Great Swamp

Weather came through yesterday and it was a cold and windy one at that, but today is calm and sunny.  It is a day to take full advantage of - I head to the Great Swamp.  It may be my last trip of the summer there as the waters usually become weed bound with non-native invasive things as the summer comes on.  

I set out from Green Chimneys.  The temperature dipped to about 40F last night, but it is already in the upper 50's by the tie the canoe is set in the river. It is obvious that I am the first one here, and as I say, "first one in sees the most wildlife".  The water is down from my last trip, as it should be, but it is more lor less normal for this time of year.  Man, is the sky ever blue or what.

I pass a fluffy brown mammal - perhaps groundhog sized, but I don't get a good enough look to identify it.  As I haed up, I find that the first 2 beaver dams have been breached.  I think about it for awhile and figure that it was probably the Green Chimneys summer school program, to make it easier for the kids to get in to the swamp.  The next dam is a almost 2 feet high and intact.  Into the wild!

Just before entering the forest section, I flush a Bittern.  It's a nice sighting as I often go a whole year without seeing one.  They are rather secretive.  Unfortunately, I don't see it until it is airborne, so my camera is not ready. 

Things go pretty good up to the half-way log jam.  I portage that, then do a log step over a 1/4 mile later.   

I don't see anyone else until I am within 20 minutes of Patterson.

I turn at Patterson and head back.  The minor current is a noticeable addition to my cruising speed. It will be a 13 mile trip.

I don't see anyone else until I am in the forest section, passing a half dozen Barcalounger kayakers that managed to cross that 2 foot high beaver dam.  Two more watch me cross that same dam when I get to it and ask me questions about the route, in heavy New York City accents.  

It was a very god day.