We finally gave up on the bears ever returning to Verney Falls this year, and headed for Klewnuggit (East Inlet), just a couple of hours north. We got an early start and had the current going with us — perfect. Conditions couldn’t have been better for travelling, making for a lovely little cruise up the coast.

This year we anchored at the end of East Inlet, as close as possible to the little creek that comes in from a nearby lake. There is a waterfall on the creek, not as dramatic as Verney Falls, but very pretty nonetheless.

It’s raining, of course, but I was determined to get a paddle in today. So, I headed out to the entrance.

Along the way I came across this bird, which I haven’t been able to identify. He has some features like a merganser, but not all. Maybe he’s a young merganser.

He led me on a merry chase, playing hide and seek among the rocks and fallen trees, seeking the deepest shade possible, to further discourage me.

Then, we arrived at a little cove with grass surrounding the shore. He stopped. I stopped paddling, but as luck would have it, I was drifting in his direction. He was like mesmerized, not moving a muscle. I took shot after shot, each looking exactly the same, because he was like frozen. Maybe that was his strategy: “If I don’t move, maybe she’ll lose interest and go away.”

I kept clicking, until he finally had had enough and took flight. Not fair!

So, I was about to give up and head back to the boat when I spotted a solitary Common Loon fishing nearby. I paddled in his direction, hoping to get a better shot. He dove just as I was ready to get my camera out, naturally. So, I waited, camera ready, waiting for him to resurface. Then, suddenly, there he was, not 6 feet away. I nearly capsized with the shock. The Loon was equally shocked and let out a call of alarm. He soon settled down, however, and allowed me to get some pretty good shots of him.