Wild Animal Safari in Winston, Oregon
Ahhh, now this is how people should experience wild animals. We're in the cages, not them. I'd been advised to get there as soon as they opened in the morning cos that's when the animals move around the most - mornings and dusk when it cools. However, because I'd spent so much time talking with Evelyn at the Greasy Spoon Cafe, I'm running a bit late and arrive around 11am. Winston, I discover, is very much like the African plains cos it's hella hot!! Good lord! When I woke up this morning I was using a spaceheater trying to keep warm and now my sweatshirt is sticking to me like glue. Blech. I break down and buy an overpriced t-shirt in the gift shop.

What's great about this place is that once you've paid your admission you can drive through the park as many times as you'd like. I'd originally intended to spend three or four hours here, but ended up spending the entire day here.

The photos of the cheetahs: I arrived just as they brought in a roadkill deer and the cheetahs just ran right over and dug in. Most of the time I was using the camcorder, but I got a couple good shots with the camera.

Although I'm sure the buffalo are pretty tame, it was still kinda scary to have him so close to the car. What if he turned into Cujo or something? I'd have been smashed to a pulp within minutes. Can you imagine Native Americans on horseback running into a herd of these when they're stampeding? Good lord!