August 4, 2007
Ya'll can leave now
Throughout my travels in the northern and middle necks I've come to really like the people there. You can tell though, there are impacts from the more affluent northern Virginia crowd that is invading. Buying up all the water front properties, building 'McMansions', and putting up ADT signs in the front yard, they stick out like a giant pimple on otherwise rural country communities.
While crossing the upper Mattaponi river, I stopped to check out a public launch where 360 crosses and enjoyed the intimacy but was curious about the speedy current going through there. The current ran fast, and looked to be driven by tide. After making note that it was a 'possible return trip' I got back in the car as a truck backed in with a boat on the trailer.
I waited a moment as he backed in, but rather than go down the ramp he parked right next to me. I wondered why he did that and then noticed a young girl at my window. "Ya'll can leave now", she said. I was taken aback, not used to being ordered around by a child. It took a moment to register and she said it again - "Ya'll can leave now"
Then it clicked. She wasn't ordering me to leave, she was telling me it was ok to back out. Her father had avoided the ramp to keep from blocking me in as I left. I felt a bit embarrassed that I had initially thought the worse, when in fact this was the pure country politeness that I had come to love about this area that was showing through.
Lodge Landing was my choice to launch from for the weekend. A tributary off the South Yeocomico River near Callao, Va. Paddling left from the launch takes you out to the river, right takes you in to a well protected and very shallow creek.
As I launched a very polite fisherman held off pulling his boat out of the water while I launched. I want to live here.
In the shallows the water was so muddy it was obvious something was stirring it up. The water began to boil with fish and was so thick it was impossible to take a stroke without hitting them. They banged the underside of the boat and gave the visual that I was paddling though small rapids.
The heat was unbearable, and with the water saturated with Sea Nettles this made for a very hot trip. I decided to keep it short and opted to find shade to spend the remainder of the afternoon.
The song birds now wake me up each morning. As my eyes adjust from the sleep I look through my...
My First - Jan 6, 2008
It rained the entire trip to Leesylvania. But by the time I arrived it was just the occasional drip. Overcast...
The Beginning of Fall - Oct 28, 2007
Windier than I expected. Just the type of weather Patty likes. I hate the wind. I like the way it...
Sit'n and look'n - part 2 - Sep 6, 2007
Somewhere in between the planes passing overhead and the traffic passing over the Key bridge, I found an inner peace...
I owe Woody a trip report. That was the price of our very first kayaking trip out of Belle...
Meredith in Puerto Rico - Oct 28, 2004
On Tuesday night I got to experience something many paddlers will never see, even though they live just a few...
Georgian Bay - Franklin Island Trip Report - Sep 18, 2004
Jenny and I returned to Canada this summer for our kayak vacation. We've been going to parts of Ontario for...
Paddle with Pride - Jun 12, 2004
Trip Report by Meredith Peruzzi Pictures Waking up at 4:00am on a Saturday morning doesn't sound like fun to most...
- 1999 Trip Reports(58)
- 2000 Trip Reports(31)
- 2001 Trip Reports(9)
- 2002 Trip Reports(27)
- 2003 Trip Reports(36)
- 2004 Trip Reports(40)
- 2005 Trip Reports(43)
- 2006 Trip Reports(36)
- 2007 Trip Reports(10)
- 2008 Trip Reports(2)
- Captain's Quarters(1)
- Gear Reviews(9)
- Guest Trip Reports(6)
- Kayak News(66)
- Paddle Tales(1)
- Things I've Learned(13)
- Video & Book Reviews(42)
Chesapeake Aerial/Topo Maps
Launch Finder
Paddling Links
Stolen Boat List
Kayaking Pictures
Pictures From Japan
Canton Kayak Club
Capital Area Coastal Kayakers
The Chesapeake Paddlers Assn
Delaware Kayak Club
Delmarva Paddlers
Sea Kayaking FAQ
Cold Water Dangers
ACA Smart Start
NOAA Area Forecast Map
Environmental Activism
KayakTrips at CafePress
KayakTrips at Amazon
Updated: 18:55Temp: 73
Wind Chill: 74
Humidity: 36%
Wind: SW 12 mph gusting to 18 mphBeaufort: 3 beaufort
Dewpoint: 45
Barometer: 29.56 in. Hg
Conditions: Sky Clear
Visibility: unlimited
Phase: Waxing GibbousNew moon: 06-03-2008
1st Quarter: 05-11-2008
Full moon: 05-19-2008
3rd Quarter: 05-27-2008
You are visitor #
13 billion and 2
Over
and still going!
this year
Pirate & Blue Lake Designs by
All works posted here are Copyrighted © by the original author unless otherwise noted and may not be used without permission.
