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winter canoeing

Posted on | February 18, 2008 | 13 Comments

We went canoeing on Saturday.  The forecast called for a high in the 70s, but it was overcast (until we got off the water, then the sun dared to show its face) and felt quite a bit cooler. 

The river is unremarkable in the wintertime.  We hoped to have a decent water level, but the prolonged drought still has Alabama very much in its clutches.  Despite a decent amount of rain lately, the water level was comparable to late summer.

There were quite a few trees down but they were easy to get around.  Part of this section of the river is filled with “tubers” during the summer – mostly loud, drunken college kids floating down the river in innertubes with an extra tube for their cooler.  We avoid this section then because it’s hard to navigate a canoe around the tubers (they tend to collect exactly where you need to be), so it was nice to make this trip without all the distractions.   In fact, we didn’t see another person!

We did see some wildlife though.  We saw this owl swoop down and catch his lunch from the river.  He returned to the trees where he was perfectly camouflaged.  I have GOT to get a new camera with a better zoom. 

We also saw an otter – he was a few feet away from the front of the boat but we were lining up to shoot Huey (small rapid) and I didn’t have my camera out and ready.

This is looking back at Huey.  It’s tricky to find a good place to go over:

and at the best place, there’s a huge rock right at the bottom sticking up that you have to avoid.  That’s what’s causing the whitewater in the picture.  If you hit the rock, you’re likely going to capsize and bang your knees on the rocks.  Ask me how I know.  Not this trip, thankfully, the water was COLD!  A couple of summers ago I hit the rock and flipped. I survived, bruises fade, bones heal, guys dig scars and glory lasts forever.  Or something like that.

It was nice to be outdoors and enjoy the quiet.  We chased a couple of blue herons down the river on the last leg of the trip; they were gorgeous. 

Isn’t he regal? 

SB banged his paddle on the side of the canoe so I could get an action shot.  We’re so mean.

Bye bye little heron.  Till next time.

 

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