A Maiden Voyage

My new (to me) kayak has been languishing in the shed, waiting to be used.  I purchased it over six weeks ago, for one of my photography projects, but have yet to put it in the water.  Today was sunny and warm. After dropping my mother-in-law at the airport, my schedule was my own.  So this was the day for the test cruise to determine if what I bought was water tight, or did I buy a leaky bucket.

It was a day mixed with good and bad decisions.  It started off with a string of good decisions.  Since I didn't know about my new kayak, I decided that it would be prudent to leave my good camera gear at home and consign myself to a point and shoot for photography.  The camera conveniently fit in the pocket of my personal flotation device.

I put in off of Route 225 in Bedford and paddled upstream towards Great Meadows.  The current and the wind were off the bow.  My body was fresh and enjoyed the challenge.  The new kayak appeared not to be leaking.  All was good in the world.




It is several miles up river to Great Meadows.  It was interesting to see it from a different point of view.   In order you see the outflow from the lower impoundment where it rejoins the Concord River, the flooded woods near the beaver lodge on the corner, and the canal to the upper impoundment water control gate.

By the time I reached the boat landing, I was starting to feel sore muscles and a blister on my paddling hand developing.  Beaching my kayak, I enjoyed the opportunity to stretch my legs, drink some water, and soak in the sun.  

I knew that it was longer to Great Meadows paddling up the river from Bedford, than down from Concord.  I just didn't know how much.  So after my rest break, I continued up river to see the rest of the refuge and to see how far it was to the boat launch in Concord.  I still had to work hard to paddle upstream.  This was the first of my poor decisions.  If I wasn't thinking like the 18 year old, that my mind imagines, I probably should have saved this for another day.

Along the southern end of the refuge, I encountered a old boat that appeared to be barely water tight, tied to a tree.  I wondered what the story behind it was.

My eye was also drawn to some golden grasses against the dark water.  Drawing closer to get a photograph, I noticed they were floating on some sort of platform, similar to the nesting platforms I've seen for loons.  There were a couple more on the river, these more brightly decorated with flowers.

Once I reached the launch in Concord, I turned back around for the long trip home.  (I now know that it was almost a 5 mile paddle back).  I also learned that while the current made you work to go upstream, it didn't move you very fast heading down stream.

Some where along the line, the camera had gotten wet.  It would turn on an take a photo, but not multiples and the zoom didn't work.  I was able to take this picture of the river looking towards the holt, but missed the opportunity to watch a goose fly directly towards me, drop down to the river, and make a beautiful water landing directly in front of me.  At least I have the memory.

So I continued paddling back towards the car.  With each mile that passed, I got more and more tired.  By the time I reached the boat launch, I was very tired.  My Featherlite kayak, was anything but as I lifted it to the top of the Escape.  

My final bad decision, was one that I didn't consciously make.  Getting into the car, I realized that my skin was starting to get red.  Forgetting to put on sun screen was not a wise decision.  Because the day was cool and breezy I didn't realize that I was getting burnt from the sun shining from above and reflecting off the water.  

So the maiden voyage was successful.  The kayak is sea worthy.  While not as easy to navigate as a touring kayak, it is very stable which was my goal so I could use it for photography.  

Field Trip

The nature photographers in my camera club were in need of a field trip so along with Mike McNeil, Bill Willis and Gray Hoyt we invited them to Great Meadows for some early morning photography.   At 6:30 AM the sun was hid behind some clouds, but there was promise of more light as the skies were clear to the west.  At the appointed time about 15 photographers set out across the refuge in 4 different groups.  A few stragglers ended up joining our regularly scheduled programming in progress.  

My group headed through the woods to the outflow end of the lower impoundment and worked our way back towards the parking lot.  There were carp trying to cross the spillway into the impoundment.  While they were trying to get in, this sunfish that had given up the fight and was resting with the lotus seed pods, waiting to be eaten or swept downstream.

It was a bit early for the muskrats to be out feeding.  One industrious muskrat was busily expanding the size of his lodge.  He should probably consult with the beavers on construction techniques, since they had better luck with the coyotes this winter than the muskrats.  

In just a couple weeks the landscape has gone form dull and grey to green.  New growth is everywhere.  I was drawn to how the darker background highlights the miniature leaves. 

My group brought me luck.  We discovered a new tree swallow nest, near the beaver lodge.  It was on the underside of the branch.  I will be checking up on it's progress as time progresses.

Up near the holt, a pair of White-breasted Nuthatches were busily preparing a new nest in a knot-hole from a broken branch.

Back on the dike trail many of my fellow club members were learning the joys of trying to photograph the often heard, rarely seen for more than a few seconds, rarely photographed well - Marsh Wrens.  (I tried too, but came away with nothing I would want to share).  Between rounds of frustration, I did manage to shoot this pair of Red-winged Blackbirds - both male and female.

A Quick Lap

The weather has been grey and rainy.  It was Easter weekend.  My mother-in-law is visiting.  So many reasons for not being able to get over to Great Meadows.  Today while doing yard work, the day kept getting warmer.  The sun burst through the clouds and it turned into a beautiful day.

To reward myself for a day of work well done, I decided to run over to Great Meadows to for the approach of evening and the setting sun.  As I arrived, the wind picked up significantly, changed from the Northeast and turned cold.

It was a typical spring day at Great Meadows.  The Canada Geese coming, going, eating, and nesting.  A Great Blue Heron was fishing.  Muskrats were all, feeding.

As I continued around the impoundment, I happened upon a pair of Wood Ducks preening in the reeds.  Usually Wood Ducks are very skittish, but these stayed for a brief moment, before flying away.  Unfortunately, the combination of setting sun and flying bird meant that the flight photos were going to be a trade off between motion blur of the wings and lack of focus due to depth of field.  I like them anyways; probably since I have so few good Wood Duck photos.  They are pretty birds.

Continuing my journey around the lower impoundment, I stopped by my favorite snag to see if the Tree Swallows were there.  They weren't, but a Downy Woodpecker was.

The light of the setting sun light started to dance across the landscape.  I am always drawn to the blues and golden color of the cat tails.  Unfortunately, the sun soon retreated behind a cloud never to return this day.

I had three interesting encounters to end my day.  First this carp was trying to migrate across the spillway into the impoundment.  Second was listening to woman, with whom I shared the walk back to the parking lot, describing how she she enjoyed the refuge this evening.  She had stopped by for a dose of natural tranquility as a tonic to her very stressful day.  Third, I encountered a Yellow Warbler in the bushes near the kiosk.