The Forest People

Wednesday was just a nice fall afternoon, went paddling with a friend. We did 7.12 miles in 1 hour and 49 minutes. Not bad time. The air temp and water temp are quite close at around 65 degrees F.

Thursday was sucked up by errands but I did get out to walk the forest trails with each of my dogs. We ran into the resident does and their fawns several times. I call them the "forest people." Having lived here more than a few years I have become familiar with the natives. There is a young fox that visits our cat in the evenings sometimes. And the deer, I recognize the does.

Two or three falls ago Fairfax County engaged a bow hunter to come into our neighborhood and kill the deer. "Big Girl," and "Little One," all 8 does and two bucks were "removed." I was pretty heart broken, as were some of my neighbors, especially the one fellow who put out feed for them every evening. The bow hunter said he killed every last one as they came and went from my neighbor's feeding spot.

So I have not named these does. I try not to get too attached. They are gentle and quiet, these forest people. They do sometimes eat my azaleas and pansies. I live on the edge of their forest. I do not mind the price, it is not too high, to live with nature so close.

Paddling around Jug Bay on the Patuxent

Over the last few years I have developed a theory. It seems that the paddlers who host often have themes they follow. Maybe they prefer quiet paddles on gentle waters. Others prefer long trips, or the wind-swept waters of the Chesapeake Bay. I have also noticed hosts sometimes have a "signature" paddle. It might be a trip that they run every year, often a highlight of the season.

DJ comes to mind with respect to a signature paddle. He first introduced me and a bunch of other paddlers to the lotus blossoms on the Mattawoman. Since that time, every year, he has run one or several events around the same annual appearance of these spectacular blooms.

I tend to think my own "signature" event is paddling Jug Bay on the Pax in the autumn. This lovely natural wetland is largely untouched by neighboring development. This means there are large swaths of wetland without houses pressing in on the sides. There are several different authorities overseeing the area, but for us it is one large wet wander-land. There are many creeks meandering into Jug Bay, giving us the open door to explore and generally poke around. The area changes dramatically with each season but autumn tends to be my favorite.

I hosted a Saturday trip, trying to catch the leaves at a color peak. I missed the peak by a bit but we had a wonderful time poking up into the Western Branch, going as far as possible. Then we stopped at the Mt Calvert House and ate lunch on the lawn before touring the house. Lastly we paddled down to Mattaponi Creek before pulling out at Selby Landing. By all accounts, a lovely day.

I enjoy the social aspect of our club. I really love visiting with Aht!

Thanks Dennis!

I had a tough week, there will not be any pictures of the hard parts

The fall rains have come
All grey awashed, storm ridden
The road has gone under

Lotus flower
Your boat is launched
I set you free

It has been a really hard week for me professionally and personally. That is all I can say, really. As many of my generation do, allow me this quote from the Princess Bride: "life IS pain, Highness."

I found myself silent the last week. I have not written for my blog or created anything. I had to stop and evaluate. Something had to change. It was time.

Several people have told me recently that I was a catalyst for change in their lives. One lady, a kind and thoughtful member of the cat rescue community, told me "you know you sent me on this path? You know that, don't you?" I did not realize, but do acknowledge that I indeed did guide her in that direction. I was profoundly touched. This was the day before I left my office one last time.

My thoughts ran "If I can be a catalyst for positive change in others, why can I not change my own life?" And so I did.

I decided to quit working as an office manager this week. I left the office behind. It was tough, really, so hard that I do not even yet have words to describe it. I had worked there about 18 years. I am aware that my years with the doctors were the longest relationship of my life, other than my biological family and my reenactment family. I guess the doctors and long-term staff were my "third" family. But it was time to say good bye.

There are few things I have ever done that were harder. It had to be.

I left the office for the last time as an employee on Thursday. Today is Sunday. I am still finding I have a tendency to think of the middle of next week as taken up by "work." My life will need a need pattern, a frame work, structure.

I guess this is where the second half begins. A play of two acts, the curtain fell on Act I, now the curtain rises on Act II. I wonder what will happen? And I hope the set designer and play wright are both good.

I leave my reader with some photos of the truest companions I could know in this life time:

Yes, cats, my cats

And my dogs. I am coming to believe that we incarnate, some of us, on purpose to experience love, pure love. And sometimes loyal truest love can only be given by a dog.

Indy, Professor Jones, my sweetheart

Torvald a' Bigbootee, my husband's heart dog

And Kona, the Queen Bee, our "Nugget of Evil"

"Paddling" Part Two Florida Keys

For this trip Mike Aronoff of CKAPCO had recruited Brian Stevens as a second guide. Brian would ride herd on us, sweeping, and dispensing paddling wisdom as he so often does. For those of you who've taken classes with Mike or Brian these next two shots will be very familiar.

