The White Squirrel Makes An Unexpected Appearance

The thunderstorm that we were expecting in the night missed us. However, there were severe thunderstorm warnings out for later in the day. The grey clouds in the sky warned us that the thunderstorm wouldn't miss the next time around. 

As Penny and I got out of the tent, we looked over at the campsite across from us. We had heard them packing up to go home about an hour earlier. All was quiet and empty over there. And then, to our dismay, we noticed that something was wrong. Yet another family had gone and left their campfire burning! That made two in two days! I couldn't believe it! It wasn't as large a fire as the day before, but it was far from out. Perhaps the family figured that it was going to rain anyways (big mistake!). I don't know for sure, but needless to say it made us angry. At least this time we had water and containers readily available and we set about putting it out properly. 

Since this would be our last day and my last chance to try to find the white squirrel, I decided to take a walk down to the beach by myself for one last look around. I said a prayer asking to see the squirrel as I made my way down the road. Time was running out and God had never let me down before. I had asked Him to see a porcupine a year or two previous and He delivered. Surely He wouldn't let me down now. 

Down in the driftwood by the shoreline a little sparrow was playing hide and seek. He blended so well with his background that he almost went unnoticed.  

A dragonfly was also pretty good at blending in to its environment. 

I stayed in the quiet peacefulness down by the dock, looking at the purple vetch flowers  for awhile. It was so nice to have left the outside world for awhile and I wanted to capture as many moments of peace as I could before I had to go back. 

Eventually I knew I had to go back up to the campsite and get packed up though. I did one last scan around the trees for the white squirrel. But the only thing peering back at me was that little sparrow.  I was a little disappointed that I hadn't seen the elusive squirrel, but I just told myself that I guess some things are just not meant to be. I resigned myself to the fact that this was one of those times. 

I had reached the top of the hill and was just about to turn the corner on the road to my campsite when I spotted it. Across the road on my left was a white object moving in the trees. It was the white squirrel! It was sitting in a tree eating some beech nuts. My disappointment quickly turned to excitement and I whispered a than-you prayer to God (who once again did not let me down) as I walked slowly and quietly over to where it was. 

By this point I was nervous that I was going to scare it off before I could get a picture. It stopped eating for a second or two and eyed me up and down for a moment. 

I guess it decided that I was nothing to be too concerned about because it just went back to eating. I got a few pictures and then it crossed my mind.... I have to get Penny! Quick!
So I tip-toed away until I figured I was far enough away that I wouldn't scare it and then I ran like the wind. 
I ran to the trailer and grabbed open the door and yelled "Penny!! White Squirrel!!"

Penny came bolting out of the trailer, camera in hand and she followed close behind me as I ran back towards where I last saw the white squirrel. I was really hoping it would still be there. When I got close to where I last saw it I stopped running. Then I started tip toeing again and Penny did the same. Sure enough, the white squirrel was still there! I motioned silently to Penny where it was and pointed it out. She was very happy that she got to see it too! We were able to watch it for a little bit but not for too long. I guess one person watching it was one thing, but two was a bit too unnerving for it. So it climbed further into the underbrush until eventually we couldn't see it anymore. 

We would hear a noise from time to time, but instead we would see just a regular red squirrel. I guess this was a popular tree for the squirrels to eat from. 

After the excitement of the white squirrel, we headed back to our campsite to tear down the tents. The tent we slept in did not have many visitors on it, but the dining tent sure did!  In particular it had one very large spider called a "Dark Fishing Spider" on it. 

There was also a stink bug and some sort of colourful worm-like thing (of which I have no idea what it is).

A Robber Fly was having his breakfast which consisted of a little, green, weevil. 

But the cutest visitor of all was a little Spring Peeper Frog. I usually get insects on the dining tent, but I think this was the first time I ever had a frog on my dining tent. 

Over in the campsite next door, Anika, Julie, and Shelli were packing up the trailer. Of course packing up didn't stop us from having fun while we were doing it. 

We got everything tore down and packed up just in time. As we were getting into our cars the rain started coming down. Not a moment too soon! 
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It had been another great trip for the Chicks In The Stix and we are looking forward to doing it again next year!