It's been a busy and hot week - art opening, panel discussion, a closing reception, and then three 90F+ days in row. Today, I hang some art and still have time for a short afternoon paddle. The temperature has dropped overnight to the low 70's, and stayed there - a drop of 20F overnight. It feels positively humane. On top of that, it is overcast with a 10mph east wind.
I put in about an hour after a very high tide peak. Having been in the marsh quite often on recent trips, I cut across the river and head to the quad islands. The current is already zippy.
I head up between Carting and Peacock Islands. The channel is 50 feet wide with the tide up. At low tide, it is not passable. I spot some Great Egrets, Yellow Crowned Night Herons, Red Wing Blackbirds and I hear a good number of Marsh Wrens back a few feet in the weeds.
Out of the many times I've been here, my trips probably never coincided with this timing of the tide. I just don't remember having such a stiff current. I ferry over to Long Island, then Ferry from there to Pope's Flat. The current might be about 3mph, which is my distance cruising speed with this canoe. From the tip of Pope's, I head the rest of the way across the river. I didn't expect it, but the current is slower over this stretch, which is also the main boat channel.
I head up, side track to explore a channel, which turns out to be a backwater. Then, I continue up and across to the Peck's Mill site, and return through the islands by the west channel around Peacock Island.
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