I can't tell you how many classes with Mike have started with this exact scene. It is as though it were imprinted on my brain.

And this: Classic Brian. 

Our first trip was out to Lignum Vitae Key, where we heard a pair of very nice park service interpreters speak about the Lignum Vitae trees, other flora and fauna, and the beautiful old house located on the Key.

Mike paddling backwards as we pull into a group. Look at that sky, that water. This very first paddle I knew I had made the right decision to come down.

Interpreter at Lignum Vitae Key. The small tree next to the house is this legendary  Lignum Vitae

After the tour we went to Robbie's again but this time from the water. We took out on the little beach at their marina. We watched them feeding the resident school of tarpons. I was told that tarpon is a "sport fish" but "doesn't make good eatin.'" Holy smokes!! Those are some BIG fish. At least one of them was large enough to have grabbed a pelican for a snack. See below:

I shot these with my phone as I had left my camera behind on my boat

Um, wow.

We did some mangroves tunnels after our lunch break at Robbie's.

Mike and mangroves

Jean in the tunnel ahead of me

Look at that water! The colors! Mike done good.

Tuesday had high winds. I can not remember what every one else decided to do but Brian, Peter, and I went for a paddle off the resort's marina. We toured the Atlantic side of the Islamorada Key, going north for about 4.5 miles.

The water was only a bit rough. Brian

Peter in the marina

Peter, bow rudder

Big Boy was waiting for me to take his portrait when we got back to the marina

Sorry, again with the lizards

We dropped Peter off at the marina and paddled into the gulf, passing under the bridge leading south to the next key. Holy smokes! The water was BIG! And I found out why so many paddlers love the Sirocco. Rock on, little boat, rock on!

I don't have any shots of the white caps. I might have flipped if I'd tried to upholster the camera. The rollers were so nice! Brian said he looked over at me and I had the front two thirds of the Sirocco out of the water sprinting up the face of a wave. He said I had this huge grin and if he could have had one picture of this trip it would of been that moment. The spray was washing over our decks. If he'd been in his Romany...This was that one moment of a trip when you realize "This, this is why I came."

Wednesday dawned windy. Honestly, I probably "have more will than skill," as Brian says, and was initially not impressed. What's a little wind? But after paddling around in it for an hour or two, okay, it was *really* windy. We met Frank Collins at the put in. He was going to guide us around.

Hi Frank!

I can't remember which set of Keys we did that day but here are some pictures:

Marilyn and mangroves

putting in

Frank! Nice to see a familiar face!

Brian and Jean

Upside down jelly fish pulsing. Crikey, mates!! Isn't she a beauty?!! Harassing of wild life continues...

We only managed 3.88 miles. It was pretty hard going, especially for the paddlers in smaller rec/day touring boats. So much "free board" is the correct term I believe. It was a real struggle for them so Mike called it off.

And then I fell down. Near as I can tell I got dizzy, stumbled over a boat and realized I was going to face plant on my bike hitch. No effin way! I elbowed the taillight on the Outback as I fell, which spun me around. Some how I managed to cut my knee, but at least it was the side of my head that hit the hitch instead of my mouth full of teeth. I kid not when I say " A 30 thousand dollar dental bill flashed before my eyes." *Warning* Graphic photo below:

I shoulda gotten sutures. But I didn't. It's two and a half weeks later as I write this and it is STILL oozing. I saw a doctor the following Monday and he agreed I should have gotten those sutures but it was too late by the time I saw him. Dayum.

I guess I am accident prone. We were joking that I should get accident insurance, like a car, but Kat said they'd drop my butt after the first claim. Which would be soon, I am sure. At least I'm not accident prone in my boat or in my car. No, just me, my body. My accident.

Mary had a first aid kit out and was cleaning me up pronto. Mike and Frank (the tallest guys) !tossed! my Sirocco over my Hullavator as they didn't want to mess around figuring it out. Brian climbed *on top* of my car to tie both boats down. Greg worked on the front. I felt like I was momentarily surrounded by silver backs. (Nothing had normal proportion at this time,  I'm not surprised I remember it in this light.)

I was really worried that I was done for. The knee swelled, and it hurt really bad. I had trouble bending it. I was a bit shocky for the rest of the day. It was comparable to "dog bite shock;" something I am well familiar with, as a veterinary staffer. We all have stories and scars. And I have sports related injuries. But this is the first "boat loading injury" I've ever had. The injury bled internally, leaving my lower leg swollen and with blue bruising eventually reaching all the way to my foot. What a mess.

Upside, the Sirocco doesn't touch my knee anywhere! Hallelujah!!! Angels blowing trumpets and stuff!! The thigh braces really brace my thighs half way up my quads. Again, rock on little boat! Oh, how I love thee!!

My Sirocco

Thursday, next entry...