Time: 9:30 a.m - 1:00 p.m.
Weather Report: Cloudy with light rain, 83°F, 50% Humidity, Winds: Calm; feels like 83°F.
Location: On day two of our vacation, Anne and I decided to start the day by going on a canoe excursion. While Anne would have preferred to rent two kayakes, I am a little less accomplished with the whole water thing, so we went with the canoe, which we rented (along with paddles and life preservers) from Raquette River Outfitters.
Our last two canoe trips were a little nerve racking for your's truly (both were actually on two other Adirondack lakes/ponds), but I prepared this time to get past my previous difficulties (i.e. fear).
Sights/Sounds/Activities: There was quite a bit of aviary chatter and birds could be observed flitting in the trees and brush along the river and marshier areas.
Notes: A view of the Simon's Pond shoreline from our canoe as we take off for parts (kind of) unknown. Equipped with three paddles and a map, we had been told about an access channel to the Raquette River at the far left end of the lake. We were also told (correctly) that it would not be visible until we were right at it. The well built-up marsh lands made seeing such things challenging, so we canoed along the coast looking for the right way in...
There were quite a few very beautiful flowering lilly pads through which we needed to paddle in our efforts to find the river entrance.
We saw this left behind ski and a little farther down the shore, an abandoned float which had apparently loosed from the shore and gotten caught in a current, finally resting within the wetlands. From the way it had appeared to be intentionally placed. I had hoped it would prove to have been some sort of make shift marker to show us the way. No such luck.
We finally found it and began our trip down Raquette River...
Our canoe on the small beach we found along the river. There was also a campsite just over the top of the beach, and quite a few animal foot prints at the beach.
The river (with Anne and I) under the (foot) bridge. This older looking bridge is probably used by rangers as an access into the park lands which surround parts of the river. There was not much clearance room between the surface of the water and the bridge. Anne and I both ahd to duck low to get through.
Just one of the many sources of that classic Adirondack pine smell... conifer trees on shore. The scent hit me like a brick wall when we paddled around the bend. I spent some time the next day smelling decorative chatchky pillows in the memento shops in an effort to recapture the scent.
We had intended to take some pictures of birds, but had probelms getting them to pose... we did however see some herons, loons, and other sparrow type birds, as well as seeing and elusive river otter going in the opposite direction along the shore with some grass in his mouth!
I really enjoyed this paddling trip and hope to continue doing more canoeing and kayaking, with a greater degree of frequency!
Breathe in, breathe out... YOU AND I ARE ALIVE!
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