Category: Matthew Lettington

Today, I went to the zoo in Cuenca, and what a great experience it was! I took a taxi there, a 20 min. ride for $4 U.S. (that’s the currency here), and a bus back for 25c. Entrance fee was $6, and it took me four hours to make the tour. Granted, I took over 300 photos and read most of the signs, many of which were bilingual. Good for my emerging Spanish skills.

The zoo is a rescue center, and in this sign they outline the “sad pasts” of many of their clients, such as Pancha, the Mono Capuchino (capuchin monkey), who had been kept with a chain around his neck.

My favourite part of the zoo, apart from the lions being fed, was probably the aviary. There, I could get up close and personal with the exotic, colourful birds.

I also really enjoyed the monkeys, and some of the little ones had the run of the place.

I had bought a cup of fruit for lunch and set it down on the table when I went to take a picture of these two:

Then I heard some Ecuadorians laughing and turned around to see this little monkey had taken liberty with my fruit!

                                      The monkey enclosure:

here

On June 24, I led a group of 12 students, 2 grade 8’s, 7 grade 9’s, 2 grade 11’s, and 1 grade 12, to Flores Island, a 35 minute water-taxi ride from Tofino on Vancouver Island’s west coast.

The water-taxi ride over to Flores.

After docking, we had a short walk through the Ahousaht Indian Reserve to the trailhead.

Some of us at the trailhead, in a light drizzle.

Hideki and Zack crossing one of the many beaches on our 11 k. hike to our campsite.

Emma on some seaside scrambling.

Brayden heading up one of the headland trails.

Because it was a rising tide, I elected to take the notorious “Trail of Tears,” instead of taking the short-cut across the river. The trail wasn’t made any more pleasant with the light drizzle that drenched all the salal.

The kids entertained themselves with games of concentration whenever the opportunity arose.

Despite the soaked wood, the gang managed to get a fire going.

Ah! Leigh with the no-bake cheesecake. I overhead one of the campers say she’d “never tasted anything as good!”

Jay putting the final touches to the cheesecake.

Roasting smokies over the fire at Cow Bay.

The second day, Thursday, we headed off at about 9:30 on a hike up the coast, some drizzle again.

Another game of concentration.

Katie maneuvering through the rocks.

Crossing Cow River.

Some lovely seaside scrambling.

Fording another creek.

Peter leading the way down the rocks.

Beautiful shells along the way!

Leigh’s collection of shells.

Heading back to camp.

Collectiing firewood along the way back to camp.

Sandrine and Melanie with some nimble moves across the creek.

That’s a big piece of wood!

Back at camp a few of them braved the cold waters for a dip.

A selfie on the rocks at camp.

Harlequin ducks near camp.

Making Jay into a “mermaid.”

Peter bites the sand.

And then the sun finally came out!

The whole group.

Heading back to Ahousaht on Friday.

Fording the river so that we avoided the “Trail of Tears.”

Sunny, and becoming hot on Friday.

Jay and David nearing Ahousaht.

On the boat ride back.

Tired campers!

But still having fun!

I took a school group out to Keeha Bay last weekend, near Bamfield on the west coast of Vancouver Island. I didn’t really know what to expect from the trail. In years past, it had taken up to 3 hours to slog the 4 k. through the mud, over and under the trees to the beach.   The beach didn’t disappoint, whales, although not too close, were feeding offshore, 4 bears were spotted, a weasel, eagles, and osprey.

While in Saskatoon, I went out with my dear old (with an emphasis on the old!) friend Frank Roy to take pictures. We chased and caught this rainbow, although my photo doesn’t do it justice.

A yellow-headed blackbird. They were very plentiful this evening!