Yesterday we loaded up the canoe, put Manheim Steamroller
's Christmas music on, got a couple Subway sandwiches and some coffee, and headed south to the Black River for a day of paddling. It was quite cold out - about 36 degrees, and out on the water it can get even colder. Fortunately, there was no wind, and the sun was out, making the river look a little more friendly than it seemed...you note that photo of the branches out over the water - yikes. Looks like a tarantullah, just spooky.
We paddled upstream, then allowed the current to take us back down again. Whirlpools scurried in the flow. Capricious little devils. There's always something that a whirlpool wants to say, but it's mute, like the dervish, caught up in it's little dance. Even the aquatic plants were swaying, undulating and shuddering, glowing in shallow water.
We've done various parts of this river, and it is the most lovely in early summer when the lily pads line the shore. Then it has the fragrance of wild mint, and small trout can be seen under cutbanks.
We explored the Mima Mounds after our paddle, hiking through the woods and out onto the open prairie. I was able to chat with the naturalist there about the mounds, which are just a mystery, mound after mound, all over the prairie. He was so knowledgable and I enjoyed visiting with him. At age 70, he has retired from an administrative position in geriatric psychiatry, and now is 'weeding' a prairie, removing invasive plants, like Scotch Broom, which must be pulled out or the natural vegetation gets choked out. It is an extremely poisonous plant.
