We spent the day yesterday down by Olympia, canoeing by Tumwater Falls in Capitol Lake.It was an overcast day, with spots of sunlight. Not a good filming day, because the sound of the freeway was too close to the water. Nor was it great for still photos, because all the good shots were directly into the sun.
But, Here are a few photos to give a glimpse of our paddle. Beginning kayakers were getting lessons here, and their gear looked brand new - unlike our canoe, which looks pretty used by now.
The old Tumwater Brewing Buildings provide a backdrop to the little lake. They are no longer in use, and have ivy growing up the sides and old trees sprouting from inside. I love the old brickwork and architecture.
We saw lots of wildlife - the Canadian Geese use the Nisqually Wildlife Refuge nearby, and many birds were flocking up. We hiked a couple miles through the willow thickets, where there was a boardwalk along the delta. There is a nature trail, and a couple of old barns out in a meadow.
This property was a successful farm long ago, but the owner lost his investments during the First World War, and lost his financing to keep the property running.
It has since been cared for as a National Wildlife Refuge.The Nisqually River Delta is a biologically rich and diverse area, with the freshwater of the Nisqually River combining with the saltwater of Puget Sound. It forms a nutrient rich estuary that supports abundant wildlife. We like the sandpipers, blue heron, ducks and geese.
In the spring you can hear many songbirds - goldfinches, warblers, and swallows. The dense underbrush provides cover for small mammals. There is a mixed conifer forest on the bluffs above the delta that is perfect for eagles and osprey. One time we were canoeing and decided to drag the canoe across the delta, and we came across 7 bald eagles, sunning themselves on the mud-flats. It's not every day you can come across something like that.
All in all it was a good day, with a good hike and a gentle paddle. Not too many more days are ahead with weather this accommodating. We'll be putting the canoe away for the winter, and put our hiking boots on.
