Fall Equinox, Part 2

After lunch on Saturday the three of us launched and headed into rough water up river of the house. We knew the arrival of the rain was only a matter of time. My choice to paddle upriver didn't hand us any particularly great views so after just a bit I suggested we run back and head for a series of creeks down river. Kat decided to pull out as her shoulder was bothering her.

I asked to James to head into the first creek, which we had explored before but I needed just a bit of a break from the wind and chop. This creek is worthy of a "house envy tour" any day. But this particular day there were repeated blasts echoing from the forest around the largest building on the creek. I had previously decided the less loud blasts were shotguns, and after some disagreement the other party guests had to agree, shotguns. Truly huge blasts bringing cannon fire to mind began echoing off the water. Eerie creepy. Made me somewhat nervous paddling past the building's shore front. We couldn't get a good look at the building due to the fringe of trees but it looked like some kind of residence grown to comical size. Maybe a community center?

One of the "house envy tour" houses

I am not sure if this creek is Back Creek. I will have to look further into it. Look at those clouds in the photo above. Mmmm. A splash of rain fell on us as we exited the creek mouth. We decided to return to the beach and party. We found some of the best rollers of the weekend on our way back. To keep from taking the waves broad side we triangulated out, keeping the waves at our bows. Then when we had run parallel to the beach house we made a hard right and with following seas swelling, let the waves push us hard into shore. Nice.

We showered outside under the drizzle and deep cloudy sky. So beautiful. Now dry and clean we rested for a bit in our tent until it was time to cook dinner. Just as we pulled the meat off the grill the skies really opened up. We could have packed it in when we heard the forecast of heavy showers until at least noon the next day. But we didn't. We chose to stay and play hoping for a clear morning.

At about 7 am after a restless night spent in a damp bed with the tent dripping down on us, I looked at my husband and he barely opened his eyes and whispered "it's amazingly clear outside." Turned out the trees above us had been dripping on us so the light rain I thought was falling was just drippings left over from the night's epic rains.

We rose, stretching and digging in the bins for dry wet suits soon to be wet with spray. The sky was an amazing blue and the water, I have never seen the river this flat and blue off Steeleye's beach.

Me, Credit Kat Ecott 2013

My beloved

Our first Sunday morning foray