Yes, there are several animals that have developed more or less isolated from their mainland brethren. Perhaps we’ll learn more in an upcoming Sunday chat. I’m going to go out on the proverbial limb and guess that Rusty has not grown up with the same love of nature as good ol’ Dad. It’s like that other “wise maxim”: Like father, unlike son. Or something like that.

Hmm, is this “Honor Trailheads Week”? On Monday, Rivera paid tribute to Mark Trail artist Tom Hill. Today, Rivera trots out the old exploding boat joke. It has been an ongoing meme of Mark Trail followers for ages.

As for today’s installment, there’s not much else to say. Nothing here that forwards the plot, at any rate. And I still hate Mark’s “beard” treatment; it looks like clown makeup and is totally unbelievable.