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Borrego Springs, CA

Sunday, March 25, 2012

An interesting, for me, paddle up Bayou Castille

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Just before noon today, John and Diana and I launched one of the two canoes for our use to take a paddle up Bayou Castille.  John prefaced our trip by stating that it had been many years since he had been in a canoe.  Diana remarked that she was a boater, not a canoeist.  Alrighty then.  Eye rolling smile

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We got ourselves out into the bayou.  It’s been over forty years since I’ve been paddling in the front of the canoe; I’m usually in the stern and doing the steering.  It was a bit unsettling for me.  (On second thought, it was a lot unsettling for me)  I could just imagine us tipping over as the canoe seemed to be rocking back and forth too much for my comfort. 

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I had my life vest on and the bayou is not very deep, but I was most concerned about ruining my camera.  It took me a while to settle down.

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In our journey, we did come upon an active Osprey nest.  The nest was perched in the tallest tree along the bayou.  If you really scrutinize the picture on the right, you can see the adult taking off from the nest as we tried to silently approach.

John did a fine job of steering us for our paddle, but I think in the future I’ll be more comfortable in the stern.  I may even inflate my kayak so I can take a more leisurely paddle on my own down the back inlets of the bayou for picture taking opportunities.  I guess I’m a more slow and steady wins the race kind of person that prefers to investigate small nooks and crannies rather than cover greater distances.

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It was a glorious day to be out on the bayou, and I was surprised at the beautiful homes we saw bordering the water as we made our way north.

I’d like to give a little update on yesterday’s post.  It garnered some very interesting comments.  Yes, I do remember the Grit Newspaper from my time in upstate New York, and I didn’t know that GRITS stood for Girls Raised In The South.  Surprised smile  I’ll be sure to give grits another try, but I really feel it needs additional ingredients to make it pleasant to eat.

On the squirrel front, today I just stuck my hand outside the window in the shape of a gun and shouted ‘Pit-chew’ loudly like a shot from a gun.  It seemed to have the same effect on the squirrels and Emma as the actual pellet gun does.  Go figure… (of course that could be due to the bee-bee gun that is being used nearby)

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As far as the spreadsheet of all of my expenses is concerned, I’ve decided to not log everything into the spreadsheet.  Instead, I’ll be keeping all receipts in a bag for a month or two to see if I can wean myself off of the dreaded recording bit.  I will be on guard for ‘creep’, however…

Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy

18 comments:

  1. nice day for a paddle~..no gators in the bayou?

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  2. I am sure I will not get in a canoe...alone or otherwise. What the heck is in that water anyways? Makes me nervous just reading about you going down the bayou.
    If this isn't too personal, what is your background? How do you know this stuff about birds, flowers, etc? Enjoy your week!
    ~wheresweaver

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  3. AWESOME header -- you are a brave woman steering that canoe!

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  4. That paddle looked interesting, Judy, and like you I would MUCH rather be in my own kayak steering my own boat! Whew. woulda made me crazy~

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  5. Really glad you and your camera made it safely out of the canoe. Your photos are always amazing!

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  6. HAHAHAHA! "Pit-chew." Ahahahaha! Good work.

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  7. Looks so peaceful out there on the water.

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  8. Good job with running off the squirrels. I'm wondering about gators in the bayou also.

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  9. Nice day for a paddle. In that picture of the adult osprey leaving the nest, is that a chick on the edge of the nest? It sure looks like a bird to me.

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  10. It it always good to step out of our comfort zone even if it is just letting someone else steer the canoe :)

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  11. Never been comfortable around water so have not spent much time in a canoe....front, back, or center.

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  12. on the spreadsheet topic, think you are wise to give it up. You are a sensible person and dont seem like the spending spree type. Think if 2 people are involved spreadsheet might be way to go as then you have something to verify any poor spending habits.
    Well squirrels have become Pavloved to the sound. that very funny. but then when we had our pond I could be a long way off and shake the can that had their food and all the fish came to the edge to wait to get fed, except the carp he was too chicken

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  13. Cameras and Canoes? Not a good combo but I'm glad you kept it dry!

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  14. Ohh what a nice piddle paddle ... I agree it's nicer to be in the back to steer than to be in the front and have to just use your paddle to shove off the stuff your inept back person keeps steering you into!

    ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
    Karen and Steve
    (Our Blog) RVing: Small House... BIG Backyard
    http://kareninthewoods-kareninthewoods.blogspot.com/

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  15. What caliber is your finger? Maybe you can leave out some grits and use them to scare the squirrels away. ;c)

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  16. We love grits! Try them with cheese and chives, or butter and brown sugar...there are so many ways to fix and eat grits. Yummmm...(sitting here in ICU with John feeling very hungry - right now could use a double serving! lol

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  17. I would love to float, but don't want to paddle.
    ;-)

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  18. Grits and cardboard are about the same I think. You could put butter and brown sugar on either one and they'd taste some better.

    I'm a nooks and crannies type too that's why I don't canoe. Kayaking will take me way back into places canoes can't go AND I get to do all the steering!! I understand completely about wanting to be in charge if you are on the water.

    Beautiful pictures. Nice trip. Take it again on your own. Or in your boat with your friends in theirs. :-)

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