July 31th

I was so tired after work I passed out almost immediately after sitting my butt on my bed to kick off my shoes. Near 7:00 p.m. I woke up refreshed but I'm positive I could have slept the entire night through. I still haven't caught up on my sleep since Erik was here. I forced myself to get up and once again go picking berries behind the Raptor Center. Lindsay and I had done this two nights earlier so I knew were the best spots were located. We are going to make jam as soon as the sunny weather comes to an end. I made sure to bring my bear mace as there has been two bear attacks recently in the area. I said hi to Sunny and Katzeek as I picked behind there habitat. Sunny screamed at me but gave up when I continued on my way picking berries. I was rocking out to Tinted Windows when I saw two after hours visitors on the centers deck. I said hi to them and they quickly disappeared knowing that they were indeed trespassing.


-Wild blueberries.


-Wild huckleberries.


-Berry batch #2, includes stained hands.

When crossing the road I paused to peer over the bridge edge. The Indian rivers deepest pools are beginning to fill up with pink salmon. I have been told that soon it will look as if you can walk across there backs it will be so full.


-The pinks below the bridge.



The salmons journey is incredible. They return every year to there birthplace where they will spawn. The craziest thing about there story is that when they are born they work their way down the river to live in the ocean. They spend 4-5 years there until they are ready to spawn themselves , they once again return to the fresh water of the river were they were born. The switch from salt water to fresh water slowly breaks down their own flesh and they begin to literally rot away. By the time they reach their birth place they spawn and hours later are dead. Thousands of dead salmon carcases will then litter the rivers and streams creating a buffet for the eagles.