August 24, 2003

Crisp Blue

I arrived early, around 7:30 for the 9:00 am launch. After getting my gear ready I walked out to the end of the dock to absorb the morning. Slathering on the sunscreen, I watched as Bald Eagles flew across the river and back again.

Carolyn, Yvonne, and Victoria met me at Marshall Hall for the paddle downstream. There was little activity at the boat ramp - the fishermen were already on the water and it was still too early for the jetskis.

We started out near shore, but the river grass caused us to move out further. A cool breeze at our backs, I hoped it would hold for the paddle back. It wasn't long that Carolyn pointed out a Bald Eagle standing on a log floating down the river. He waited for us to pass close before flying off.

I found the water still too shallow for my liking, so I moved even further off shore. Before long Carolyn came out as well and we paddled down to Pomonkey with the group stopping occasionally to dip off in the water.

Pomonkey is oddly shaped at the mouth of the creek. It appears almost like a shallow bay and it makes you think it will quickly narrow down to nothing, but after passing through a tight opening, the creek opens back up into a beautiful and winding waterway.

There were more boats here than I expected, which probably kept the wildlife away, but a few egrets and an occasional duck crossed our paths. What surprised me was large amount of wild rice growing along the edges. I'm looking forward to coming back in the fall to watch the leaves change.

We stopped for lunch on our way out of the creek and then turned our attention to paddling back. The cool breeze I was hoping for never happened but under cool crisp blue skies we paddled the 4 miles back with little effort.

Near the boat ramp I took my kayak ashore and spotted Yvonne while she practiced a few rolls, adding a sweep component to her high brace while upside down. A few minutes later I made my way back to shore through the river grass and we landed between the jetskis who were also landing for the day.

Pomonkey in summer is choked with hydrilla, but in the fall and winter months it is truly an under explored gem on the Potomac.

Woody