Another Season Gone

The 2010 season is over. There is seven inches of snow on the ground. The lakes are icing. So the boats are off the trailer and on the garage wall. The trailer is disassembled and strapped to the back wall. We wanted to continue but just couldn't make it past the Thanksgiving holiday.

Findley Lake 11/23/10

Last boating of the season? Very cool day. Only one heron. Stopped this time last year. Further trips will be determined by cold and ice conditions.

Findley Lake 11/15/10

A cool quiet day on the lake. Saw only one heron and one wood duck. The season is winding down.

FIndley Lake 11/13/10

A very warm (for November) late morning/early afternoon. One very elderly heron, a couple turtles, and lots of leaves in the air and on the water. Looks like migrations are done for the year.  Perfect day to kayak (especially for November).

Findley Lake 11/12/10

Very quiet afternoon. No herons, no osprey, no geese, an oriole nest, and one wood duck. As dusk arrived the air got very very cool.

Findley Lake 10/9/10

The osprey got our attention as soon as we got the boats into the water. Then it led us back and forth across the lake carrying its supper. Finally gave it some peace to enjoy that fish. Didn't see the osprey mate but the one we observed definitely was calling to it. And a burst of shots of a spooked heron - just luck to catch it at the right moment in good light. Autumn colors have appeared.

Findley Lake 10/1/10

A pair of osprey - making us chase them from one side of the lake to the other - east to west and back, north to south and back. And vocalizing to each other. Also a few geese and a couple herons. A cool and quiet evening - autumn is here.

Findley Lake 9/19/10

A long session with an osprey. He greeted as we were putting the boats into the water and then led us back and forth across the lake - posing, then going off to successfully hunt, and finally trying to eat its catch while enduring our photoing. We eventually became merciful and let him eat in peace. The herons were much more tolerant and held their ground while we pestered them with our cameras. Cool evening - a little breezy - and very quiet. No other boats and only a few fishingpersons. Nice night.

Findley Lake 9/12/10

The osprey is becoming a regular feature.

Findley Lake 9/5/10

Much time with a very willing osprey. First watched him soaring with a group of buzzards, then he went fishing (successfully), and then he posed for a long time. Also saw a lot of herons and one very impressive egret. It was a very good Labor Day evening on Findley.

Findley Lake 8/29/10

Started out the evening with lots of boats on the water and by the time we pulled out of the water at darkness it was very quiet. Geese, turtles, a few heron and not much else. No sign or sound of owls. But a good evening for a paddle.

Findley Lake 8/22/10

An unusual number of geese. Just after the sun set a group of the geese practiced their water take-offs and forming their flight formation - very awkwardly - lots of bumping and noisy protesting. Preparing for the fall migration?

Findley Lake 8/20/10

Quiet, warm evening. Especially quiet for a Friday night. One regal great blue heron - a real poser - never gave up his roost. Water level was a little low. The area could use some rain.

Findley Lake 8/13/10

Another late afternoon/early evening excursion on Findley Lake. The usual herons. But the unusual deer in the forest, a cormorant, and an osprey - and a huge snapping turtle swimming next to my boat that startled me so much I didn't the camera in position fast enough to get a shot of. My back has been cleared by a specialist so we are ready to officially re-begin this kayaking season.

Findley Lake 8/10/10

A warm summer evening. A very quiet owl watching me watch him. A very compliant heron posing. And even a sleepy turtle. Nice time on the water. 

The trailer still had an annoying vibration. Turns out it helps tremendously if the wheels' lug nuts have been  put on correctly - not backwards. Problem solved (hopefully).

Findley Lake 8/8/10

Turtles - lots of turtles. A very calm snake. And several herons. A good evening on Findley Lake.

Findley Lake 8/6/10

Finally! Back in the boats - despite medical advice. And it felt very good. Nice weather. Our animal friends missed us. A couple hours on the water as the sun set. Maybe we'll do it again this weekend. The weather is just too good to pass up. Also decided it was time to repack the axle bearings on the trailer - starting to get noisy. I think we've put enough miles on the trailer to warrant some maintenance.

Findley Lake 5/16/10

An owl, a few herons, nest-hugging geese - quiet afternoon on Findley Lake.

Transporting Kayaks

Here's our new "kayak-hauling" vehicle - a 2010 Subaru Forester.

Findley Lake 4/4/10

Thanks to the unusually and early warm weather and the lack of a need for physical therapy we have started our earliest kayaking season - and it felt very very good. The wildlife at Findley included lots of turtles, some very relaxed geese, and more turtles.