Tuesday, August 18, 2015

Taylorville Pond, Part Two



To continue with Taylorville Pond... We paddled here in June, but our first paddle at this location was last fall.  I have some gorgeous fall color/reflection photos from that day that I will share later, and/or look up the post from last fall and you will see a bit of those.  I have vowed to finish that description later.

We left the island with all the tall pines and paddled east on the pond, toward the second of two islands.  I usually don't have to "make" Brody stand on the coping and face forward, as you all know, that is his NAVIGATOR position and he loves it.  Well, on this day, as we headed toward the smaller island, Brody for some reason was interested in what I was doing.  He was actually looking at me even though I had the camera up to my face!!  I think it's because I was trying to get his iconic photo... somehow he sensed that and did not want to cooperate!

 


 Ah, but I knew patience would win... and it did!

 



Isn't this a pretty view? Fall colors are nice, but my favorite color is green.   I love the trees all decked out in bright pine needle green or brilliant maple leaf green, or the medium green of bushes...  The island is on the left.  From this perspective, it looks like part of the mainland.




The southern side of the island as you approach from the put-in is bare rock, about 3 to 4 feet high.



Paddling along the rocky bank, the island slopes down.



Brody hears more birds in the trees.  He is on full radar alert!  Look at them ears!




Once at the end of the island, the view opens up again, and the Beaver River, the pond's inlet, is visible (in the middle of the photo.)



If you look closely in this photo below, you can see the river where it enters the pond on the left, and the bubbles the strong current is moving along on top of the water.


To the right of the river inlet, is a very pretty little bay.  The water is quieter there, and although it is almost completely open to the rest of the pond, it sets back just enough, is still enough, and so pretty, that you feel you're separated from the main pond.



In this area of Taylorville Pond, Brody is intrigued by sounds in the trees.  I believe THIS time it was chipmunks, not birds.  He loves watching "chippies!"



Again in the set-back bay off Taylorville Pond--  Just love the reflections in this shot.



Brody, wondering where we're headed as I paddle near the banks of this quiet bay.



My husband, waiting near the main part of the pond (off to the left) while Brody and I do some more exploring along the edges of the pretty bay.



I will end part two with another photo of Brody.  He really enjoys it when we're close to shore where he can hear and see more creatures!  I'm not sure what he was focused on this time, but most likely it was some birds in the bushes.
 yxp


I still have plenty more photos of Taylorville Pond to share with you.  Join me next time, and Happy Kayaking!!


Thursday, August 6, 2015

Taylorville Pond, Part One

Back in June, my husband and I paddled on Taylorville Pond.  This is the place we also paddled in September and really enjoyed it.  So, when there's a good paddling spot that is less than a few hours from home, we tend to re-visit it!  It is part of the Beaver River, which has a number of dams along it's length.  There is an entire "Beaver River Canoe Route" with many carries, allowing for days of paddling and camping if you are interested! 


Here is the put-in.  It isn't as gradual a bank as we like-- made more for fishing boats, but it works!






I took a few photos before getting in my kayak, which is the yellow one in the photo above.


Below is the main part of Taylorville Pond.  If you look closely you can see the evergreen studded island in the left 1/3 of the photo.





I loved the morning light brightening up the moss on this rock near the put-in.




Brody in his now iconic position as Navigator.




Here is the pretty island, studded with pines, on the main part of Taylorville Pond.



And here is Brody, watching my husband as he paddles ahead of us on our way to the island.




Near the island, Brody became interested in some birds in the bushes.  We never saw them, and I could not identify them by their calls, but Brody sure did perk up his ears to listen!




There are some pretty wildflowers which are the bushes in the photo above.  I used to know what these are called but I've forgotten...



We did not get out to explore the island, but it is fairly flat and would make a good picnic spot!




There's even a path up from the water.  That is a rock, not sand in the foreground, but as you know, a kayak can be beached on a rock that is fairly flat, as this one is.




After checking out the island, we paddled away.  The morning was pretty with a bit of a breeze, and my husband decided it was time to relax and stretch out his legs.



We saw a loon and a Great blue heron on this paddle, but both were too far away for good photos.  I did snap away but the birds are too small to bother posting the photos.  It's always fun to see the herons and loons.  We watch them and try not to startle them or get too close.  The loons are smart and will observe the direction you are traveling, then dive underwater and surface 4 minutes later very far behind you.

I'll end part one with a photo of Brody, still interested in the birds on the island! 



Thanks for reading and Happy Kayaking!