Paddled the new skin kayak in Lake Nippenicket for a couple of hours late this afternoon. The sky was overcast and in the 50s and it showered lightly a few times. I bundled up in two fleeces and hat and waterproof jacket. For comfort, I brought fabric to keep paddle drips out of my lap, and warm slippers to slip my bare feet into after I set out. It was a pretty successful outfit. I do need to get a real cockpit cover to keep myself drier, though.
Island
Cove with marsh in distance
Since I've spent quite a bit of time in the southern coves this year, I decided to go straight to the north end. I left the ramp at the se end about 4pm and paddled west of the big island. Tooke a photo of the island, and the cove ne of it. A flight of birds--geese, I think--were passing in the distant marsh behind the cove but did not photograph.
Phragmites is an odd grass: world-wide distribution, yet recently increasing and taking over cattail marshes--maybe due to an imported European variety.
The cattail marsh is thin, but covers more area than the Phragmites
I spent a little time visiting a big stand of invasive Phragmites at the north end, and was cheered to discover cattail marsh of even greater extent west of it. A little spit protruding from the marsh caught my eye since it had a little stand of trees. It turned out to have been constructed or "improved" by some sort of cement work. I have no idea what it was or why it was there--seeming the middle of nowhere. The curving cement wall or path is clearly visible in Google Earth, but there is no sign of any path through the marsh behind it--supposing the marsh to be firm enough in places for walking.
I visited the wooded northwest end briefly before turning for home, arriving back at the ramp about 5:45.
