Camping at Green Lake

 

Leo and I camped at Green Lake Provincial Park for 3 days in July.  There are no non-reservable sites in any of the three campgrounds.  When I tried to make a reservation I found that you had to make the reservation at least 2 days ahead so I could not make a reservation for our first day.  So I reserved the other 2 days and we drove down early on Day 1 assuming that site would be free.  It worked out to be the case, but the park reservation system is nuts.  Half the park was empty, many of the previously reserved sites were never occupied.  If you just drop in you can stay in your site for one or 2 days only because someone might make a reservation while you are there.  Anyway. Rant over.

We didn't bring a boat because Leo is recovering from carpal tunnel surgery so we didn't get out on the lake.  We spent a good deal of time sitting in our campsite reading and watching birds.

For instance this dusky flycatcher who entertained us all 3 days:

There's a nice trail that follows the lake to the edge of the park

and then onto a network of snowmobile trails that lead to a small lake

in a meadow full of wildflowers.

Bedstead, brown-eyed Susan's and timber vetch

We discovered these large, attractive, white thistles that we assumed to be a European import, but turn out to be Hooker's thistle, native to western North America. 

 We later saw some at Big Bar Lake so the South Chilcotin must be the limit of their range; we've never seen them in our neck of the woods.

In the afternoon we went for a swim in the lake, then a long walk.  On the way back I felt a trickle down my back, discovered it was, gasp,

Blood!  Then I pulled this out from under my shirt:

What is it?  Approximately life size.

A leech had been on me for 3 hours!  I didn't feel a thing.   Of course it had to be duly documented for the blog.

I did force myself to go for another swim the next morning and emerged leach free.