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Published: January 21st 2008
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Flying squirrel
Photo credit: Amanda Lavers G'day
I hope everyone had a wonderful break, and all the best for 2008.
When the snow arrived on the 1st of December, I thought I was guaranteed a white Christmas. The snow continued to pile up until Christmas eve, when it suddenly turned warm (as in above 0) and began to rain. So I sat next to Elisa's awesome Christmas tree and watched out the window as the snow bit by bit disappeared. You can imagine my relief, when we arrived at Elisa's parent's place on Christmas day to discover that the snow had remained there. So I got my first white Christmas after all! Christmas day was brilliant, Elisa's mum put on a superb feast of roast turkey and all the trimmings.
Elisa and I headed back to Halifax for New Years. We stopped for a night with Elisa's cousin's in Antigonish, who had an iced over pond in their back yard. The perfect size for ice skating. There is a video of my first attempts at ice skating, clinging for dear life onto Elisa's arms, but unfortunately I don't have a copy as yet. So I can spare myself of that embarrassment. I'm proud to
say though - I never fell over. Still haven't mastered the art of stopping yet. From Antigonish we made very slow processes into Halifax as a snow storm reduced viability to almost zero and the roads became icy. The next day dawned perfect though, and Elisa and I explored Peggy's cove in the chilly sunshine and ate local seafood chowder. New Years eve was spent a party of Elisa's friend Veronique, and was a nice quiet affair.
The following two weeks were quiet and spent working as the Halifax Hostel housekeeper and coffee dates with Belinda and Julie at Starbucks (coz of the fire and checker board -
I am the champion). I came down with a nasty cold so wasn't up to much. Belinda and I went for a walk with the local Halifax outdoor club - not too sure where we went, but it involved a pretty icy lake and a hut. I'm also not sure if where we went was the intended route as there seemed to be a bit of bush bashing, but it was concluded with a potluck feast so all was good. We then ambled across the bridge to Dartmouth (I highly recommend
the walk across as it has awesome views over Halifax harbour) to the Dartmouth park. Making use of our accents, we approached a family with a toboggan and politely explained that we had never been tobogganing before and ask if they would show us. The father took us under his wing and navigated us safely down the slope and then handed us the reigns. I think we made it 2/3rds of the way down before wiping out. Emily's return to Halifax coincided nicely with the art gallery openings and the free food and drink. Although there's only one place Sunday night's in Halifax can be spent - the Lower Deck listening to Signal Hill.
I'm currently back in Kejimkujik National Park helping out with a flying squirrel project. Southern flying squirrels are listed among Nova Scotia's species at risk. Flying squirrels (actually gliders) appear to be sensitive to fragmentation and may be good indicators of landscape connectivity as they require mature trees. The aim of this project is to determine the life history information of the flying squirrels (fecundity, survivourship and dispersal). The animals will be live trapped and PIT (passive integrated transponders) tagged, nest boxes will also be
used. Brackets are placed at about chest height and baited with peanut butter (bashing around the bush stinking of peanut butter feels strangely familiar). Navigating around the semi-frozen snow covered bogs is an interesting task. I slip to the back every time I see one and watch and wait for the others to either fall in when the ice cracks or make it safely across. Currently we're pre-baiting and trapping should begin late next week. It's great to be outside again, after 2 weeks cleaning the hostel. I've spotted a few white deer in the woods and a barred owl the other day too. Otherwise the bush is quiet as most animals are either hibernating or have flown south for the winter.
I have mixed emotions as my time in Canada slowly draws to a natural end. There is no doubt I will be back at some stage. I still have Newfoundland to visit and the Yukon. There is still a hole in my Canada map where Manitoba and Saskatchewan are that need to be filed. I am really going to miss Canada and the people I've met along the way. I'll back in NZ just in time for
Eleanor's wedding and for the last couple weeks of the New Zealand summer! The current plan is to stay in NZ for a couple of months before heading to Europe (thinking Switzerland, Belgium, Germany, Italy, London and maybe Greece) via Asia (either China's silk road or Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam). Apparently you can fly from Europe to St John's Newfoundland, so that's an option too. Anyway dreams are free and I'll have to see what I can actually afford!!
I hope everyone is having fun.
Cheerio
Cielle
Ps. If anyone is in Vancouver from the 1st - 6th of February, let me know!
PPs. Today's weather forecast "Flurries at times heavy and local snow squalls. Local amount 2 cm except 10 cm in snow squalls. Local blowing snow. Wind northwest 30 km/h gusting to 50. High minus 12. Cold wind chill minus 30 this morning." And the pipes here have frozen over night, so currently there is no water!
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Andrea
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ice skating video
maybe Elisa could upload the video onto YouTube so we could all share in the laughs!