A CANOE CAMP ON CALDERWOOD WITH DOUGLAS, DOG OF THE TENNESSEE LAKES

Douglas is going to steal this entry;  I can see it already.
It seems like there is always wind on Calderwood Lake.  Six kayakers are unloading their boats at the dock.  Douglas and I shoved off ahead of them.  I heard a commotion at the dock and looked back to see a kayak floating away from shore without an occupant.  I kept paddling down the lake.  They had plenty of help to retrieve the boat.

We had quite a load this trip.  I bet the Mistral held 450 pounds.  The wind was rippling the surface but had no affect on the boat at all.

I did, however, have to pull on the paddle noticeably harder to move the weight.  The long, easy glide of the big canoe was welcome.  She ran straight and true.
We came upon two yakking kayakers that were hugging the left shore line moving side by side.  I guess these guys were the vanguard for the six boats to follow.  The guys were jabbering away, talking about secure mortgages and time shares.  I thought about cutting into Slick Rock Creek ahead of them but thought better of it.  That would be rude.

I would head for the hill side campground. Shaw's Grave Branch would have been great but, my back wasn't up to it.  The hill side camp spot was a three mile paddle from the dock.  That's all I wanted for today.   

That hillside campground is the darnedest place to unload a canoe I ever saw.  The bank is high and it is necessary to bend down and pull the gear "up" and out of the canoe.  Then it has to be lugged up the hill to the site.

Then theres the matter of getting the canoe up the hill.  We don't leave canoe's sitting in the water overnight.  Well;  I don't, especially on this wind swept lake.

Ah Ha;  the canoe wheels!

I pulled the boat right up the hill but, couldn't turn it due to the Aztec Fire Temple that was in the way.  I let her rest on the grass at a fairly level spot.  Small lengths of wood was placed under the gunnel's front and back to keep her off the damp ground.  The worse thing is trying to balance on the edge of the bank and with one hand, lifting the loads up and out of the boat.  That felt great on the ol back.  Then it's up the hill with the cargo to the camp site. 
Douglas ran through the woods while I set up the camp.

This Spring Bar Tent I'm using this trip is a great tent but, it doesn't erect as fast and as easy as the Australian OZ Tent.  I love that OZ tent.  It will fit in this canoe but I doubt Douglas would appreciate sitting on it.  I haven't tried loading that tent in the Mistral but must do so soon.  Maybe I can shift it to the side in such a way he wouldn't mind.

A Whippoorwill is calling very close.  This is the second time I've heard them on the lake.  What a refreshing sound after listening to yakking kayaks for a mile.  I say that with tongue in cheek.


Home Sweet Home

I was writing in my journal earlier when I heard something in the water.  Four wood ducks were swimming past directly in front of me.  The camera was in the water proof Pelican box.  They were only about fifty feet away.  I did slowly move toward the case that held the D50 camera and the ducks instantly took flight.  I should know better by now to have that camera ready at all times.

Aztec Fire Temple (Abomination)

 After the tent was up, I played "I'm gonna get him" with Douglas.  When I say I'm gonna get him, he becomes full alert and runs at me and swerves away at the last second.  He stops quickly and feints left and right as I act like I'm chasing him.  He really turns the power on during this game. 

We wound down the evening with me throwing sticks in the water for him to retrieve.  I believe I finally made him tired as he is laying in a pile of leaves just behind me.

Douglas  is acting just like I remember him in the old days.  This reinforces my belief that the other dogs affects his relationship with me when they are with us.  I don't know what to think about that.  He sure is different tonight.  He's right with me and even sat up tall beside me while I was in my chair.  He's snoring away just behind me now.  I love him.  The night is cold.  It will be a good night to sleep.

I don't think I'll be using this hillside camp spot again.  Not only is it too difficult to manage gear up the steep hill but, I'm sick of looking at others peoples additions to the camp area.  The fire temple is ridiculous yet keeps getting taller each time I stop here.  A cloths line has been thoughtfully strung between two trees.  Dust Pan and drinking cup hang on a nail driven into a tree.  I wonder whats wrong with just camping here and simply leaving the site as it was found.   I knew this would happen when I first saw these sites created by the Forest Service.  With people come their trash and bad habits.  I noticed a little cut in the far bank that lends the possibility of finding level ground enough to put up a tent.  I'll paddle past the place for a close view tomorrow.

