Sea Kayak Trips Bulletin Board

Morning Paddles and Sunrises

Posted By: W. Lee Chamberlain III
Date: Tuesday, 15 February 2000, at 11:28 a.m.

I suppose that living right on the water has an advantage that some miss. I love walking the quiet point I call Sunset Point. There is only one way to get there as it is completely surrounded by the Little Island Farm Marsh here along the Rappahannock River, in Virginia. From my dock just before sunrise its baout about a three hour paddle down to the point, well worth the effort. Along the way to naylors beach you cross shrub/scrub wetland areas, vistas of the osprey and sometimes "Monarch" the name given the southern bald eagle thatoften flies above my yeallow sea lion "Le Chat de Mer" often swoops to her deck and displays his catch of the day almost in a tease. In the three years of living here and sea kayaking almost daily watching as my son and I , or my students make this journey. There is someting akin to heaven in a sea kayak , a relationship that I suppose many of the world who do share our interests miss. Turning and heading east and with the current from Naylors the river often offers gentle following seas that seemingly help propel the boat along its way. Wacthing the sunrise is almost a religious experience as I see the last traces of the dark blue blanket reluctantly escaping the exposure for the light with the hues and colors soft pastels . Ranging in the intensity and showing the promise of the new day . Looking to the rappahannock the Captain Thomas or one of the other boats passes inthe channel some half mile away across the shallows. Its time like these seeing the vistas of the river, and the hinterland of the marsh that I feel closest to the ancstors who gave us these delicate craft for exploration. Often when Josh and I camp along this point of land we have sat some days and watched as the promise of an approaching storm gave us the front row seat to the passages of the clouds. Too its laong the rappahannock that quiet paddles are a real treat thru out the marsh lines . I remembered this morning at coffee seeing the waves lap the hull of my boat as I got out to see a whitetail deer eloquently standing inside the tree line on one of the higher pieces of thsi stretch. Its times like these that I realize that being a kayaker is more than a recreation, its a way of life.....mine

For more information about paddling in Coastal Virginia write me or contact the Coastal Canoeists of Virginia. If you are ver on the rappahannock and see a yellow sea lion give me a wave ....have a great day!

Sea Kayak Trips Bulletin Board is maintained by Nick Schade - Guillemot Kayaks with WebBBS 5.12.