Pollywogs!

We went canoe camping this year, a rare treat but increasing in frequency it seems.  Started at Hamilton Bottom and we camped at ‘the island’.  With the water being so high (the Cedar Run gauge read over 2 feet) the trip from Hamilton Bottom to below Waterville seemed to take no time at all, and the next day’s float from the island to our house went even quicker.

Putting in at Hamilton Bottom (map) added some much needed creek time to the first day.  Also, you don’t have to pay the beer troll a toll…AND, the creek is much quieter without the hordes of people roaring by on motorcycles with no fucking mufflers on them.

The island campsite is getting a little old, wearing away.  I’m actually surprised it has lasted as long as it has.  These trees are the only things holding the place together:

Once the island has worn away, there is a rough camping site a few hundred yards up the creek from the island’s tip, as well as a rough site in a small pine plantation just across the creek from the island’s tip.  The pine plantation site spooks me out for some reason though.

We took a bit of beer with us, ended up being about a six-pack short as once my beer was down to a six-pack and I was ready for bed, Kelley said “it’s too early!” and we dipped into the reserves.  With all of the animals crawling around just past the fire’s reach, the sooner I could pull the covers over my head the better…I’m such a puss, considering I’ve camped here alone before.  It really is true, the older I get the more of a pussy I am…BUT I SWEAR TO GOD, I was talking about how there were probably bears and mountain lions and coyote’s and as soon as I said the word coyote we both heard one bark on the west creek bank.  I laughed out loud and was grateful it wasn’t sniffing at the lights edge, wondering if we had anything good to eat…yes, I am a puss.  Pussy pussy puss puss…

Had a really nice time altoghether.  Got to see carp spawning everywhere (and missed an amazing picture of a school looking bright blue in very shallow water…DOH!), saw a ton of ducks and other birds, an immature Bald Eagle below Waterville which roosted across from our camp over night (at least, it looked larger than the mature Golden Eagles I’ve seen), just a wonderful time in general.

Took one of our cast iron pans and made home fries for breakfast in garlic and olive oil.  Really happy with the way it cooked on a campfire, and the experience seems to have improved the surface as well.  But boy was the bottom sooty!!!

Can’t wait to go again!