Nov 24 On The River

November 24 Two days after Thanksgiving ~  thankful to have another go at the river. Wind fairly heavy in bursts, rippling the water's surface.  Didn't see any other people, birds, fowl or critters. Just  the bare-naked trees.

The water is frosty cold.  So much so that when you first stick your finger in you don't really feel it, then a second or two later the chill is gripping.

The calves of your legs get coldest from being in contact with the bottom of the water-cold kayak, so it shortens the length of your excursions; as does the waning days, since the sun sets so much sooner now.  I try to go at the warmest point of the day, which also tends to be the windiest (early afternoon)

Can't post any more photos on BLOGS, as I've reached my free quota and to post more I'd have to pay.  Maybe I'll go back and delete some.  Or bite the bullet and pay for it.

And THANKS for perusing this blog!!

~C

Still On The River on Veteran's Day!

November 12 2012.  Temps in the 60's.  Back on the Presumpscot.  Encountered 2 men in a canoe, but that was the only human life sharing a paddle on the river. 

Trees are bare. Floating clumps of leaves disappeared.  The water has taken on the color of the leafless trees; a tree-trunk gray hue.  

A Zen story.  

Tao passages. 

Sun setting in the afternoon now, instead of evening.

Oct 27 Deck Dragonflies and Presumpscot

Oct 27 and this ruby-red dragonfly whizzed past my head then landed on the deck edge when I came outside today. Beautiful. 

Presumpscot. Put in at Mallison Falls. River high. Current strong. 

The foliage continues to age daily. 

The reflection is ever-awesome. 

Crow tree. 

Detached, falling leaves. 

Felled leaves. 

Ribbed clouds. 

Oct 25 2012 Presumpscot Again

Definite sparseness to the landscape, drained of color.  Still, there is beauty to autumn.

Leaf shades.   Bronze, tin and copper the color of half-tarnished pennies.

No more crickets cricking.  It's real quiet, excepting the occasional crunching of dry leaves as the occasional squirrel runs between trees; and the caw of crow now and then.  

Muted beauty. 

Daily Tao Passage

Cloudless sky.  Still water. 

The ripening fuller moon. 

Another Tao passage. 

October 24 2012 Part 2 Departure from Saco R

As the sun set 5:45pm'ish the play of light on clouds, water, trees, sky and land was sacred.

View from Pleasant Point Point, where practicing Tai Chi is perfect. 

October 24 2012 Part 1 Arrival -Saco R

The River never loses its fascinating appeal. It is never the same twice.

Pleasant Point. Buxton Maine. Saco River portage site.

The days have shortened appreciably.  I put in at 4:17pm and already the sun is low on the horizon. The clouds this fall have been gorgeous.  Their reflection on the river is mesmerizing. 

 Trees. Trunks. Triffic.

Saw this flip flop floating and snapped the pic.  I love the way it came out, the contrast of the watery cloud/sky reflection mirroring the same color/pattern as the sandal.   

Frog Water-Taxi

Love this shot too. Slanted sunlight as it approaches setting; the calm mirror-surfaced water; the mid-fall copper coloring; the serene balance of sky and earth. 

and of course, what river trek is complete without a Tao passage. 

Rt 5 Portage Site Oct 18 2012

Steep embankment, then big stone steps to New Portage site on the Saco; this is on Rt 5 in Saco, next to an overpass.

Stone Staired Portage Site

Roots.

Pretty riverside view. 

A stream that goes off the river. 

Autumn Reflections. 

Tree on top of hill. 

Buttery Yellow Foliage. 

October 18. Late afternoon trek along the Saco river. 

Mid-October Ride

Oct 15. A still, calm, warm, overcast fall day. Bob and I went up river for an hour or so. It was peaceful. 

Autumn, Cows, and Pitbulls

Due to extended period of rain; clouds; coolness; shortening days and heavy work schedule, it has been almost a dozen days since I was on the river.  It's changed!  No more lush fullness, many trees have bared their branches and what color is left on the trees is muted.

Still, it has it's mid-autumn beauti-ness.

The river was quite high after all the rain we've gotten. Looking at this picture you'd never know the day was quite windy.  It died down to stillness by the time I trekked up river.  The dragonflies and damselflies have gone. Very little bird activity, other than ducks.  Saw a bluejay. 

Came upon these cows along a grazing field which borders the water with a steep embankment.   

 One cow in particular found the kayak interesting and spent a great deal of time just watching.
I told the cows a joke.
"I HERD you were here."  They didn't find it funny.  I guess they were in a bad MOO'd. 

 "You all in a bad MOO'OO'd?"  I asked.   They weren't amused.  

PITBULLS- hype or legitimate concern


As the sun sinks lower in the late afternoon sky, the air and water chills, and it's time to wrap it up.
As I get out of the river and drag the kayak towards the car, a woman walking a leashed dog approaches.
He's leery of me. 
"It's the kayak," she said.  "He's really friendly, loves people."
I stop and set the kayak down and step away from it.
"He's welcome to check out the kayak," I say, "maybe he'll get used to them that way."
She walks him to the kayak and he sniffs it. 

She is chatty. Works with kids, who she says, love him and respond positively to him.
He watches me guardedly.
He keeps his head low, and doesn't take his eyes off me. I get the feeling he's not as friendly as she is trying to portray him to be.
I ask his age.
"The shelter aged him at around three years old when I got him, and I've had him eight months."'

"What breed is he?"  I ask.
"Brady's a cross between (she names another breed of dog) and pitbull."


I gently hold my hand out.

With a startling suddenness he lunges at me, and she fights to restrain him, pulling hard on his leash as he spins her around, the contents of her travel mug spilling out.


She says the dog's actions are because I'm wearing a scarf. "He reacted similarly when my son wore a hat," she says, as though that explained anything.
"He was fine over summer," she adds, "but as people wear hats and scarves in the colder weather, he acts nervous." 
She goes on to describe his attributes, but at the same time she is saying how she first encountered him. It was during a home visit where there was concern for the environment two children were being raised in. There were 'red flags,' including the presence of four dogs (Brady being one of them) which were confiscated and the other three were readily adopted from the Kennebunk Animal Shelter, but Brady wasn't, due to some injuries he was recovering from.  Apparently the man of the house was training him as a fight dog (!)  Brady had signs of abuse, including a nasty burn lesion on its neck, which she said was due to one of the training methods used to strengthen the dogs.



There was something about him, despite her assurances of 'how far he's come.' 
The dog clearly felt a connection to her, his advocate and rescuer.  It wagged its tail and apparently felt reassured at her attentions and affections. But when he looked at me I could see he was unconvinced that I wasn't a threat.
There will always be a controversy over whether dogs bred to fight are able to be trustworthy through rehabilitation. 

Let us all hope so.