ELK ISLAND PARK BUFFALO

TERRY AND I HAVE VISITED ELK ISLAND PARK MANY TIMES SINCE MOVING TO EDMONTON. IT TAKES ABOUT 45 MINUTES TO AN HOUR TO DRIVE THERE AND WE REALLY ENJOY THE JOURNEY. 

IRONICALLY, THE PARK IS KNOWN FOR ITS BUFFALO SIGHTINGS..HA HA.  USUALLY WE MIGHT SEE A LONE BUFFALO ABOUT 200 YARDS AWAY IF WE’RE LUCKY. WE DECIDED TO HAVE A WEDDING ANNIVERSARY PICNIC AT THE PARK AND IT WAS OUR FIRST SUNNY DAY IN A WEEK . PERFECT ! 

AS WE NEARED THE WATER WE NOTICED THAT THERE WERE ACTUALLY QUITE A FEW CARS IN THE ‘VIEWING LOOP’ . WE HAVE ALSO TAKEN THIS LOOP THROUGH THE NATURAL HABITAT PARK AND AGAIN WE MIGHT SEE A BUFFALO OR TWO A MILE AWAY. 

BUT YESTERDAY !  WE MUST HAVE SEEN OVER 100 BUFFALO !   NOT ONLY DID WE SEE THEM IN THE DISTANCE BUT THEY WERE ON THE DIRT ROAD AND ALL AROUND OUR CARS . WOW!  IT WAS THRILLING TO BE ABLE TO SEE SO MANY SO CLOSE UP. MANY OF THEM WERE WITH THEIR CALVES SO WE ALL HAD TO BE VERY CAREFUL FOR A FEW REASONS . WE DIDN’T WANT TO STARTLE THE FAMILIES AND WE DIDN’T WANT THE MOTHERS TO BECOME SO PROTECTIVE THAT THEY WOULD RAM THE CARS WITH THEIR STRONG HORNS.

FOR SOME REASON EVERYONE IN THE HERD(S) SEEMED HAPPY TO LET US SLOWLY DRIVE BY AND TAKE THEIR PORTRAITS.  IT WAS A MAGICAL START TO A WONDERFUL DAY OF CELEBRATING OUR LOVE.

P.S. THE LAST GUY IN THE PHOTOS ABOVE LOOKED LIKE HE (OR SHE!) HAD ON SOME SORT OF FASCINATOR FOR THE DAY.  YOU NEEDN’T HAVE DRESSED UP FOR US… HA HA.