Breakfast was at 7.15 with a scheduled 8am departure - the daily regime, which soon became routine, was to eat breakfast, pack lunch from an array of goodies and then finish dressing adding to the layers we already had on with a Helly Hanson green waterproof bibbed set of trousers and a jacket, which we selected from the small, medium, large and XL+ array of sizes in the drying room, we added Wellington boots ( which I added felt linings to) and a life jacket.
While in the lodge we were in grave danger of overheating but in the wet cold conditions outside we were very grateful for the additions.
11 of us boarded our boat, moored outside the lodge, and headed off to the Mussel River for a days grizzly bear viewing - the other group went looking for spirit bear.
As we arrived we met the local Rangers who look after the area and protect it from interlopers who might worry the bears. As we transferred to a punt which took us to our bear viewing spot we could see a bear waiting to welcome us eating in the sedge grass.
The day's weather could best be described as constant rain with torrential bursts which only stopped at lunchtime, as we were pondering on going back to the boat to eat so we stayed out.
Luckily the rain was bearable as we had 12 bears over the day fishing in the river, crossing it, searching for salmon in the dead trees which were littering it, and sleeping on the bank opposite. A mother and 3 large two year old cubs suddenly appeared out of the bushes and crossed not far from us ( today's photo). We even saw a brave black bear mother and two cubs walk along the opposite bank - unusual as they are normally pushed off by the larger grizzlies. When we had breaks without bears we watched the little bonaparte gulls fishing for salmon eggs and noted increased gull activity early afternoon so guessed there was probably increased spawning activity up the river.
At 4pm we decided to leave as everyone was cold and bear activity had slowed. Back on the boat we warmed up and ate any remaining lunch as we sped back to the lodge for a hot shower and to catch up with the other group.
We realized how lucky we were when their days viewing had been nil bears and one vole!!
In the evening, after supper, we headed to the Big House, a lovely new traditional community house, where the young people who were learning about their traditional culture put on a show for us - and we had to join in with the drumming(men only) dancing and singing.