Sometimes the Old Ways Are Best

Early fall weather in Texas can be tricky. One day the gusts from a cool front will be raising goose bumps on your skin, while just days later that same skin will be slick with perspiration.

So when I scheduled an early October paddle at Pickett's Bayou for my meetup group, I knew the weather was a question mark. I just didn't count on the location being up in the air as well.

As it turned out, the government shutdown closed the gates of the Trinity River National Wildlife Refuge, putting our Pickett's Bayou launch point off limits.

As the date for the meetup approached with no movement in Washington, it was clear that I had to either cancel the paddle or move it somewhere else. Fortunately, the Trinity River basin is rich with interesting places to paddle, including the Old River. While its environs may be slightly less wild than Pickett's, they remain quite lovely.

The group met at the bridge over the Old River on FM1409, launched our kayaks, and headed upstream along the cypress-lined channel. Conversation among the group mixed with the calls of birds as we paddled the peaceful waters. We covered about three miles before pausing for a bite to eat, turning around, and making our way back to the launch at a leisurely pace. It was a very enjoyable outing with the group, proving once again that things can go well, even when they don't go exactly according to plan.

And for the record, this particular fall day had lots more perspiration than goose bumps. Happy Fall, everyone!

More Pictures from Old River

Lake Livingston, I presume?

After a few years of paddling the waters around Houston, I have settled on a handful of favorite destinations -- beautiful, peaceful places I savor returning to season after season. You'll see their names appear repeatedly here on my blog. But as much as I enjoy these familiar haunts, the itch to explore new places is always there in the back of my mind.

So when I pulled out of my driveway before sunrise on Saturday, I steered my car toward a new destination: Lake Livingston in the piney woods northeast of Houston.

After launching at the state park on the southeast side of the lake, I needed a destination. The wooded shores of Pine Island on the horizon looked inviting, so I turned my bow in that direction and started paddling.

Let me tell you a funny story about Lake Livingston. It's really big! And that inviting island turned out to be about three miles from the launch. Once I got there, it did prove fun to explore. It was ringed with sandy beaches and covered in dense woods full of birds. I circled the island slowly, landing a couple of times to look around and to take a break under the shade of a weeping willow. During my picnic, I spotted what I believe were a pair of bald eagles, though they were too far away for me to get a really good look.

By the time I was done with my snack, the clouds had started to build ominously. I took to the water again and paddled vigorously back toward the launch. I'm glad to have added Lake Livingston to my destination list and I imagine I'll be back again -- but I think I'll pick a day that's a little cooler and with less chance of lightning!

More Pictures From Lake Livingston

Setting Sun at Buffalo Run

Those of you who read this blog regularly will know that I get the most excited about paddle trips to wild places on the outer fringes of Houston and beyond. But what's a paddler to do when they don't have the time or patience for a long drive, but still need some peaceful time on the water?

Down in Missouri City they've taken what could have been just another set of grassy storm water detention basins and turned them into a set of lovely little lakes surrounded by the trees and trails of Buffalo Run Park. And even better, they've bucked the trend of parks that close at sunset and left the park open until well after dark.

Thank you to the folks in Missouri City for the relaxing afternoon paddle, complete with this lovely sunset over the water.

More Pictures from Buffalo Run

West to Columbus

Over the course of the last three years, the quest for new paddling destinations has led me from Houston in almost every compass direction:

• Buffalo Bayou at the center
• Oyster Creek and Cedar Lake Creek to the southwest.
• Surfside Beach to the south.
• Armand Bayou to the southeast.
• Pickett's Bayou and the Old River to the east.
• Sheldon Lake, Lake Houston, and Luces Bayou to the northeast.
• Lake Raven to the north.
• Lake Conroe and the West Fork of the San Jacinto River to the northwest (more or less)

At long last, I can fill in a destination to the west. At Linda's urging, we met up with friends in Columbus, TX and paddled the Columbus Paddling Trail on the Colorado River. It took us just over an hour to reach the starting point in Columbus and we completed the loop in about two and a half hours of paddling at a very relaxed pace. The water is fairly clear, flowing over a bed of mostly gravel and stone. On the banks are a mix of woods and ranch lands.

