Frank got in touch Monday, and said he was free to paddle. So Tuesday we paddled my tandem canoe. We put in at the Hwy 39 ramp in Chapels and took out at the hwy 121 ramp. The water was low and the class 2 shoals had lots of rocks exposed so we took out twice, and from the bank picked a line each time to take. Stayed up right and dry. The low water also exposed the pilings of an old wooden bridge.
We saw Lots of wild life this trip. A number of Osprey,one with a fish in it’s talons, Kingfishers, Blue Heron, Black Vultures, and Cardinals were among the many birds seen. Frank caught a glimpse of a deer as it bounded into the woods from the bank. We saw a dead six point buck with a Black Vulture perched over it and a Red Fox scampering off as we got close. Frank also caught a glimpse of a Mink or Otter in the water. We rounded a bend and saw a sounder of nine wild hogs at the rivers edge. For lunch we had a copperhead look alike ( Midland Water Snake) join us. The low water was running clear and we could see turtles on the bottom and fish swimming. We also saw a number of Red Wasp’s nest in branches hanging over the water.
Overcast most of the day with the sun peeking out from time to time. High around 81 with a breeze that was strong at times, and often against us. We stayed comfortable paddling. All in all a good day on the river.
Wooden bridge pilings
We first thought it was a copperhead, but the head wasn’t right. It is a Midland Water Snake
Changing faces of the river.
Wild Hogs, wasps, and vulture over dead buck.