The fire crackles adding a kind of texture to Douglas's snoring.  I chuckle out loud at him while he sleeps.  The whippoorwill has been quiet for some time.  It's call has been replaced by the sounds of fish splashing near the shoreline.  It's a beautiful, dark night without moon or stars.  I wonder if it will rain.  The weather is very different up here than it is below in the valley.

The winds awaken me at 4AM.  Two things instantly popped into my mind;  Douglas and canoe.
I slipped on shoes and ran out to tie the lines front and back of the canoe to saplings.  I couldn't park the canoe where I wanted it last night due to the fire temple being in the way.  I had to leave it on a partial slope with a fairly steep grade just behind it.  I didn't want to chance the wind pushing it down the slope to the lake. 

Stars are out now and I don't understand all this wind.  If it's like this tomorrow, we won't leave.  There's Douglas sleeping behind a tree.  Whew!
I tried to coax Douglas into the tent for warmth.  He entered and left just as fast.  I guess the human side of me is worried that he is cold.  Foolish me.  A last thought before I return to the sleeping bag is "glad I brought my Winter parka.  It is cold!

A fairly stiff breeze is blowing this morning although nothing like last night.  I'm lounging here watching the lake.  I wish an otter would show.
There is another tiny creature I am learning to hate as much as chiggers and ticks.  There is a tiny gnat flying around that is about a third the size of a pin head.  They are as bad if not worse than mosquito's and they have a bite almost as bad.  I have not encountered them here at Calderwood before.  Bug chemicals have not been necessary for me at this lake in the past but, I sure would have brought some had I known of these tiny miscreants. 
The wind is fairly brisk as can be seen in the photo below.  I'll wait a bit longer before leaving. 

This would be a great morning to cruise this lake clear to the end.  I don't want to paddle all this gear around and I don't want to haul Douglas all that distance.  I believe I'll bring the Champlain up here for that task;  that is if I can afford the gas to drive here again.  Old trucks are not fuel efficient.
The wind comes and goes.  There is no reliable indication that it has stopped blowing for the rest of the morning.  Below is a moment of peace on the water.

I took the camp apart while the wind was blowing.

The next trick was to ease the canoe back down that hill and over the high edge of the river bank and into the water.  These canoe wheels are fantastic.  I flipped the canoe over and attached the wheels.

You can see the top of the hillside directly behind the canoe.  That thing is steep.  This is going to be a trick.

The shot above shows the hill that has to be traversed both up with the gear and canoe and also back down to the water..  I might add that Calderwood has it's share of rocks everywhere.
Below is the high shoreline.  The wheels will abruptly drop off the edge into the water with the tail end of the canoe.  I'll simply keep pushing until the canoe floats with wheels still attached.

Everything worked perfectly.  The canoe rolled down the hill on the wheels and over the edge of the shoreline into the water.  I set my end down in the water and tied off the canoe to a tree.

Note the canoe wheels are still attached in the picture above and the following two shots:

By the way;  the wheels do float.  Next is the hard part.  I have to lug all the gear down the hill and hang out over the canoe with one hand holding onto a tree while lifting gear bags with the other and situating them into the canoe.

You might notice that the wind is up.  Look at the washboard on the water.

And I wonder why I have back problems.  This is going to be an interesting paddle back.
"Get in the boat Douglas."

The wind comes and goes.  It's not really bad paddling even when the wind is up.  A loaded canoe is much more stable than an empty one,  at least where wind is concerned.

Above:  Look how the canoe lists to the left due to Douglas laying on the left side of the bow.  I paddle on the right side when he is in this position.  Also, note how smooth the water is.

Above:  OK;  here we go with the wind again.  The big canoe is handling fantastic.
I notice a movement against the shore.  It appears to be a wood duck with babies.  I'll paddle over that direction to have a look.

When the canoe neared her, she instantly left the edge of the lake where her babies were and went into a flurry of activity on the water flapping her wings and setting up a terrific commotion.  This was to get danger to follow her and overlook the babies.

Douglas was showing more interest in this duck than I was comfortable with.  "No Douglas;  No!"

She flew clear across the lake to the opposite side and then returned behind us to land at the shore line where her babies were.

