Soakin' up the sun

The warm temperatures are sticking around! And by warm, i mean above ten. Positively balmy. So, we've been undertaking some new outdoor activities the past couple of days:

Biking! (With a gun, no less.)

Sunny as the days have been, the destination of our bike trip, Ramsay Lake, was completely frozen over still...

Next activity: The beach!

But of course, the water is still in its solid phase...ice...

Really thick ice...

The waves weren't exactly crashing ashore...


As you can imagine, there was not much swimming or tanning going on at this beach. But, we did get in some good seal-spotting (and seal-pretending)!

Next activity: Bouldering! This came about through exploration of Da Bluff's infamous crevice, which will now and forever invoke tales of Amanda the Human Bridge. Here we are, entering the crevice...


Must boulder to avoid ice and water!
Good thing we've been training at the Grotto... eh, Planktoneers?

Who knew Churchill would be the place to go for outdoor climbing!




Of course, we haven't forgotten our regular rock pool sampling and salting, on top of these extracurriculars. See, Karl, we are working!

We got some terrific help today from Sara, a fellow CNSC summer resident who is up here studying the effect of climate change on tundra plants. Here she is helping with the salt manipulation at Pool 70.

Now, besides these outdoor adventures, there have also been some interesting indoor happenings the past couple of days...but those will have to wait for another post(s).


Here's to more ten-degree beach weather!