Miscellany

Posted on October 28, 2010 by christov10

Stepford Fall colors brighten the day.

Fall again here at Stepford and I am catching up on work at the office, trying to get enough exercise not to get fat, experimenting with a new camera, and managed to paddle last weekend even though that involved playing hookie from worship service Sunday morning. I shot some video with the new Pentax Optio W30 while driving earlier this week, and I’ll try to get that posted later this week, but I’ve got some deadline work I must complete by the weekend. Moses Santiago suggested on a social networking site that I am in need of a lifeline.

Crumpton Creek Branch, Normandy Lake

Posted on October 7, 2008 by christov10

Fallen leaves litter the lake's briefly still surface - click for larger image

More of the pictures are here.

Up this morning before five, I intended to get on the water by about six-thirty. I was about to make my lunch, I heard the baby making happy sounds and went in to play with him. Way more fun than paddling. I was on the water an hour later than scheduled, and the wind was earlier than usual, blowing from the south or southwest.

My goal today was to paddle as far up Crumpton Creek branch as I could get. I last paddled there with Mike and his son, Jesse, in the spring of ’06, if memory serves. At that time, I was paddling sans rudder, which proved a trial in beam and tailwinds. Water was higher then, and we got maybe three tenths of a mile further than I got today. Leaves turning now fall is here, and released by their trees scattered upon the water’s surface.

Light rain fell some this morning. I saw blue, purple, yellow, and white wildflowers in bloom. All the flowers were very small.

Sonic boom startled me as I rested under the overhang

This morning, under the overhang below the house in the picture, a plane broke the sound barrier and its boom shook the rock. Thought it was a thunderclap right overhead until the next boom from the chase plane again shook the earth. A startled fish jumped beside my bow.

I ate my lunch seated on a rock in the middle of Crumpton Creek an easy walk upstream of where I beached the kayak. Then I paddled back to the car. Wind almost took the red boat off my car’s roof as I attempted to strap it down.

Later this afternoon we looked at houses, found one we think we like enough to make an offer on. We may put our house on the market next week.

Little Hurricane Creek & Fanning Bend

Posted on October 4, 2008 by christov10

Warm and not very windy today. I put in at Pleasant Grove boat ramp near the top of Little Hurricane Creek branch on Tims Ford Lake. First found the location in October, 2007, and paddled Little Hurricane branch that November, and again in February, 2008. Some bearded guys were fishing from the bank when I arrived about nine. I believe I mentioned earlier today that I had a lazy morning.

My goals were to paddle all the way down Little Hurricane Creek branch, then some of the lake’s south shore toward the state park. I’d hoped to get to Big Hollow, but only managed to explore Fanning Bend today. (Another possible goal is related to subject-verb agreement) Maybe 12, 13 mile roundtrip.

The leaves are not yet as colorful as they will be in two or three weeks. Water’s not as cold, either, but is certainly cooling off. I saw fish, not as many of the herons as I’m used to seeing, two small black ducks with white beaks, empty covered slips from a lakeside housing development that’s not taken off yet, a yacht, ostentatious houses, a living turtle swimming head out of water before diving at my approach.