The Path Leads to Small

 

I put in at the old stage ford 3/4 of an hour before high tide.  There is little current, if any, and all of the shallows are no longer shallow.  It is in the upper 60's with a east wind and an overcast sky of cumulus clouds with a prediction for some rain in a few hours.

Green Heron

The other day, I read an article of quotes about mountaineering, and it gave some food for thought, as such things often do.  I have had a fairly constant outdoor life although of varying activities.  Mountain climbing, skiing, hiking, backcountry mountain biking, kayaking, rafting and canoeing.  I pursued these outlets with more than a fair amount of enthusiasm, at least to the point where a good amount of physical fitness was required.  I learned fairly early, that the most important thing that was going to happen was that I would learn something about myself, with each and every trip.  I also learned that competition was, at least for myself, detrimental and took me off of whatever path I was supposing to be following. 

The Long Cut

The end result of the physical training and effort that each activity required was not to prove to myself or anyone else that I was anything special.  Quite the opposite, the most satisfying result of my outdoor pursuits was to prove to myself that I was an insignificant piece of the natural world.  The days that I remember are the ones when I felt the smallest and weakest and most overwhelmed by my surroundings.

Remains of a sawmill dam ca 1860

When I got below the railroad bridge, I took the Long Cut into the upper end of Bailey Creek, and then returned through the Sneak.  It was a very bird quite day with just a couple distant Osprey.  The high tide put the wading birds back away from the main river. I did see a few Great Blue Herons, Great Egrets and Snowy Egrets.  There were a good number of small brown Gulls - no doubt youngsters.  The high water was approved by the Kingfishers, which stood out as the action bird of the day.  I spotted a Green Heron just above Clapboard Hill bridge on my way down. 

Female Kingfisher