Adventures in Kayaking

I am happy to report that our birding and kayaking went off without a hitch. We carpooled with two really sweet ladies who were planning to kayak for the first time also. In all, there were nine of us with only three that had prior experience. They were very helpful to us newbies and nervous nellies.

Now for the BIG EXPERIENCE. When the owner of the rental asked who wanted to go first, I shot my hand up and said "ME!" because I was afraid I'd lose my nerve. I got in, then immediately froze and began to shake uncontrollably, like one of those panic attacks I sometimes get. Some men watching from the sidelines were cheering me on and offering soothing words to help me relax. Suddenly, my mind switched a gear and said, "Get it together or you WILL die in this contraption!" So, I began to paddle, unsure of where the strokes would take me. But I quickly caught on and joined the others. Go me!

The only thing I brought with me was a bottle of water, binoculars, and a zip-lock bag to hold my iphone. We actually paddled near several alligators, one of them just a baby. Another gator roared nearby and that one really spooked me. The kayaks were a bit flimsy and it was a challenge to not tip over, so using binoculars or my iphone did not happen often.  My only goal was to not drown or swim with the gators. Oh! If there was a log jutting out of the water, it seemed my kayak made a beeline for it. I hit almost everyone in my path!

Besides gators, we saw anhingas, cormorants, a yellow-throated warbler, a northern parula, and a common gallinule. Floating among the cypress trees was so peaceful. I loved every minute and so did Double D! We will both be doing that again. Soon!

iPhone shots from the day:

Our birding instructor, Jane, has her own kayak so she entered from a different section of the lake.
Double D spotted her and alerted the group behind him.

There she is on the right with another birder from our class who borrowed an extra kayak from Jane.

We all stopped to admire something here; don't remember what, but I'm sure it was cool.

Double D and new friends.

Jane shooting a young alligator resting on a log.

Teaser shot from the nesting site. Great egret in breeding plumage, ready for business.

Linking to the wonderful Eileen at Saturday's Critters!

Thawing

It's nice to see signs of spring here and there. These are shots I took hiking with Double D in between birding field trips.

Two boaters at Greenwood Park. I really want to learn to kayak or canoe the waterways. It looks like such a peaceful activity.

Fishing pier at Greenwood

Can any birders out there help identify this hawk?

Double D spotted him on the street light as we were returning home late one afternoon.
He quickly pulled into an adjacent parking lot like a well-trained birding assistant should. :)

Rickety bridge at Waddill Wildlife Refuge

Wildflower at Waddill

Trillium, also at Waddill

We had a not so nice surprise with our Honda when the engine light came on over the weekend. Apparently, the unseasonably cold weather caused squirrels to climb underneath the car and chew the wires--a $630 repair. I'm sure this is payback for all the Pam I sprayed on the bird feeding station. Grrrrr. Our pest control person came out and put sticky boards underneath both cars. I really hope they stay away because I don't want to deal with that mess.

Linking to Wild Bird Wednesday. Thank you, Stewart!

Boat Bash!

Recently, my aunt and uncle invited us to a boat bash on Lake Maurepas (MAR-eh-PAW). It took about an hour to get there on my uncle's boat. Not knowing what to expect, I brought along my bff, Bertha (my camera). It was a beautiful, clear day. We listened to music playing from a platform as all types of boats and watercraft gathered 'round. They started off with classic rock, but as the day wore on, it changed to hip-hop. :( Surprisingly, there weren't any crazy shenanigans, just folks enjoying the weather and music. Something about floating on water is very relaxing, I must say.

Boat name: PARR-T

Blue men

Notice the "HOT" BOUDIN sign. Also, the people floating
under the stage is funny to me. Sorry about the big bag of trash,
but we've gotta keep our rivers clean!

Don't they look like they're posing? 

This is my aunt and uncle's dog, Smoke, enjoying a rawhide on their deck.
This is one of the sweetest dogs EVER! But most goldens are known for their good natures.

We only stayed a couple of hours because the air conditioner inside our boat wasn't working and being on deck was BRUTAL. Stories of brain eating amoebas killed any desire I might've had to cool off in the water. Have a safe and happy weekend, everyone! 

Birding, Boating and More

Lake Martin, Louisiana, April 12, 2013.

Little Blue Heron

The task of the day was gathering sticks.

Great Egret with babies

Fishing

Sailing

Romancing

Probably my favorite shot of the day. :)

Canoeing

Double breasted cormorants kissing

Carolina Chickadee

Prayers for our country and the senseless bombing in Boston. Words fail me, truly.

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Lake Martin

Happy Sunday everyone!! It is a yucky, cloudy, misty day, so not sure what I'm going to do for a photography outing. We've had a breeding American Goldfinch coming to our feeder the last few days. He is a beautiful bright yellow. He has the most beautiful song. Maybe I'll stick around the house to stalk him and try for that perfect shot. What are y'all up to and how is your weather?

This will conclude our day trip from last weekend. All were taken in Lake Martin, Louisiana.

Cypress trees standing in the swampy waters.

iPhone shot

Roseate spoonbill. 

More trees in the swamp. The blue water surrounded by algae is quite lovely.

Juvenile white ibis on the river bank

Juvenile white ibis standing in the tree

One of these days we are going to have to do the swamp tour during a sunset. Who's with me? :)

Thanks, Madge for hosting

July 4th Adventure

Our day started out perfect. We were on my aunt and uncle's houseboat with another couple, eating, relaxing and enjoying the great outdoors. After an hour and a half of cruising we ended up at a friend's cabin on Bayou Manchac. 

As usual I was more interested in the dogs than the people. But riddle me this: why are most country dogs intact? In other words, the males were in serious need of neutering, or in dire need of some supportive underwear. :/ Even these little chihuahuas were packin'.

Chico

Chico's little male friend who seemed like he wanted more than friendship. Ahem.

This was Double D's first exposure to a coonass gathering. Pardon the expression, but that's what it was! The man who owned the cabin had just purchased it and said he was thinking of naming it Coonass Haven. Ha! (Hope no one is offended. They really do refer to themselves that way.)

Now for the adventure.

About an hour into the return voyage my uncle comes tearing down the ladder from his captain's perch looking like a crazed maniac, pulling up pieces of floor, throwing rope over his shoulder, desperately trying to get to the anchor. Apparently, he hit something that damaged his engine. We were stranded and getting dangerously close to the cypress knees and random logs jutting out of the shallow water, all a threat to the integrity of the boat. Next thing we know the sky's rumbling and we all looked up to see some bad weather approaching.

To make a VERY long story short, another houseboat came along and offered to tow us back home.

I re-learned a lesson that I've known since the cradle but the big city caused me to forget: a coonass will give you the shirt off their back if you need it. These people went to a GREAT deal of trouble to deposit us safely home. So if you see a boat on the bayou called YA ONT 2, be sure and wave at them, or if they need help, lend 'em a hand. Good, good people!

I hope my uncle's boat is okay. He recently spent $6,000 on a new transmission so he's a little anxious to know the damage.

Update on The Big Chill: we are thawing out around my house slowly but surely. We will get back to normal eventually. But the job search is on hold for a bit.



All photos taken with my iPhone.


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