I marked the spot well in my mind where she landed and eased the canoe over there.  I saw two babies the size of silver dollars paddling behind her.  There surely were more but they are so tiny and the rip rap so thick I'm sure I was missing them.  Then she quacked and the babies dove under water and disappeared.  Mom came out from under the foliage and swam in plain view, I think to entice us to chase her so she could lead us away from the babies.  What follows are the best photos of a female wood duck I have ever taken.

Her coloration is gorgeous.

And finally my favorite shot.  What a splendid a bird!

Douglas was threatening to dive into the water and chase ducks.  I had to leave.  If he weren't with me I surely would have had shots of the babies.  Guaranteed!  But he is in my charge today and it's no big deal.  There will be other times.

I paddled across the lake to the left shoreline and eased slowly toward home.

I had a tired little friend with me.  He played and ran all afternoon yesterday on the mountain.  A sweeter friend there is none.

So, thats the way the last couple days went.  I hope you found something interesting in all my meandering with words.  See you next time and thanks so much for looking in from time to time.

A SADNESS ON THE TENNESSEE RIVER

A goose floats silently alone, with none of her kind in sight.  An oddity.  Then I put the scene together and it nearly broke my heart.  I looked closer.  Before her floated an egg.  One of her eggs had washed into the water and she couldn't let it go.  Look closely and you will see the egg below.

She floated along behind it helpless to alter the course of events.  She remained silent.  Then all of a sudden she stopped.

She sat there quietly and watched the egg for a full five minutes. Then she turned her back to the egg and simply floated there in place, not looking again at her lost future.

It was amazing to watch and, heart wrenching at the same time.  She simply sat there and floated with her back to the egg.  The egg  drifted further and further from her.

And then the heart breaker.  I mean I never thought I would see an animal act like this.  She lifted her wing and pushed her head under it as if shedding silent tears.  You had to be there.  The action was a direct result of her loss.  I'm sure of it.

Her head came out from under her wing finally and she held her head very low;  nearly touching the water as if in sorrow.

There is no scientific data to prove that animals feel sorrow.  I believe they do  Some say what I'm witnessing is the animal's "confusion" to an event.  I don't buy it.  This goose had just lost her offspring.  It was an egg but to her it was her legacy.  She could do nothing about it.  She was helpless and she showed it.  Even an hour later;  she still floated exactly where I had previously seen her.  It was sad to watch and I wish I hadn't witnessed it.

My eyes opened wide and I turned my head toward the window in the door.  The sun was shining and the leaves were quiet on the only tree I could see from that window.  I quickly rolled over top of Happy, on to the floor and I was off.  I forgot how long it takes to get dressed with this back ache I have in the mornings.

The fishermen were out in large numbers but I had no problems launching the Gheenoe.  I made straight for the Bald Eagle's tree.  I anticipated seeing the eaglets moving about in the nest.

Instead the nest appeared empty.  No parent was to be found either.  It appeared I arrived too late.  The baby eagles had left.  I felt left down.  They couldn't wait one more day for me.  A last look and final farewell was stolen from me.  I waited and waited until I resigned myself to the fact they were gone.  They were the primary reason I came to this river.  I turned the Gheenoe down stream and slowly moved along.

Osprey

Osprey

Osprey

An Osprey passes overhead and presents a wonderful photo opportunity.  A gorgeous bird!









Osprey

 The big raptor circled the boat twice before finally flying off toward the river's edge and a nest.  Then she was gone.

I ran on down stream to the heron rookery.  Maybe the babies were born by now.  Something was wrong.  I only saw two heron nests.  there were a dozen here in these trees along the water.

Broken limbs back in the foliage told the tale.  High winds the night of the tornado last week either blew the nests out of the trees or they fell to the ground on broken tree limbs.  Mother Nature has charged a high tariff for her children to survive on this river in 2011. 

I am saddened further about this occurrence;  this terrible loss.  Adult herons stand on limbs high in the trees where once their nests existed.  They stand vigilant as if their nests and eggs were still before them.  This is further proof of the tenacity of a wild creature to protect its offspring.  They exhibit hope where there is none.


 I just wasn't wanting to be on the river today.  I pointed the boat back upstream and followed the right embankment close as safety would allow.  I wanted to take one more shot of the eagle nest for this year.


Turtle with two Spotted Sandpipers looking on





Spotted Sandpiper



The goose on the cliff is still there sitting on eggs.  I have seen no chicks as yet so I guess everything is alright.  It seems she's been incubating her eggs a long time.

