Reconnecting with nature through hiking, camping, and paddling
A great time of day to spot turtles in the river is at dawn.
Since they are cold blooded the turtles need the warm of the sun to really get moving. Rocks in the middle of the river provide a great opportunity to soak up the sun’s energy in a place where they won’t likely be disturbed.
When I found this Eastern River Cooter warming on the rocks the sun’s rays had just made their way over the trees on the river bank.
There’s something very special about being on the water at dawn.
Over the summer we visited Butchart Gardens, in Victoria, British Columbia. This pond can is in the Italian Garden section of the park. I had to wait a little while to get the shot without any bystanders in it but I think it was worth the effort.
The James River near Richmond, Virginia is home to a fairly large number of Double-Crested Cormorants. It’s pretty common to spot them sunning on rocks or swimming in the water.
There a many ways to compose a photograph of any subject, including the Space Needle.
Sometimes, when I’m able to get to the river at dawn, I’m rewarded with the simple pleasure of watching the river awaken.
The beaches of Washington’s Olympic Peninsula tend to be rockier and much colder than those on the East Coast of the United States. But if you enjoy walking along the coast they provide some great opportunities to explore.
Looking over the gunwale of my canoe I’m struck by the peace, quiet and stillness of the scene. My paddle, the clouds, trees and even power lines are all clearly visible in the slow, calm water just inches below me. Continue reading “A Simple Gift Over The Gunwale”
Great Blue Herons are such a common sight along the banks of the James River in Richmond, Virginia. They really are part of the river itself. In fact when I don’t see any it feels like something is wrong. Continue reading “Great Blue In Flight”
Floating past a log in the the middle of the James River, I noticed this immature Green Heron. At first I thought it was funny the heron wasn’t perched on the end of the log waiting for a small fish to swim by.