PERFECT WEEKEND TO PADDLE

The only people we met on the water. A couple in its best age (like us! 😊) with their grandkids in a canoe.

I haven’t heard anybody complaining about the weather this weekend 😉. Moderate temperatures and lots of sun made it the perfect time to go on the water again and enjoy the Great Outdoors. Sun high in the sky creates contrast and that was pretty much the only thing that needed attention for making a few clicks while traveling by kayak.

Great Egret, Mississippi River, Green Island Wetlands, Iowa. They usually keep their distance but this one felt obviously safe while perching high up in a dead tree.

In my last blog post I published an image of a Map Turtle. The more common one here is the Painted Turtle. I loved what water and reflections do to make the photo of a very common critter a little more special…

FLOODING AT THE MISSISSIPPI RIVER

The Mississippi River is flooding and many places I visit frequently around Dubuque, Iowa are not accessible at the moment. I went out twice today in different weather conditions. Here are some photos.

11:20AM, Mud Lake

The park with boat ramp, campsite, and recreation areas was completely under water. The water reached the railroad tracks and I guess the park ranger had to drive through to reach his residence in the park.

11:43AM, John Deere Marsh

It rained and the fog didn’t even allow to see the main channel of the river. I have never seen the access to the trail under water. However, some ducks and geese didn’t mind it at all. The dyke leads into the marsh and finally to the main channel of the Mississippi.

4:54PM, John Deere Marsh

Same place, just five hours later. The rain and clouds went away, the sun came out and this gentleman made the best out of the situation and launched his canoe on the trail. The current was pretty strong, although the main channel is almost 1,000 meters away from this point.

5:42PM, Mines of Spain, at Julien Dubuque Monument

A freight train approaches the bridge that crosses Catfish Creek. At the bridge little Catfish Creek meets the mighty Mississippi. The high water pushed into the side valleys and flooded much of the lower parts of the valley.