I posted this over on SotP too if some of you know me from there...
I have been trying to get someone to paddle with me for a week or so now but there are never any takers. Today my mother was headed up into Elgin to take some photos so I got her to follow me to the river and drive my car down the the bridge I usually get out at. There were a few challenges on this solo trip.
#1) was the water was as low as I have ever seen it this time of year. It should be four feet higher. This meant that all the fancy draws and pries I usually do allowing me to sign my name on the water did not work. To get any control I was down to sweeps at the surface and it sounded like a team of woodpeckers were attacking my paddle in a lot of areas. I got some first scratches on my new Prospector and waded a few sections.
#2) whole sections of the river have changed location since I was here last. Some areas are now dry riverbed while the channel has wandered off in a new area. Unfortunately there is a lot of log debris and downed trees because of this. Many sweepers now exist. I actually took one in the face as there was no real way around it. Fortunately it was high enough off the water I could punch through it as I did get mostly around it. The 17 foot boat actually helped here as most of the hull was through before I got hung up. Leaning back and going flat it was just a reminder that rivers occasionally want to beat you up a bit.
#3) I took two cameras with me, the battery was dead in one and the other had no SD card in it. Human error at its finest.
#4)In the last mile there were some guys shooting high powered rifles over the river. Unless I am wrong they were .308's. They are distinctive... Now in Canada it is unlawful to have a centerfire rifle with a magazine with more than 5 rounds in it (in a semi automatic). I counted 20 rounds per volley so probably someone had some old NATO 7.62 Magazines for something. Also I am pretty fast unloading a semi but not as fast as these guys. Either they had a bump-fire stock or a burst fire trigger grouping in whatever they were firing. Either way quite unlawful and setting a bad example for those that do obey the law.
While I did not get a single photo, my mother snapped a few while I was putting in.
The water is very low for this time of year
Hunter in his natural habitat, taking up the center of a Nova Craft Canoe
Heading down river
Still quite a bit of snow in the woods
Maple trees tapped in the background
I have been trying to get someone to paddle with me for a week or so now but there are never any takers. Today my mother was headed up into Elgin to take some photos so I got her to follow me to the river and drive my car down the the bridge I usually get out at. There were a few challenges on this solo trip.
#1) was the water was as low as I have ever seen it this time of year. It should be four feet higher. This meant that all the fancy draws and pries I usually do allowing me to sign my name on the water did not work. To get any control I was down to sweeps at the surface and it sounded like a team of woodpeckers were attacking my paddle in a lot of areas. I got some first scratches on my new Prospector and waded a few sections.
#2) whole sections of the river have changed location since I was here last. Some areas are now dry riverbed while the channel has wandered off in a new area. Unfortunately there is a lot of log debris and downed trees because of this. Many sweepers now exist. I actually took one in the face as there was no real way around it. Fortunately it was high enough off the water I could punch through it as I did get mostly around it. The 17 foot boat actually helped here as most of the hull was through before I got hung up. Leaning back and going flat it was just a reminder that rivers occasionally want to beat you up a bit.
#3) I took two cameras with me, the battery was dead in one and the other had no SD card in it. Human error at its finest.
#4)In the last mile there were some guys shooting high powered rifles over the river. Unless I am wrong they were .308's. They are distinctive... Now in Canada it is unlawful to have a centerfire rifle with a magazine with more than 5 rounds in it (in a semi automatic). I counted 20 rounds per volley so probably someone had some old NATO 7.62 Magazines for something. Also I am pretty fast unloading a semi but not as fast as these guys. Either they had a bump-fire stock or a burst fire trigger grouping in whatever they were firing. Either way quite unlawful and setting a bad example for those that do obey the law.
While I did not get a single photo, my mother snapped a few while I was putting in.
The water is very low for this time of year
Hunter in his natural habitat, taking up the center of a Nova Craft Canoe
Heading down river
Still quite a bit of snow in the woods
Maple trees tapped in the background
