"Eat, drink and be married. " These welcoming words greeted the 80 guests who arrived at Lac des Roches on July 24 to celebrate the wedding of Damien Martin and Erin Braithwaite. The wedding ceremony was held at the groom’s family cabin on the shores of Deka Lake, followed by the reception at the bride’s family cabin on Lac des Roches. The pristine south shore coupled with moonlight reflecting on the rippled waters provided a beautiful backdrop for the wedding reception where Erin incorporated some unique ideas into her dream ceremony. Scrabble tiled place settings reflected the groom’s passion for the game. The photo booth with costumes and cameras was typical fare of this fun-loving couple and it was as big a hit with the guests, as was the canoe filled with iced beverages. Congratulations to the young couple who will continue to reside in Vancouver after their honeymoon on Vancouver Island.
Dangerous curve
Highway 24 at the west end of Lac des Roches is a little safer now that there is a speed reduction sign eastbound at the top of the hill. Area residents instinctively slow down at the top of the curved hill, knowing its hazardous nature and history of accidents. The 70 km/h and corner indicator signs are welcome additions to the area, especially at the height of tourist season.
Bear responds
There is no logical reason for a black bear to chase a deer since they eat mostly berries and other vegetation. However watching a bear chase a deer through the neighbourhood last week was a reminder of why you don’t run away from a bear. It was obvious that if it runs, the bear chases it and a young, healthy bear runs very fast. Experts say to make noise, make yourself big (pull your shirt above your shoulders or crisscross sticks above your head) and back away. Since there have been daily sightings of bear and bear sign around the lake, be sure to tell your families and guests to be "bear aware" and don’t ever run from a bear.
Evening lightning
The July 27 storm could easily be called the South Cariboo’s version of the "Celebration of Light" fireworks show, due to the spectacular and numerous lightning flashes. Strong winds rearranged lawn furniture, tipped over potted plants and snapped off tree branches, but no serious property damage was detected. Residents monitored the surrounding forest for signs of fire the following morning and wind gusts later in the afternoon apparently fanned smoldering embers from a lightning strike into the large forest fire on nearby Bonaparte Lake. Thankfully, several residents who noticed the smoke plumes reported the fire to the emergency call centre at 1-800-663-5555.
Plant life
Cow parsnip grows abundantly around Lac des Roches. Evidently, this non-evasive plant is not the Giant Cow Parsnip (or Giant Hogweed) that has received a lot of publicity lately as both an invasive species and dangerous to humans. The key distinctions between the two plants are height, stem colour and leaf design. Although cow parsnip seems to temporarily take over the forest with its large maple-shaped leaves and umbrella-shaped flower heads this time of year, it is relatively harmless compared to its giant cousin.
Few berries
The cool temperatures during spring pollination seem to have taken their toll on the areas wild Saskatoon berry bushes. The few ripe berries that have appeared during the recent hot weather are quickly disappearing to the area birds. We can only hope for better pollination weather next year.