9Every year before we leave Fort Myers for the summer, "we" install hurricane shutters. Here's Bill finishing up that job last June — just before we left on our cross-country road trip back home to Oregon. We never doubted that it was a necessary job even though Hurricane Irma is the first one to hit the area since we bought our 'Canal Cottage' ten years ago. Definitely no doubts now!
Reports from management are that there was no significant damage to any homes within our resort. There is still no electricity so we are waiting for more detailed information as soon as they are able to check further. All of our friends who live there year-round evacuated safely and have not yet been able to return.
It was surreal watching and waiting from all the way across the country. Our thoughts are with all of those in Florida and the Caribbean who were harmed by this terrible storm.
It seemed like we spent every minute for several days watching Fort Myers TV on the station's website (an odd experience watching local Florida news when we're in Oregon –through the wonders of the Internet.) But to distract ourselves, one day we took a short drive to Dean Creek, near Elkton, to view the Roosevelt Elk herd that lives there.
The Roosevelt Elk is Oregon's largest land animal. These Elk can be found along the Pacific Coast from British Columbia to northern California. A herd of about 120 ranges along Dean Creek. Fall is the best time of year for viewing them.
At first we spotted only a couple of large groups of females and young and just this one young bull who was hanging out alone and quite far away from the rest of the herd.
There was some light coastal mist and not much color in the sky — but the air was fresh and clean along this coastal creek. It was good to be away from the Willamette Valley where the air still smelled smoky (it is a bit better this week). And of course it was good to think about something besides our Florida house.
After a few minutes of watching we spotted this magnificent bull — obviously the Alpha male of the herd. He was taking it easy as his harem grazed, until that smaller bull started to move toward the females.
Then he let the youngster know who was boss.
The young bull wisely turned around and went the other way — so (happily) we didn't see a fight.
The bull then began herding his cows and calves into a tighter group, but he stopped for this tender moment! This young one didn't seem to want to get up and move, so he got a few gentle nudges from his pop until he got up and joined the rest of the herd.
Our visit to Dean Creek was a happy distraction from what turned out to be not such bad news as we had feared.
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