Ducks about to Fly

This is a photo of a pair of ducks about to fly off. I took this snap from my kayak last Sunday on the South Fork Eel River. We have a large variety of flying creatures here in Humboldt. We are on the honker's (ducks), flyway -both the greater (bigger) and lesser(smaller), so in the right season we have over 80,000 ducks dropping in for a stay. We have resident: herons (blue & green kind), egrets, bald eagles, osprey, pelicans and several varieties of hawk including Coopers Hawk. We also have the usual squawkers: crows, robins, finches, humming birds and Blue Jays to name a few. With 6 major rivers, plenty of fields, acres of forest, bays and estuaries we have birds that capitalize on each of these eco-systems. Such a varied ecosystem gives food and shelter to our amazing feathered furies. I met a fellow photographer who specializes in bird photography. "If it ain't flying, I don't shoot," was his mantra. He gave me one of his business cards and on that small piece of paper was a truly awesome photo of a heron taking off from the water - his feet were mere inches out of the water and everything was in perfect focus. This gentleman was about 65 years old and was enjoying his retirement. He also had a most unusual devise for his camera. It had been a rifle at one time, but had been modified not for a scope, but for his camera. When ready to take a photo, he raised up his 'gun', aimed and took his best shot. In oh so many ways, this area qualifies as Paradise and I'm so very happy I chose to move here.

Ben Bow to Redway

Sunday Bill, a friend & I headed for Redway first, then on to Ben Bow and from there into the water. With kayaks, one always needs transportation back to where your car is after you 'out-take'. In Redway, all we did was to drop off one car, with it's driver hitching a ride with us to Ben Bow. There is a lovely park there and the famous Ben Bow Inn which is first class - but not in a Hilton-Sheraton American style. It's a Tudor English establishment with nicely groomed grounds and a great site right on the South Fork Eel River. They also have first-class food - that much I know from personal experience. But it was the park we turned into to get to our 'put-it' location. We got our kayaks off the top of our Suburban (the only reason we have such a gas-guzzler) and dragged them down to the water - about 300 yards. The total paddling part was 3.5 hours with a 1 hour lunch break roughly half-way at Tooby Park in Garberville. After lunch it was back into the river and on to Redway, where I stayed with the kayaks while the two men (my husband and a friend whose wife had bronchitis and couldn't join in) drove his truck back to Ben Bow so Bill could pick-up our 'Burb, then back to collect the kayaks and head for home.

Along the way we saw countless ducks - several breeds of; a bald eagle; a nude sunbather; five other kayakers in two groups; & really way-cool-gnarly tree roots clinging to or dripping from the rocky cliff-like banks of the South Fork. While waiting for the return of the suburban and the guys, I noticed several dogs - all much better behaved than any of mine; two ladies sans bikini tops - one was playing a guitar and singing; and parents swimming in the Eel with their kids. All in all it was a relaxing day and our first paddle of the season.