22-SEP-2008
In the past, we’ve always started our trips on the river right after sunrise to maximize the opportunity to see wildlife. Getting on the river early has given us a chance to see lots of ducks, mink racing around on the logs along the shoreline, muskrats industriously swimming from one job to another, otters playfully chasing each other and kingfishers sitting on trees overlooking the river. We’ve also seen deer, great blue heron, bohemian waxwings, eagles, and osprey.
22-SEP-2008
This is the first time we’ve paddled the river in September. Frequently, low water at this time of year makes boat travel difficult, but early fall storms created higher than normal river levels. We were assured that we’d have no problem with this trip. We’d been to several overlooks of the river and agreed with that assessment.
22-SEP-2008
Cool morning temperatures created a morning mist over the river. As a photographer, I was chilled, but delighted. Morning mist brings a rich quality of light to photographs. I was eager to get in the kayak and start down the river.
22-SEP-2008
As in the past, we were first greeted by usual flocks of ducks lazily swimming in areas of backwater. Some would swim downriver to stay ahead of us, some would fly. We always wonder how far downriver we could chase the ducks. Gradually they began to simply swim to the side and let us pass them. Some would fly and circle back to where we originally found them. After an hour and half, we ran out of ducks.