Draw Down

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The river by the house is, in fact, a canal.  It's level is dropped in the winter in preparation for springtime snow melt and the rise of Seneca Lake.  Our section is between 2 sets of locks - the set downstream of us is at the level of Cayuga Lake, while the lock upstream is at the level of Seneca Lake.

I went to the dock and looked out onto the river.  The dock is now fully out of the water.

The ice by the bank had slumped along the shoreline.  It was cracked.  Out in the river it was also cracked.

By the shore the ice was 6 inches.

Out by the bridge the ice has been thrust up.  There are dark patches out in the ice where water is seeping upwards.  I watch one patch every day to see what will happen.

As I see the drop in the river (nearly 6 feet), I realized why I have not seen any muskrat or beaver dens in this section - there is no way such animals could build a safe den,  Such dens would be directly exposed.  Just 4 miles upstream I have seen such dens - but these dens are above the last lock and are at lake level.

The river will be up in the spring.  I look forward to seeing it come back to life.

Hard Water

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It seems January always comes and brings the first real shot of bitter cold temperatures.  We had very cold temperatures -  as low as -10 degF in the morning at the farmhouse.  It is a world of snow and ice.

This is coupled with periodic lake effect snows.

The river is now frozen.  It will be a while before I can paddle.

It is beautiful and serene.

I am reminded by the footprints in the ice and snow that nature is not still . . .

Birds fly overhead, animals travel by the shoreline, and fish slowly swim beneath the ice.

Stay warm!

Into the New Year

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I try to get on the water as much as I can.  It was a little cold on New Year's Eve - 20 degF! Sunny skies with steady winds from the west.  I good way to end the year.

I was feeling a little aimless - just start paddling down the river to the lake.  I decided to hug the shoreline to see what the water and ice would do.

Flocks of seagulls were out in the middle of the lake.  There were some geese and ducks about, but nothing near me.  The sun was very bright and the water was very blue.

I paddles around the lake (it isn't very large), and headed back.  The winds were quite strong and would push me back as soon as I stopped paddling.  I did get a quick shot of the picturesque Trinity Episcopal church.

Even with fleece, dry-pants, neoprene booties, fleece pullover, paddling jacket, gloves and a hat I was getting cold after 45 minutes.  I headed back up the river to our dock.

Icicles were forming on my paddle's drip rings.

A great way to end the year.

May your adventures be safe and warm in 2015!

Montezuma

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Nearby is the Montezuma National Wildlife Refuge.  It is a controlled wetland - acres of low lying fields and flooded tracts of land.  Its ponds are accessible by foot, but not by kayak.

The Seneca River canal flows north through the refuge.  Last weekend I was interested to see if there were any fingers of water which would let me gain access to the refuge.

I put in by the boat launch off Route 20.  I decided to head downriver about 3 miles to see if there was any interesting paddling.

I immediately saw signs of beaver, but I did not expect to see any beavers on the canal.

I headed into a finger of water on the west bank, but it came to an abrupt end.

The bank was steep and the grasses were tall, obscuring the refuge beyond.  I could hear the cacophony of geese, but I could not see them from the water.

Across the river I spied a small sliver of water.  I paddled into it.  Maybe I would find a beaver dam or muskrat den?

No.  The way was blocked by a fallen tree and a small cascade.  Time to paddle backwards and extract myself from this stream.

Downriver on the east bank was another small finger of water.  It too was blocked.

I came up to the thruway bridge (about 3 miles from my put-in).  I could see a lone boat fishing (I met up with them upon my return.  They were fishing for crappie,but had no luck.  They told me the river was iced in just beyond the bridge!).

There were  channels on the west and east bank.  I headed into the eastern channel.

After a hundred yard it became enclosed.  It was a peaceful area.

I turned around and headed across the river.

This channel was much larger and less marshy.

I could see signs of beavers.

The banks were lined with old trees.  Slowly they succumb to the water.  This one was gnarled and lumpy.  Do you see the shape of a person?

I paddled deeper up the channel.

Overhead a hawk went by. I realized the sky was turning grey. . .

Again, I was thwarted in my attempt to find wildlife.  This channel also ended abruptly.  The noise of traffic on the thruway and the cars driving by made the area seem unnatural.

I headed back out.  I watched a seagull fly in circles overhead.  It was so fast.

I headed back upriver.  Way off in the distance I could see the Route 20 bridge.

A front was pushing in.  The warm weather we had enjoyed was going to leave.  I now had steady headwinds to contend with.

Slowly I made progress back to the boat launch.  It was getting colder.  The silhouette of a black crow watching me against the dark sky captured the mood of the weather.

I will keep looking for those hidden fingers of water.  They are where the magic lay . . .