In May 2011, after four years of life on McNutt's Island, we moved to Montreal. This blog remains, though, as a (sort of) daily record of our time on the island, and a winding path for anyone who would like to meander about among its magical places. For additional perspectives and insights I recommend Greg's book, Island Year: Finding Nova Scotia (2010), and my Bowl of Light (2012). I'll continue to post once in a while. If you do want to read this blog, one option would be to begin at the beginning of it (which is, as we all know, in blog-world, at the end), and read forward, concluding with the most recent entry. It's a journal, really, so it does makes more sense if you read it that way. But, you know, read it any way you like.

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

We seek eagles but instead find things left behind

Yesterday the sun was shining and the wind was quiet and we decided to search for the eagles' nest. I had seen a photograph on the internet of an eagles' nest on the ground and I was sure you couldn't miss it. We had an idea of where to look, in the south western part of the island, between the sheep corral and the lighthouse. So we headed down that way.

Along the way we examined numerous animal prints crossing the icy road and wondered what they might be. They were partly melted and we are not very knowledgable yet so mostly we point and ask each other questions that neither of us can answer. We observed the rivulets streaming down the hillside, along the road, and beneath the road down to the cove. Though they are still edged with ice and snow, they are gurgling, and bright green algae strands float in their shallow currents. Just beyond the corral we surprised the flock of sheep that lives in that area. They ran away with great urgency, leaping over fallen trees and looking back at us as if we were truly a danger to them, although we only stood still and waved a friendly greeting. Silly sheep.  

We did not find the eagles' nest, but we did discover stuff abandoned or left behind or washed up on the island.  We found an old golf cart missing its wheels, sheeps' rovings, ruined cellar foundations, tumbled down stone walls and piles of stones the old fellers made when they cleared fields.  Washed up along the cobble shore we found battered lobster traps, useful nets and rope, and a bright red and blue plastic toy boat in excellent condition.   Sometimes you undertake adventure with great noble purpose but instead find other wonders along the way. 



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