The weather was sunny as 10 paddlers (Bruce , Margaret, Helen, Mark, Jane O. Sandra C, Sandy B, Julie, Bob S, Bob M) gathered at Munden Park Point to have a fun day on the water. The water was as calm as glass with not a boat was in sight as we paddled across to the other side of North Landing River, what a day! As we paddled in and around the marshes of Milldam Creek we enjoyed the beauty and quietness of our surroundings, along with birds in the area, including wood ducks and an egret (which looked like an eagle from a distance). We saw many old duck blinds and observation platforms, which Bruce commented was to observe deer in the area, although it was a mystery on how the deer would get out that far, and in the water. Everybody enjoyed paddling through and around the marshes and nobody seemed to mind that the trip leader made a couple of wrong turns (even if some thought we were going in a loop) before finally getting back to the river.
As we headed to a beach on the side for lunch, which we could barely see, I assured everyone that this won’t take long at all and to just keep paddling, (at one point I told Julie that it would only be about 10 minutes more). About 40 minutes later (more or less) we landed on the beach and were all glad to stop for lunch and rest from the vigorous paddle. The beach was part of a campground which had picnic tables for our convenience and of course Bruce immediately saw someone at the campground he knew from the days he worked at Pepsicola, which is amazing (of all places).
After lunch we began the paddle back to the Park and hoped the wind at our back would make this last part of the paddle much quicker. Along the way we finally saw a couple of boats in the channel, a few big houses with long white fences, and Julie found a nice soccer ball as a souvenir, (in the water?), let’s hope some kid is not crying about losing it.
On the way back home, some of us stopped at Pungo Pizza for some ice cream and/or massive quantities of pizza, while reminiscing about old TV shows. All in all another great Tuesday outing! Bob M
We have some great pictures from Bruce to share. Click on the link to view: https://picasaweb.google.com/109906626693046969567/Album9132011?authkey=Gv1sRgCLy71P3J-9G4wAE&feat=email