· Looking up the Hoh River to the Olympics · 11 days solo camping & painting under dripping trees ·
22¼" x 47"   4" x 12"
Copyright © 2003 Tony Foster

22 July – 1 August 2000 · 23 July · a Barred Owl sits on a high perch gazing at me suspiciously with huge dark eyes · it rocks & swivels its head, constantly fixing me with an unblinking stare · we eyeball each other uncompromisingly for a few minutes but it wins the contest · I drop my eyes & slink away conscious of a triumphant glare burning my back · 26 July · sheltering from the rain under a fallen tree I am attacked by a wren · the tiny bird with a fly in its beak, presumably to feed some nearby young, hops onto a nearby twig & makes a series of peremptory chirps & quick rushes at me · it keeps it up non-stop until I finally leave, not wishing its chicks to starve · 27 July · an Inchworm measures its way deliberately along my log seat, each 1" step questing ahead & to the sides with its front before grabbing hold & pulling its rear into a delicate bow · my pot lid causes great consternation but finally it measures around the circumference, passes its original direction, turns & returns to the log · it is very unsure about crossing a leaf but has no second thoughts about Parmesan rind, crossing it at quickstep of 1" bounds ·