The Usual Route

I put in at the old stage ford, just a few feet above the old one lane bridge, and about four and ahalf miles from the sea. I paddled under the bridge and pulled up to shore, walked the 50 yards to my car and retrieved my saw. The deadfall arch just below the bridge has a new deadfall spanning the gap at the perfect height, about 3/4 of a canoe height above the water. It takes about 30 seconds to cut and drop it into the water so that I can glide over.

It is a sunny and calm day with the temperature almost to 60F. The tide has been coming in for about Two hours, but it is still quite shallow. More than anything, it is very quiet.


Reaching the Gravel Flats, I spot three white tail deer exiting on the right bank. I'm guessing that they probably waded the river. One of them gives me one last look from the top of the bank before casually leaping out of view.

By the time I get to Clapboard Hill Bridge, I have flushed about 30 Black Ducks. Just below that bridge I catch a glimpse of a large flying bird. My guess is an immature Bald Eagle, but it could be a Great Blue Heron - I just didn't get to see enough of its flight.

There is enough to get through the Sneak, so I can paddle my usual route down Bailey Creek and returning on the East River. I spot a Harrier working over the salt marsh between the two waterways.

A small shoreboard at the lowest Big Bend catches my eye. It's a Killdeer bathing with its mate about 10 feet away.

The low angled light at my back is making the trip back somewhat spectacular. At the top of the Gravel Flats I meet a guy in a canoe (as opposed to a canoeist). He's paddling solo from the rear seat, so the bow is pointed at the sky. This makes a canoe slow and tippy, but it all goes with the lack of a life jacket and general cluelessness about cold water paddling. I've never gotten anything but the stink-eye when talking to strangers about basic canoe safety, so I let it go.