March 13, 2005

Pirouettes

The drive to Fredericksburg went quick and 3 miles past town I turned down a dirt road by the sewage treatment plant. My Chesapeake Boat Launch Guide told me there was a launch here on the Rappahannock.

I guess it was about 8:00-8:30 when I arrived and the parking lot was mine. The clean porta-potty was a welcome amenity as I packed for my morning trip. According to my tide software there is still a 3 foot tide difference this far up the river, with up to a knot of current. This is certainly a trip you want to try and time with the tide if possible.

As I'm getting ready a guy shows up with a john boat and has it in the water in just a few moments. We briefly chat about the weather - overcast and just one notch up from gloomy. He parked his truck and was pulling away before I had all my gear on.

There is a slight current heading south, and remembering my tide chart recall that the tide is just starting to turn. I head north making the first half of my trip the toughest, but planning for an easy ride back.

As I leave the ramp I notice what at first looks like a tree under my hull, but on closer study I see it is an old bulkhead made of timber. The river has long ago claimed it as its own as it widened and the water level rose.

High water marks in the trees a full 3 feet above my head tells me this river is capable if running much higher. Old pilings on river right seem out of place and as I stop to take pictures my camera's batteries give up and I'm left to store todays images in my head. On one of the pilings a small tree is suspended on the very top from the last high water to pass through here.

On river left a man is scaling the sharp bank cutting up trees that have fallen. I assume he's after the firewood.

I pass a country club also on river left, but for the most part all the construction is back off the river and on high bluffs. The golf course appears to me to be below the high water line.

Another old pier on river left and the increasing current has me hugging the sides of the river to make better progress north. Before long I pass under the SR 3 bridge and in the distance I can see the railroad bridge.

It seems to take forever to cover the distance to the railroad bridge. The current continues to increase and I edge even closer to shore, seeing several more of the submerged wooden bulkheads.

Since the put-in the water has had the green clay tint I've come to expect in the Rappahannock, but it is very clear this far up river.

I drift for a moment as a train crosses the bridge. On studying the bridge closely it appears to be in need of repair with large cracks and chunks of concrete missing off the road bed.

The City Dock appears on river left and on seeing the sea gulls I paddle to the far side of the river to avoid them. Grandma, mom, and baby daughter are feeding the gulls and old men are gathering around the tail gates of pickup trucks to shoot the bull.

The water feels sluggish as I cross the main current to the other side and I take a very direct route to quickly get back in to the slower water along shore.

I pass under SR3 business and paddle to the north end of Scotts Island. I've had enough. Time to turn around and head back. I cut through to the other side of the island and it feels like I'm being rocketed back south as the current shoves me along.

All the trees on Scotts Island slant down river. It's obvious this island has been washed over before and the trees give testament to past floods. Against the railroad bridge massive tree trunks lay piled up against the two center spans.

A hawk flew from the trees as I continued my southward journey. It actually felt a little more difficult to move as my paddle pushed against the current that was heading me home. My speed was great for the entire trip back and I covered the 4.5 miles in no time at all.

My trip was nearing an end, but I wasn't ready. So in the slight current in front of the ramp while listening to my MP3 player, the Explorer and I danced.

life in the long run
ain't never long enough one
we wanna pocket
like mints
like gold

but its a real short story
with its turned up pages
all us characters waiting
in line to unfold

her silver slippers
his goofy grin
just a momentary spin
but a lovely waltz
you'd be surprised time don't forget
the subtle turning of a midnight pirouette
the ever longing for a midnight pirouette

Midnight Pirouette (listen)

These Things Wrapped
By Leslie Smith (Buy)

Pictures