On the Lake again

I have arrived! My trip up was uneventful and filled with pleasant scenery. I met my supervisor, Frank Lopez, Reserve Manager, and got a quick lowdown on what was up here. I then moved into my marvelous dorm. It's quite posh.

I spent my first two, full days "off" as the visitor center is closed on Monday and Tuesday so I used those days to get familiar with the area. Huron is a lovely little place full of homes and friendly people. I have yet to visit the Boat Basin and the Huron Pier because I coudln't figure out how to get there. I rectified that on Tuesday when I met some of the previously mentioned friendly people who told me how to get there and where to fish and swim. They also mentioned that on Saturday nights, the Huron Boat Basin has a thing where people can come out and socialize. I am definately planning on checking that out. I've since found out that the Boat Basin and the Pier are great fishing spots.

Monday, however, I drove all the way to Sandusky (a whole whopping 10 minute drive) and found the Meijers grocery, all the restaurants, and Cedar Point. I knew on some level it was close but gosh golly geepers!

I went to the Sandusky harbour and looked around at all the cute closed-on-Monday shops. I have one wee picture because my batteries died on me. I'll get that and my barrier beach pictures up soon for you. After leaving there, I somehow ended up on Vermillion. I'll figure it out eventually right?

My dorm mates are John and Lindsey, both students of the university at California, Pennsylvania. They're here studying wildlife use of Phragmities after it's sprayed with herbicide. (That about all that will take it out once it's established.) They track birds and muskrats and also the growth rate of other plants. I'm thinking I might ask to go out with them some morning or evening just to see what they do.

Sooo, today is Wednesday, my first day in at "the office" and my first full blown orientation. I have lots of stuff to read about management plans and Old Woman Creek ecology profiles. In just a bit, I'll meet Heather, the education guru on site. I'll spend this week getting to know the Reserve grounds and on Thursday I get to go on my first canoe/kayack trip around the estuary. My camera will of course be with me.

Way cool ecological event of the week so far: Midges! (The non-biting ones.) We stood outside the dorms for a bit last night watching them whirl above the trees. It was quite cool because it looked like the tree tops had columns of smoke coming from them. I tried to get a good picture but it just wasn't happening. I'll try again tonight.

Until next time!