With the ongoing dry conditions in central Texas, the current was very light, but there was still plenty of water for floating. We saw numerous birds, a profusion of turtles, lots of cows, and even a few deer as we made the big loop around Columbus.

Once we reached the end of the loop, the nice folks at Howell Canoe Livery quickly shuttled us back to our cars and we were off restore our energy with a lunch of barbecue before heading back to Houston.

It was a nice relaxing paddle and well worth repeating.

More Pictures from the Colorado River at Columbus

North Lake Conroe: Western Shore

As I shoved off from the ramp at the Cagle Recreation Area, the sun was rising above the treeline and a light mist was still floating just above the surface of the lake.

I've paddled most of the area north toward Wildwood Shores and Stubblefield Lake before, so the plan for the day was to explore the western shore south of Cagle.

As I paddled west, I soon entered an area of the lake that's filled with old tree stumps with their heads just barely above the water at this level. As I passed among them, slowly and quietly, I startled a number of fish and turtles that were nibbling on the plants that were growing among their roots.

Once I reached the western shore, I turned south and started hugging the shore line and listening to the sounds of the Sam Houston National Forest coming alive. Great egrets and great blue herons were staring hopefully into she shallow waters and a vulture who had already found his breakfast was dining happily on a small sandy beach.

As I explored the one little inlet I spotted a beaver lodge, but it seemed no one was home. In another I ran across a doe and fawn browsing by the water side. Cattails waved in the gentle breeze at the mouth of a little creek which flows into the lake during wetter times. The sounds of woodpeckers and other birds carried across the water from the forest.

As the sun grew warm and my stomach grew empty, I doubled back to a nice landing spot I'd passed earlier and beached my kayak. Soon I had my camp chair set up under some shady trees and was enjoying a picnic lunch in the woods. Once lunch was consumed and had settled a bit, I took a nice relaxing swim (well, more of a float really) in the lake. It was a perfect way to cool down and to wash away the lingering stress that hadn't already succumbed to the peaceful morning on the lake.

Once I had my fill of swimming, I reloaded my boat and headed back toward the launch, physically tired but mentally refreshed. Thank you Lake Conroe!

More Pictures from North Lake Conroe

Huntsville Gator Bait

When the official start of summer arrived in concert with a miniature heat wave, we started looking for a cool weekend escape. We settled on Huntsville State Park for its appealing combination of deep woods and cool waters. Why choose between hiking, kayaking, swimming, and picnicking when you can do all four?

The first paddle was great, as was the first round of swimming. The picnic was tasty and refreshing. The hike was a little warm, but we did get the chance to get up close and personal with this great blue heron!

For the final act, we decided to take another paddle and swim. There was a small hitch though. As we were paddling toward the spot where we wanted to swim, we happened to mention to our junior paddler that I'd spotted an alligator in the distance during our first paddle of the day. It wasn't anywhere near where we swam and its only reaction to our presence was to run away, but that didn't matter. The idea of sharing the open lake with an alligator put her quite out of temper and she refused to swim off of the large concrete block we'd used as a swim platform before. She was still okay with swimming in the "designated swimming area" over by one bank though. Apparently she was of the opinion that an alligator would never swim under a rope with floats on it?  :-)

Anyway. . . she took her final swim in the rather crowded designated swimming area. Then we took our final swim in the "alligator feeding area." Despite the worst fears of our junior paddler, no one was eaten and we all made it home safely after a fun outing to the park.

More Pictures from Huntsville State Park

Sharing Sheldon Lake

My last trip to Sheldon Lake was only couple of months ago, but today's visit was special because it's the first time I've been able to share this place with Linda.

The water level was reasonably high, the lotus and lilies were starting to bloom, the alligators were out and about, and the rookeries were doing a booming business in baby egrets, herons, and other water fowl.

The only alligator sighting we'd had together in prior paddles was one at a distance on Caddo Lake, but today was the first close encounter. A medium sized gator was relaxing in shallow water near the bank as we made our way down the channel. It was disturbed by our approach and it started moving slowly toward us. Was it preparing to attack?!?! As it turned out, no. We kept a respectful distance and as soon as it reached deep enough water, it submerged and swam away in peace.

We continued our circuit of the lake, taking in the sight of the trees, flowers, nesting birds, and the clear blue sky and enjoying a relaxing time on the water.

More Pictures from Sheldon Lake