The Best

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A perfect day.  The temperatures were in the low 70's with light winds.  I had some yard work to do - but what I really looked forward to was being on the water.

I took a break and went to the dock..  I sat on the dock, waving to the boats motoring up the river.  One boat had nearly a dozen people aboard - I don't think they were fishing.

I finished my yard work, and then waited for the wife to get ready.  We set out in the middle of the afternoon.

We hoped to see a lot of wildlife.  We did glimpse a painted turtle by the Crescent Islands.

The yellow marsh irises were thick along the slower waters.

A younger blue heron was feeding by the turtle marsh.  It was the first one the wife saw this year!

As we paddled upstream we saw many, many mallards.  Some were solitary pairs, while we also saw a mother with over a dozen ducklings, as well a groups of young males.

We paddled back and then sat on the dock.

The boat with the large party (or was it a party boat), was going back downstream.  We waved to it.  One of the passengers called out:

"You are really lazy!  You were sitting there 5 hours ago and are still there!"

He then gave me a thumbs up.  The wife and I both laughed, and waved back to them.

Later, I grilled a few redhots, and then went fishing from the dock as the sun set.  I caught a few bass, and was just happy to be outside.

It was a great day.  The best!