari, dorky as that sounds. It just didn't seem real having a bear that close and unaware of our presence.


-Salmon swarming around the base of the ramp.


-Shakie yet impressive picture of the bear.