Regular visitors to my blog know that paddling the Presumpscot in Westbrook is one of my favorite places to paddle. (Click link above for directions.)
We have had a pretty mild November so far and while I had put my kayak in my garage, I had not yet hung it up for the winter, hoping for a couple of more opportunities to get back on the water. With temperatures in the upper 50's I thought it would be a good day to go.
Because it is November and because water temperatures are lowering it is smart to paddle in places with which there is a lot of familiarity. Also, because November in Maine means hunting season, I wore a florescent yellow safety vest.
The day was a bit dreary, and I admit this time of year, after the beautiful foliage and before the snow flies, is difficult for me. I do not like the shortness of daylight and the lack of vibrant colors...but I also believe there is always beauty to be found... and any day in my kayak is a wonderful day.
There were so many leafs in the water... their color has faded since they have fallen from their branches...
There were plenty of ducks on the water...
These bright red berries were a welcome flash of color! Had I thought to bring some gardening shears, I may have collected some of these for holiday decorating...
Ahhhh... my favorite part of this trip, the tunnel...
I had been here in August and was able to paddle through the tunnel and explore a bit on the other side, but the beavers have been busy and have rebuilt a dam at the far end.
The river currents pushed the leafs into cool shapes on the water.
My favorite tree... she has survived for a long time, despite her center crack.. I hope she survives another Maine winter and I get to see her, upright and living, in the spring...
Herons... I love seeing herons.. this one was upriver ahead of me...and this was the only shot I got... one day I will get a beautiful photo of a heron taking/in flight...
Along part of the shore is a beautiful rock wall. I am amazed at how these walls, part of New England history, have survived so long...
I heard them before I saw them...the cows were running around in the field and mooing loudly.
The sun was very unique today... moonlike at times...
Cattails were shedding their seeds...
I was pleasantly surprised to see another dedicated paddler on the water... (Glad he was wearing hunter orange)
As I got closer to the end of my adventure I saw a large bird in the sky... and was so surprised and excited to see that it was an eagle. It landed high in a pine tree...beautiful bird!
Not long after the eagle had landed my batteries needed to be changed and as I was changing them another eagle approached... there were a lot of vocalizations as the eagles fought for the branch on this tree... the more mature/dominant eagle won the battle and kept screaming at the other eagle for a few seconds after its victory...
After winning the battle for the branch, the eagle preened itself...
I paddled slowly back to the launch site, so grateful for my kayak and the opportunity it affords me to see such amazing things...
This may be the final flip flop/toe photo of the year! It is gonna get cold out there!!
Happy Paddling! (Be Safe!)
I would agree that this is a great paddle. We've done this a few times. Launch is easy, parking is plenty. Exploring is fun. River flow is gentle. Putting in up river at Shaw park is another great paddle, plenty of spots along the way to stop and swim. C-
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