Monday, April 20, 2015

Canoe...Can You?

Out weather is perfect during these very short weeks in April and May and we took our first spring canoe trip down up a nearby river.  I had worked very somewhat hard in the yard and felt I deserved an afternoon gunk-holing.  The trees had leafed out about 20% as the result of one or two nice rains.  We set off from a floating dock.  Floating docks are somewhat of a new experience for me.  As I age, I find squatting or stepping into and out of a canoe is a more difficult experience, made more so when the dock beneath your feet goes up and down with a boat wake.  (I tried not to think about how hard it was going to be upon our return after sitting for several hours!)  But we were being closely watched by parents and two little girls in pink, and had to show our best.  Glad we did not have a bad launch as we were promoting canoeing as a wonderful activity.  



The open part of the river with its reeds and marsh still held fall colors.  But once we rounded the bend and the sun hiding behind a cloud broke through, I was able to get some spring color as the sun's angle was just right!





The photo of this old-time home was blurred from the moving canoe, so I made it into a painting.



Once we moved into the tighter confines of the river we saw many eagles.  Some were mature and some immature.  We also saw at least one eagle's nest, but could not tell from our angle whether it was active.  Eagles here should be feeding fledglings at this time.  The percussion of numerous woodpeckers, the chatter of the eagles, the screeching of the kingfishers, the call of cardinals, titmice and various warblers filled the air deep into the woods.  Further inside where freshwater seeps existed we could hear the songs of hundred of frogs.  We did pass one human couple in a canoe that had brought some music along, but they kept it low and moved past fairly rapidly.  (I will never understand why people find it necessary to get out into the wild and bring canned music!  She was late twenties with a clearly large and artificially filled bikini top and he was a shaved-head dude and their music was awful.)



Soon we were back into the quiet noise once again.  Bits of bright green grass were carpeting small areas here and there.  In between were muddy slides down into the river where the muskrats and otters played.  We startled two muskrats and a few turtles splashed from their sunning on logs.


We went as far up into the narrow part of the river as we could go.  The water was at high tide and upon its reversal we knew our hours were numbered.  



On our way out, this sentinel was surveying the influx of humans on the water and at the shore, or he was looking for those pesky crows.



We startled a few of the year-round geese.  They were noisier than any marching band as they made us aware of their dislike of our presence.



This photo of the gray heron is blurred, but I liked the lines and color and posted it anyway.  We have only a few here right now, and should have more in a month or so.



As we headed back to the dock we thought we saw a wedding ahead, but it turned out to be a photo opportunity before the local prom!  We would be pulling in around the corner of the sea wall at the end that cannot be seen in this photo, so not disturbing their celebration.  It was almost seven and we were feeling hungry and thus rewarded ourselves with enchiladas and Margaritas at a new and very good Mexican restaurant not too far from this shore.

16 comments:

  1. Thanks for sharing your trip...were you sore the next day?

    I remember "canoe canoe" Slapped that stuff on real heavy with hopes of getting lucky.

    I never hit on scratch offs either.

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  2. Sounds like a lovely way to spend the day. I was thinking about your comments of getting in and out of the canoe. I think of that motion as I get in and out of my bathtub, wondering how long I'll be able to do that.

    I also liked your line of the percussion of the woodpecker and the chatter of the eagles and the screeching and calling. I could hear it.

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  3. What a nice first canoe outing of the season!

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  4. You are very fortunate to have a pristine piece of water. Good on you for making use of this water.

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  5. Really beautiful photos!

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  6. What a wonderful post. Thank you so much for taking us with you as you went Gunk-holing (I had to look up the term gunk-holing!). I'm not keen on water I've a bit of a phobia but you make it seem so inviting. To be able to see the wildlife without disturbing it is marvellous.
    As for taking music with them - What heathens!

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  7. Your bottom photo of the clusters of folks on the dock remind me somewhat of a grandma mosses painting -- only in modern times. The softness of the photo made it seem so.

    What a lovely tour of your river. I laughed out loud as I read your words, "large and artificially filled bikini top , , ," Ah a bit of Hollywood for that young girl.

    Enjoyed post. -- barbara

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  8. Beautiful photos! I'd love to canoe or kayak. It's on our list for this summer. I should probably get a water-proof camera... :)

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  9. Not sure whether I'm more jealous of that magical canoe trip or your feeling of those after-trip margharitas.

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  10. Oh, I sold the canoe last summer but now I kind of really regret doing that.

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  11. I had to look up gunk holing, too. It does describe your canoe trip very well. I loved this post - the calm water, the reflections, the trees, the birds. And your wonderful descriptions.

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  12. I miss being on the river so much. I have a canoe but no easy access to launch from.

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  13. What a good way to spend an afternoon. Such pretty scenery colors n awesome Eagle n bird pics. You'd think kids would think to have ear-bud music out there. I tens to hate radios heard at the beach too.

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  14. Wow! Gorgeous photos and beautiful place!
    Love the photo of these old-time homes.

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  15. A lovely time on the water, and great pictures. You live in beautiful country.
    I haven't taken the kayak out yet this year and I'm getting restless to be on the water...

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  16. What a lovely canoe trip. I'm glad you made it into the canoe without giving the nice family a show. ;) My parents have a pretty hilarious story about porting their canoe and sliding all the way down a mud bank back into the water. Canoes seem to be good for funny stories. ;)

    Lovely pictures! I love the pic that you turned into a painting. Wow. You should frame that.

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Glad to hear from you once again. I really like these visits. Come sit on this log and tell me what you are thinking.