We were camping with Rob and Linda when Mal and Rob decided to canoe down the Little Red River.
A mother Merganser and her brood led the way for about an hour of the trip. The mother is at the back with the bright orange bill. There were 9 young, and they will also develop orange bills.
When they got close, the birds would run ahead. Mergansers typically run along the surface of the water to gain speed until they can take off in flight.
The Little Red had flooded earlier in the summer and banks washed away, leaving trees and debris in the water. This made the trip quite a challenge! They had only gone a short distance when they came across the first tree trunk, and tipped the canoe trying to get around it. This was the first of several soakings! In other places the river was very shallow and they had to get out and walk down the river. All in all, there were continual challenges!Meanwhile Linda and I drove to a Saskatoon Berry Farm and bought some great pies. Then we went to the bank of the river to await our returning heroes!
They arrived, very tired and soaking wet! Mal went off in the vain search for a hot shower, and Rob comforted himself with some hot chocolate. Now comes the best part of the adventure: "Remember that trip we took down Little Red...!"
