7-21-13 Shelburne Bay

I worked Saturday so my recreation this weekend was limited.  I had been re-urethaning the bottom of my skin-on-frame boat, and managed to test it after work on Saturday to make sure it was no longer taking in water.  It wasn't, which was so gratifying  so I got past the island in Shelburne Bay before turning back as the sun set.

The cliffs where I turned around.  The rocks were cool and the cedar trees barely holding one.

Teuthida was glad to be in the water so the next day, after sleeping until 3:30 I grabbed Craig and jumping in both of my kayaks into the water at Shelburne Bay again.

The waves were1'-2', a solid challenge and a lot of fun to cut through.  We headed out Red Rocks where some kids were cliff diving off 45' cliffs.  It was impressive to sit and watch.

Craig was in my plastic boat so he had my cell phone.  He backed into the gap in the rock and took a picture as I went past.

Just chillin' by the rocks.  The water was rough and fun, a rest was needed before heading back.

The ever reliable iphone camera struggled with the waves knocking us around.

That is not the sun, it is the full moon coming out as the sun set.  It was an awesome, challengeing 7 mile trip.  The waves were fun and exhausting at the same time and my little boat liked to dance on them.  Sure I was wet, but I was sitting in a boat design and made by me with a paddle carved by my hands while exploring cliffs witha friend.  No one else on that like could say that.

7-15-13 Burlington Bay

A Monday afterwork with beautiful weather meant I had to put into the water in my kayak.  For the first time I launched from the Waterfront by the Coast Guard station.

This is the lighthouse as the entrance to the breakwaters.

Water was high, almost over the top of the rocks.  Another perspective.  Looks like the storms have done their damage.

Sailboats leaving the harbor.  I just sat and watched them go.

Along the shore there are these corrugated walls.  I thought they looked cool in the light.

As the sun drifts down even more so.  I image at one point this was filled with buildings, but no longer.

Sunset through the sails of an incoming boat.

I just parked myself at the breakwater and waited for the sun to set.  What a good way to end a Monday.

7-14-13 Shelburne Bay

Originally I had planned an early morning kayak trip with a friend from work but when I woke at 8am it was raining.   We cancelled but by 1 it was clear again and I still had the kayak on the car.  So off to Shelburne Bay.

All the way out to the small island whose shores were completely under water.

Along the rockface there were all these different flowers hanging down.

The island itself was lush, much more so I had seen previously.  Trees and lots of flowers seemed quite happy.

More of the purple dangling one might be Harebell, Campanula rotundifolia.  It was quite pretty in the sunlight.

And the Morning Glory, Calystegia soldanella below was tucked on the other side of the rock.

Not a bad place to park a boat and take pictures of flowers.  It was a good but hard paddle, my shoulder still sore from rock climbing.  All in all a busy weekend.

7-13-13 Mount Mansfield

I have been waiting to do a summit again, waiting for the trails to dry at least a little after all the rain.  Finally the opportunity came on an early Saturday morning

The beginning of the ascent up Mount Mansfield.  I have been recovering from this nasty cough that has stuck with me for three weeks and it slowed me quite a bit.

It was so lush in the undergrowth, Sal was having a blast.

Getting up there.  Looking south along the ridgeline and Bolton.

A cairn and a view of Mount Mansfield.  It was perfect weather and few people on the trail.

While I did not hike all the way across the ridge to the northern summit I did stop at the Nose to take pictures before turning back.  There were some people up there, mostly those that drove up (yes, you can do that after all)

Looking West to Lake Champlain.  New York was a bit hazed in.

And looking North to the summit.  I was glad to turn and descend.  The rock climbing the day before had kicked my as a bit, as was the

From what I could find this looks to be Bunchberry, Cornus Canadesis.  Learn a new thing every day.

The descent with Sal.  It killed my knees for some reason.  I haven't been exercising for almost a month because of this cough and the rain and it seemed to catch up to me here.  Still, a great day and a good hike.  2 hours up, 1 hour and 45 minutes down.

7-12-13 Rock Climbing Lower West Bolton

For anyone in the area you know how bad the rain has been.  Almost none stop for well over a month and finally it broke for a little bit.  I had acquired some rock climbing gear, the most basic kit and now that the rocks were not soaked I was able to get out with some friend  from work and climb.

We went to the Lower West Bolton cliffs.  It was pretty busy there but we found an open slot.  Mo on the rock Magee on belay.  

When it was my turn I got less than half way up before my arms gave out completely.  that was after several slips.  It is such a multidimensional puzzle and learning how my body worked or didn't was fascinating.

This is the second one we did and the last before darkness came.  I got further up this one, more than half ways at least, before I was done.

Magee repelling down.  It was a truly fun and hard experience.  We got back late and instead of joining them for drinks I walked Sal and collapse because I knew the next morning would be bring Mount Mansfield.  I look forward to doing more, perhaps after I get my hands a lot stronger.

7-6-13 Kayaking the Flooded Sand Bar Park

I  have been up the Lamoille River, this specific stretch a year ago when the rive and lake were at record lows.  Today it is at record highs, this launch point is usually 3 feet lower.

In this same spot the year before I could see the bottom, filled with mussels and could grab them off the bottom with my hand.  Now it is at least 6 feet deep.

So much so that the forrest surrounding it's mouth were flooded.  I was able to cross the original shoreline and in about 2-3 feet of water wander among the trees.

It was pretty damn cool.  And a little strange.

In the end I returned home and went for a bike ride as the sun set over Burlington.

Perkins Pier as the water start to flood.