Friday, July 20 . . . Duck Tales

Today’s main event is the arrival of Marc. He’s tall, rugged, and very friendly. He was on an island about six hours away from Blanc Sablon in Labrador, living in a cabin with three other guys. Their task was to catch, mark, and build nests for the Eider ducks. He talked about the little scurrying feet of the ducklings and how, unlike most parents, the ducks did not struggle once caught. As he explained his adventures of plastic bag showers, close encounters with whales and seals, and of course the ducks, all I could think about was these ducks must be smart because they trust the men that they won’t hurt them. Which I would not expect since they are endangered from over-hunting. Our day itself was not so exciting but we got to learn about all the invigorating trips Marc had taken. We listened half in envy, half in amazement.