rock on, geologists!

Early on in the blog, I reported about a nearby mine and the geologists who visit 

it from time to time.  They were back on the island last week for some field study,

wrapping up their stay Saturday with a cookout at the farm.  May is usually a fine

time to be here, but these hardy young folks and their equally-hardy-but-not-so-

young-except-Sandra instructors faced some blustery weather.      

 Before it cleared off Saturday afternoon, in fact, the crew had been deluged with

two inches of rain.  Jude and I met three of the rockers on the road when we went

out for a quick errand.  They were soaked but smiling.  We told them they were

welcome to go to the house and start drying out.  They unanimously agreed that

this was a solid plan.  By the time we got back, they and a few more of their class-

mates had just arrived. 

As we waited for the rest of the crew, we cracked some refreshing beverages and

got acquainted.  I really liked them.  They were friendly and open and inquisitive.

They’re fully engaged in the world, preparing for a future that will be immensely

challenging.

And that’s reassuring.  They’re some of our best and brightest, from B.C. and many

other points on the map.  Saskatchewan was gracious enough to loan us several.

They were fun, too.  Look at these smiles as they hit the burger buffet:

They were funny, too.  When I asked the group if I could use this photo in my blog,

they all said “sure”.  When I said I’d already taken a shot of their boots drying by the

woodstove, one of them said “Not my boots! They’re too personal to me!” Here they

are, anyway:

Here’s some of their outerwear drying:

And here’s some of them drying and watching the hockey game.  Note that Slinkee

is right in the middle of them, offering her services as a footwarmer.