Friday, January 11, 2013

Paddling in January


Paddling by an ice shelf
By now the heron probably felt I was a stalker as he’d wait till I was a hundred yards or so from him and take off down the river.  A few bends later, we’d met up again and repeat the procedure.  He stretches out his neck (I assume it is a male) then spreads his powerful wings and take off.  A wingspan of six feet allows him fly quickly with a slow steady beat.  When airborne, his feet hang behind his body, creating a streamlined profile.  In the air, they look ancient.  This time, when my troubled friend takes to the air, things are different.  He beats a path down river and when he makes the turn at the bend, another heron quickly rises and approaches with a croaking sound.   Has my friend invaded another bird’s territory?  But as soon as the other bird spots me, it turned and joined my friend, flying down the river.  

Reflections
I’ve seen thousands of herons in my years in the canoe and they always amaze me.  Still today, nearly forty years later, I can recall the first time seeing the bird up close.  It was winter and I was with the scouts, camping at Kirkwood, a church camp just north of the metropolis of Burgaw.  We climbed the earthen dam of the lake and as we got to the top, surprised the bird.  As it takes off, it flies right over us heading for the swampland downstream and I felt the air from the bird’s mighty wings.  With its long crooked neck stretched out and over-sized wings, the bird look like something from a prehistoric age.
We’re having another mild winter and after having spent a couple days carving paddles (see my previous post), I was ready to get on the water.  Those paddles are not yet ready.  I am waiting for the wood to dry out a bit before sealing them. This was the first time I’d have a chance to get my canoe into the water since I replaced my gunnels back in November. 

approaching the bridge on the outskirt of town
Last Saturday was a sunny but cool day.  The temperature rose just above freezing, but still there were plenty of places with ice on the river.  I put in at McKeown Bridge.  In the summer I often start at Charlton Park but that section includes the lower part of Thornapple Lake which is now frozen.  In a dry bag, I had extra clothes although I’ve never needed them.  I also have a thermos and some hot tea, which tastes good as I switch from paddling to just floating and enjoying the beauty.  I spot an otter, a few squirrels, a hawk, dozens of ducks and a number of kingfishers who dart up and down the river, swooping down and rising up as they fly.  The trees are all barren now, except for the occasional pine or cedar and the smaller beech trees whose brown leaves hang on till spring.  A few nights ago, on a full moon, I was out walking and the young beech appeared silver in the moonlight.   


As the afternoon wanes, the temperature begins to drop and the sky turns gray.  It’s almost five o’clock when I arrive back in town and pull out of the water.  The light is quickly draining from the sky, but it has been a good afternoon.  Back home, I store the boat in the garage as darkness falls and a few flurries fly.  After putting stuff away, I built a fire in the hearth and enjoy the evening  with a book.    Another good day is coming to an end.   

17 comments:

  1. Sounds like a perfect time on the water, (shared with great wildlife too) and your luck continued into a wonderful close of the day. I'm thinking a couple of roasted marshmallows would have been tasty too!

    ReplyDelete
  2. I know I would have a hard time standing the cold, but you make the canoe rides look so inviting!! The scenery is wonderful and I love your reflection photos.

    ReplyDelete
  3. How much of a work out is this. I get schlepping about 30kg of canoe will get a bit of a burn going but if you stuck a telly on the bow would you be about equal with your butt on the lazy-boy in your livingroom, exercise-wise. :-)
    The above Q is about exercise and not relevant to the beauty of the nature you're in.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Vince, probably the best workout of this trip was hauling the canoe on my shoulders to and from the river (maybe a 100 meters each way, on an icy path). I wasn't trying to make time and my paddling was mainly to keep myself in the water flow and around obstacles.

      Delete
  4. Absolutely wonderful.
    If I put my canoe in in January...I would be sliding atop an ice lake.
    Wonderful pictures and words. It made me feel I got to do it too!

    ReplyDelete
  5. Sounds lovely. One really appreciates the warmth once you've been out in the cold. Lana is a great fan of herons as well. I always love pointing them out to her

    ReplyDelete
  6. ah feels like a wonderful day to me...i need to go on a float....might call my dad and see if he wants to hit the kayaks tomorrow afternoon....

    ReplyDelete
  7. Although I've seen some great blue herons down here, I don't see them very often. I maybe average one every two or three years. I wish I could see thousands!

    I hope as my two girls get older and adventurous, or at least able to remain at home with their mother and not too much trouble, I can get back to doing more boating. I moved to a large river that is just down the hill from me and would eventually take me to the Gulf if I paddles long enough.

    ReplyDelete
  8. I always love seeing the blue herons, too, and like you, the word that comes to mind is "prehistoric." We have lots of them here in Ohio, believe it or not.
    Thanks for visiting me at Lighten Up!

    ReplyDelete
  9. Seriously dude it's freaking COLD and then on the water on top of it...nuhuh...nope wake me up when i have to sit in the house nekkid with the air on full blast and i am still sweating...those are days of value.


    But as long as you enjoyed it my opinions are my own and you have a right to be your own form of lunatic Jeff!

    ReplyDelete
  10. Ah the joys of the silent canoe. . .
    I hope to ply the lower Missouri now that it is low of flow and high in the adventure of maybe seeing a long-ago sunken steamboat.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Time spent in the presence of a heron is always a special gift. That you can be on the water with one, in your own game of hide and seek is a memory maker for sure. Thanks for sharing this.

    ReplyDelete
  12. I prefer paddling in warm weather. I'm afraid I'll end up in the water and not be able to warm back up. Sounds like a wonderful way to spend an afternoon otherwise.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Just popping in to say hello! So, hello, are you out paddling?!!!

    ReplyDelete
  14. Wonderful story and photos, Sage. I am still amazed that you so skillfully carved your paddles. Your love for nature and the outdoors has given us many wonderful trips to ponder here!

    ReplyDelete
  15. So relaxing! (But now I want tea. It is starting to really feel cold here in NC and I'm ready for our small taste of winter to move on.) As always, love the vivid descriptions and awesome nature shots.

    ReplyDelete
  16. What a fantastic day! That sounds perfect. I agree about herons, they are magical and I can watch them for long periods of time.

    ReplyDelete