Hope for Wildlife..and hope for Doug

Doug got up very early and took the car into the repair shop. Unfortunately, they could not help us until Monday. But, intrepid Doug crawled under the chassis and managed to tie up the muffler with wire, as a temporary fix. So, we were rough and ready for the Hope for Wildlife Annual Open House. It is a beautiful drive from Halifax to Seaforth . Southeast Nova Scotia is really picturesque and we even recognized some of the landscape from the TV show. But, my heart sank when I saw the parked cars lining the road by the rehab centre. Parking extended 2 k on both sides of the entrance. 1400 people had descended on the site. I doubted I could do the walk. Still, I recalled that the website said the local funeral home was offering a shuttle service. And, sure enough, a black limo pulled up, and offered a lift. In minutes we were dropped off at the entrance and there loomed the next challenge. The driveway to the centre was a huge hill. Aargh. But, no sooner did I sigh in resignation, than a cute little golf cart type vehicle pulled up and offered me, Doug and my walker a ride up to the top. Perfect! We toured the buildings, the ICU, the hospital, and saw the baby raccoons nursery ( well, we can see them at home), & viewed an endangered species of turtle recuperating after a car collision ( "only whisper, please"). Now, for the peak experience - I met Hope Swinimer. And, Doug took our picture. See below. She is just as warm and friendly as she seems on her television programme. It was a great afternoon. And we were so impressed with their handling of the logistic challenges. The tv show always ends with the last lines of a SkyDiggers refrain..so befitting: "Hello beautiful, Hello beautiful, Hello beautiful life". En route back home, we stopped at Lawrencetown Beach so Doug could have a swim. We neglected to carefully read the sign, which said : “Very strong surf with hurricane swells. Danger: swells are very strong. Enter the water only if you are experienced with surf conditions”. Hmm. Well, Doug had lots of fun in the waves until the surf picked him up and dropped him on his head on the ocean floor. He emerged battered and bruised. Bloody nose and a real shiner. “So there!”, said Mother Nature. Yet, our Doug is still a devoted ocean swimmer.