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The Child and I were at the zoo at 9:30 when it opened. We left at 3:30. We sat down for maybe an hour of that time, counting lunch break, rest break, and sitting on the ground looking at animals (eye to eye with a huge male orangutang -- a highlight of the day), but the rest of the time we were standing and/or moving. My legs didn't hurt until the very end, after our behind-the-scenes tour of the Northern Trail exhibit.
But now they are really sore.
But what day. Perfect weather, neither too hot nor too cold. Great viewing of half-grown tiger cubs romping with each other and play-attacking Mom. The young elephant feeding with her parents from shrubbery on the other side of their enclosure. The pair of grizzlies sitting 20' away at their end of the access road doing "hungry puppy" eyes at their keeper during the behind-the-scenes tour. (Not something you see everyday!) Behind the scenes of the otter exhibit and the mountain goats and the elk. Hearing stories about the various animal personalities, including the female otter who managed to get herself into the grizzly enclosure. The keepers were swarming to remove the bears before they could hurt her, but she ended up biting each in the nose, and then adding insult to injury by catching a trout in their pool -- something the bears don't usually get to do because the pool is deep and bears are designed to stand on all fours and scoop fish, not grab while they swim.
A Very Good Day.
But now they are really sore.
But what day. Perfect weather, neither too hot nor too cold. Great viewing of half-grown tiger cubs romping with each other and play-attacking Mom. The young elephant feeding with her parents from shrubbery on the other side of their enclosure. The pair of grizzlies sitting 20' away at their end of the access road doing "hungry puppy" eyes at their keeper during the behind-the-scenes tour. (Not something you see everyday!) Behind the scenes of the otter exhibit and the mountain goats and the elk. Hearing stories about the various animal personalities, including the female otter who managed to get herself into the grizzly enclosure. The keepers were swarming to remove the bears before they could hurt her, but she ended up biting each in the nose, and then adding insult to injury by catching a trout in their pool -- something the bears don't usually get to do because the pool is deep and bears are designed to stand on all fours and scoop fish, not grab while they swim.
A Very Good Day.
