Wilderness Kayaking at East Inlet
Topic: Life in Pittsburg

A week ago Sunday, I finally had the chance to go kayaking at one of the most pristine places in northern NH.   East Inlet, a tributary to Second Connecticut Lake, hosts numerous species of wild-life, and is always a wonderful place to take photographs.   My trip that Sunday, yielded several pictures which may be used as references for paintings in the future.   But, for now, I thought you might enjoy seeing some of the scenery and wild-life we encountered.  

When you first begin paddling away from the East Inlet dam, you are awed by the view of the landscape before you.   The quiet serene waters seem as though you are the only one there.  

You soon realize, however, that the waters are alive with wild-life.  Our first siting was of a large blue heron fishing along the shoreline.

Around the next bend, we caught a glimpse of a young bald eagle, and quietly made our way toward the tree on the shore, where it had perched.

Below the eagle on the water's edge, a muskrat sat extremely still, waiting for the eagle to fly off.  But, by the time I lifted my camera to snap a picture of that little guy, he'd dipped below the surface.

We continued paddling until we rounded the next bend, and there, wading along the water's edge was a cow moose.    We watched, for several minutes, as she pawed with her hoof, and then dunked her head below the surface, pulling the grasses from the bottom.   

There is always an abundance of geese and ducks to see, no matter which waterway you might be exploring.  

 This pair of geese were cautiously watching over their two fuzzy offspring.

This female mallard, paddled off behind a stump, in search of another meal.

Kayaking at East Inlet is always an adventure.    Each stroke of the paddle  ignites your curiosity about what lies ahead.    And each turn in the stream, leaves you hoping for something more.  It's serenity, and peacefulness at it's best.  With loads of excitement thrown in for fun!  It's a chance to relax a bit, to enjoy the moment, listen, and watch.......a chance to experience  nature's living masterpiece.    

I can't wait to go back, and to spend some time paddling around the other beautiful lakes and streams in Pittsburg.  For this particular kayaker, (and artist), I don't believe summertime gets much better than this.

 

 

 

Signs of Spring
Topic: Life in Pittsburg
The official first day of spring was marked on our calendars well over a month ago, on March 20, 2006. Since then, we've had some wonderfully warm days, some cold rainy days, and some blustery snow days, just to keep us guessing. But, that's what makes spring in northern NH so intriguingly interesting. It's certainly never boring! The good news is, despite the roller coaster weather conditions, there are definite signs to show we are slowly wading through mud season, and will eventually arrive in the season of summer.

With the sun shining, and the sky blue, I decided to go for a walk this morning, taking along my camera....just in case. Sure enough it didn't take long to find the signs I was looking for. Brilliant, tiny red maple buds, bursting against the sky, with the determination of growing into green. Only a short distance further, I found a small group of trillium growing at the foot of a spruce, the small buds, young and green, sure to bloom into crimson red.







It's amazing what a simple walk can do for one's spirit, especially when it's still cold outside! I've no doubt, the roller coaster ride we're on will eventually end in summer. In the meantime, taking the time to notice some of nature's little blooming things, sure helps decipher the hope from the mud. What a great way to start the day!