Travels
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Unexpected kindness In 2006 I drove the southern edge of British Columbia and was attracted by the Creston wildlife area: designated a wetland of international significance, according to the sign. Eagerly I drove there, only to discover they were closed for construction. A nice, young staff person was on duty in the parking lot, and he offered to take me for a canoe tour. Delightful! I sat; he paddled; I had a wonderful time.
So, as I wander across BC again this year, I was counting on a canoe tour. I showed up about noon Monday—only to discover they're closed Mondays because it's still spring. Oh. Bother. Snarf. I decided my hopes were important enough to change my schedule for, and camped (in a terrible little campground) that afternoon and evening, reappearing at the Wildlife Centre as their doors opened at 9. "Good morning; I'm here for the 9:00 canoe trip!" I announced gaily. And a staff member said, "Uh oh."
It's spring here. Before the tourist season. Schools are still in session. And they had about 30 middle schoolers arriving at 9:30. No canoe trips till afternoon. Did I want to wait?
Oh, how I wanted to wait! But I'd already lost half a day, and I'm not physically able to walk the trails all morning ... and I couldn't even be angry and resentful, because I'm a teacher and understand these things!
Carla Ahern, the staff member in charge, was so nice about it all! She gave me a hat pin, and didn't charge me admission, and walked me through the museum/learning area, explaining and answering questions. And suggested I try the Duck Lake drive, just a bit up the road, to see wildlife and birds. She marked a map for me, which I glanced at before driving off—which meant I stayed on Duck Lake Road, assuming it led to Duck Lake. Seems logical, no?
No. I turned around in a farmer's field and gave up completely, driving east to Kimberley, where the underground train ride wasn't open because it's too early in the season. I did see the building-size cuckoo clock there, and drove on in the rain, stopping at Fort Steele to camp. And they have emus, whom you can feed!
Emus bite, by the way. But it was still fun. So I look back at my day, filled with disappointment, and what I remember is how kind Carla was, and how much fun it was to feed the emus, and what glorious country this is!
God is good!
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