A reward for facing my fears : )

Yesterday afternoon, I made myself (plus my driving phobia!) try the drive east of Calgary again. The only other time I had driven so far out that way was on 18 January, when I managed to get my car stuck in snow on a backroad that Google Maps shows as being a road that goes "straight through". A nearby farmer very kindly came and dug me out. When I got to the first Snowy Owl yesterday, I found that friends Phil and Rob were out there too, which was great, as I was feeling totally stressed out and panicky, wondering how on earth I'd ever find my way home again. I had also left home a few hours later than I would have liked, so had visions of still being out there, trying to find my way home in the dark or else spending a very cold night in my car! On the way home, I was able to follow my friends and they found two other Snowy Owls, the one in my photo being the second owl of the three. What could possibly be better than a handsome male perched on a fence post??? Though it looks like I was standing just opposite the owl, it was quite a way down the road, so the image is 48x zoomed : ) Have to admit that I drove right past him, without noticing him - which shows how focussed I was on my driving and making sure I kept up with my friends - and trying to drive in the middle of the road that was wet, muddy gravel that made the car slide a little. I was SO relieved to get home, my arms painful from gripping the steering wheel so tightly for 3+ hours, but what an afternoon it was! Need to keep an eye on my 14-year-old vehicle, though, as it was acting a little strangely yesterday, both on the drive out and returning home. Round trip was 187 kms and I was out for about three and a half hours.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Snowy_Owl

www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/snowy_owl/id