She remains still and in place even as I idle past her.  As usual;  I acted like I didn't see her.

Now;  here's a happy looking pair or residences.

It was plain I was not wanted in the vicinity.  Dad put up a terrible squabble when I appeared. 

Below are tree swallows.  They are fast as jets and almost impossible to photograph on the wing.   I did my best.  You definitely will have to click on the photos if you want to see them.  They are a tiny bird to start with.


Tree Swallow



Tree Swallow

Tree Swallows



Tree Swallow--Pure Straight Away Speed.

 As I idled past the eagle's tree I looked up one last time.  To my joy and surprise, there stood junior in the nest.

They waited for me.  I finally saw something today that put a smile on my face. Junior would allow me another chance to photograph him.  I'm sure sister was behind the tree in the nest.   My goodness;  how his feathers have developed! 

He is near adult size now and surely will depart from the nest this week.

At least now I knew the young eagles were safe.  The tornado activity last week was horrible and I feared they may have succumbed to the high winds.  I'm happy for them.
It was now 2PM.  I'm going to hitch up the canoe and take Douglas to Calderwood Lake for a canoe camp.  I feel a little better about things on the river but, I can't get that goose out of my mind.

LOADING THE CANOE ONTO THE CANOE TRAILER

click photos to enlarge

I want to paddle the canoe up Abrams Creek to survey the tornado damage to the forest, if I can get onto the water within a reasonable distance of the creek channel.  I had heard that the Dept of Transportation is working in the area clearing trees from along side the roadway and may have the area closed off.  As I pulled the canoe from the shed I thought it might be a good idea to post the loading process.  The Mistral 17.5 is a large canoe but very managable once removed from the shed.  The loading drill goes like this:
As soon as the canoe is off the canoe racks in the shed;  I sit it on the floor and immediately attach the Paddle Boy canoe wheels.  These things are absolutely a must have if you've got any kind of back issues at all.  Then I simply wheel (push or pull) the canoe out to the trailer.

The wheels attach easily.  It takes a heart beat in time to slide them over the tip of the canoe.  They fit solid and will mar nothing.  The wood gunnels are protected by thick, soft plastic covering the wheel support arms.

I place the canoe directly behind the trailer.

Note that the wheels are still attached although, it is not necessary from this point forward.  I then pick up the bow with the lift rope and sit the bow onto the rear bunk.  It is then that I remove the canoe wheels.

Notice above that I have set the canoe onto the extreme one side of the bunk.

Again, the canoe is resting on the right end of the rear bunk.  Then I simply lift the tail end of the boat with the lift rope and push it forward onto the front bunk.

The canoe is still sitting off center on the edge of the bunks both front and rear.  I now, from the rear of the boat, simply rotate the canoe onto it's side.  Now you get the reason for keeping the boat off center and on the outside of the bunks.

Above and below is what you should have at this point in the process:

Again, note where the canoe rests on the bunks.  Then, from this side, simply grab the gunnels and lay it down gently onto the bunks.

It is now ready to strap down tight.

Throw one of these in the front seat of the truck and head for the water:

I can't stress enough how wonderful the canoe wheels are.  They allow the canoe to be loaded at the truck and the whole mess can be wheeled to the water.  Throw the canoe wheels under the seat and you have them to extricate the boat at the destination.  Simply turn around and slide the wheel frame over the end of the canoe while it's still in the water.  Step out at your destination, grab the lift rope and pull the canoe up on land and to wherever you wish.  They fold and pack in the canoe well.

I put an entry on the blog showing the assembly of this trailer.  I wasn't satisified with the bunk supports or bunk placement so I made new supports out of 2 inch angle iron.  It's overkill for strength.  So what!  Point is that the angle iron that the bunks rest on is very long.  It's almost as long as the bunks themselves.  I could easily cut new wood bunks and extend them long enough to carry two canoes side by side were I a mind to.  I also purchased a caster wheel for the tongue.  I hardly have to lift a thing to go canoeing.

I am very adverse to lifting canoes to my shoulders since my bout with sciatica.  I don't want to risk falling back into that pain filled traumatic situation again.  I love canoeing and this set up allows me to enjoy my passion with confidence.

I have all intention of slipping down to the water but, I no sooner loaded the canoe than the wind started blowing and the sky darkened.  Just my luck.  No matter.  The boat is ready to go.