Sunday, we had breakfast with Angie and Chad at Osseo Family Restaurant. The skillets were so big, that we have another meal for tomorrow.
After a Wally World run and lounging around for a bit, we took a stroll to reset the Porcupine Traps. While we were out and about, we strolled the visitor center trail.
There were lots of bees and a few butterflies on this hot 88 degree day.
We saw plenty of Bullfrogs and one Garter Snake along the boardwalk.
There was a lone Whooping Crane and a few water fowl.
Most of the swans and waterfowl are hanging across the road at the overlook.
It was a nice beginning to our last week at Necedah NWR for 2024.
We went with Angie Monday morning to Necedah to get the school kids fitted with waders for this week's adventure.
Lauren and I spent the rest of our work day riding around looking for wolves/Blanding's Turtles.
We saw about 20 Sandhill Cranes and 8 Whooping Cranes.
We only saw 2 turtles, a Painted and a Snapping Turtle. The Snapper didn't hang around for a photo.
We saw 2 snakes basking in the road. Northern Water Snake and Eastern Fox Snake. New species for us!
While we were out and about, we noticed the ferns are changing colors. Fall is in the air!
After work, we started piddling around getting a few things organized in the camper.
Tuesday morning, we found a Chipmunk in one of the porcupine traps.
The rest of the day was spent pollywogging in the Neal Lateral Ditch. There were about 20 school kids, a few chaperones, Brad, Angie, and us.
We found 10 Giant Floaters and 1 Cylindrical Papershell. Lauren was the lucky one to find the unique species and wins a root beer float.
We found a total of 11 mussels that were relocated for the Little Yellow River Restoration Project. It was a fun day of mucking around in the shallow water.
Wednesday morning we checked to see what the beavers have been up at the beaver comb.
In the short time that we were out there, we saw a Belted Kingfisher and a Majestic Bald Eagle.
We went pollywogging again, only this time, Lauren and I stayed on the bank and let the kids and chaperones have at it. The water in this area was low and muddy.
They only found 2 Giant Floaters that were relocated.
After we returned, we placed the muddy waders on the wash rack and hosed them off.
Thursday morning we watched the release of about 5,000 Largemouth Bass being stocked in Harvey's Pond.
Afterwards, we had a fun day of watching the kids collect 320 mussels. There were 8 species of mussels found. Everyone had a great time.
The Friends group showed up with ice cream and popsicles. Yummy!
Friday we wrapped up a few work things, then packed most of the camper getting ready for our 1000ish miles home.
Brad made good on his root beer float award for Lauren finding the Cylindrical Papershell. Angie and I did pretty good too, with Brad footing the bill for our ice cream goodies at Rocky Road Ice Cream in Necedah.
We sat around with Brad and Angie for about an hour then sat around camp with Angie for about another hour. These guys and gals makes us feel special, taking time out of their busy schedules to spend time with us.
After Angie left, Lauren and I enjoyed an evening of listening to the cranes, swans, and geese. We were really in awe when we had a 19 Sandhill Crane flyover. A 19 crane salute is a great way to spend our last evening at Camp Chewy.
We pulled out of Camp Chewy a little bit after 10 am on Saturday. We traveled 251 miles in 4 hours to Princess Wenona RV Oasis. It is ironic that we stayed on our way to Necedah on 5-21-24 and we are staying on our way home on 9-21-24.
We got here around 2ish and had our choice of RV site. We are on site #1 looking out at the road and cornfields. Last time we were here, we had a couple come in, saw us pumping fuel, and they raced over to this site. Today, we parked Rap, unhooked from the camper, then fueled up. Lesson learned. Although, no other camper came in until around dark.
We spent the evening, playing on the lap tops, doing a little bit of armchair birding, and watching the traffic go by. We are no longer in our isolated campground.
Sunday we traveled 251 miles in about 4 1/2 hours with on and off light showers to Rend Lake. We are camped on site 111 with a view of the lake.
The rain stopped after we got here, allowing us ample time to sit outside and enjoy our view.
Sunday we traveled 313 miles in 5 hours and 10 minutes to our beautiful waterfront site,(#92), at Enid Lake, Wallace Creek CG.
Monday we traveled 264 miles in 6 hours and are Home Sweet Home!
