The River Gives Up Her Heat - 12/26/11 - Written by Mike LaDue

Thickening fog obscures Carleton Island

Ghost like spirits race over the River surface.

Saturday morning the River was in the process of sending its collected heat (as fog) into the winter’s sky. I wrapped myself in a few layers of clothing and topped it off with my new Woolrich cap. It looks like the bomber caps that were worn in the Second World War, with a rabbit fur lining. I think that it was a good investment, very warm and windproof too. Sandy took one look and told me that I look goofy in it. “Between that hat and your white beard you are quite a sight. I’d say that you are all ready for the cover of Old timer’s magazine. Heck you might even get the centerfold!” Her scandalous opinion did little to daunt my enthusiasm, its all about heat retention this time of year, on the River.

  Zoey also found my cap of interest and joined me for a walk. She danced along my side keeping a watchful eye on my head piece until she realized she was not going to get it. Her focus changed to the pert frozen lawn, where she could put her nose to use. The grass crunched under foot sounding like potato chips, being crushed in the bag. There is no snow on the ground and each foot step left an impression of flattened grass. Zoey only went as far as the hill above my dock. She anchored her self close to the ground, while I went to take pictures of the River.

This is one of my favorite sights each year, the River cooling and rising to meet the clouds. The clouds were being pressed down by an unseen hand, ready to greet and collect the air borne moisture. At times the Shore of Carleton Island faded in the mist while the drifting white banks heaved forward, driven by an east wind. In front of my dock swirls of ghostly images twisted and marched forward like spirits skimming the River’s surface. Each toppled over one another creating larger transparent veils courting the clouds. It was a continual dance of fog, wind and clouds rising, drifting and mixing.

We had a cool, that is to say cold day on Saturday. To be honest with you, it was also a cool day to take a trip along the Rivers shore. I persuaded Sandy to join me for some shopping in the Cape and a ride out on Tibbett’s Point. The sun was playing hide and seek between low flying clouds and the fog still rose (but) with less effort. We enjoyed seeing the dark silhouettes of black ducks dabbling along side gadwalls and mallards. I tried in vain to get a close photo of them near to shore. As soon as the car slowed down they bee-lined in the opposite direction to a safe distance.

There were ducks all along the route out to the Lighthouse. Sandy had to watch the road as I tend to put more effort into watching the wildlife than the road, myself. I think she gets more nervous than the critters I try to sneak up on! “Hey get back on your own side of the road, your just as bad as my father was. Would you please pay attention to what you are doing?” I thought I was paying attention to what I wanted to be doing.

Somehow we made it safely to the light house in time to see a ship passing from the river into the Lake. We both were mesmerized by the vision of the large steel hull that appeared to be floating on clouds. It entered the lake and it shrunk in size as the horizon swallowed it up… whole.

The thought occurred to me that a New Year is almost here and that I should set another goal for me, my Lyman and the River. Sandy and I have made trips to each end of Wolfe Island and out into the lake, past Mud Bay. We have gone just past Clayton to circle Round Island and return home. 2012 will be my year to explore the River further. I want to see her shallow bays on each side, smell the air and feel the distinct significance of every location. I’d like to camp in a park or two in a pup tent while enjoying a camp fire. A good many areas of our River is still a wilderness to my eyes and what a fool I would be to not take it all in.

I think that I will also introduce some new people to the River. As much as I enjoy each of my trips they are always enhanced when seen through new eyes. I am looking forward to my eldest Son’s family returning to the River, it has been five years too long. The last time they were here my grandson was but a toddler. He is now ready to get a rod into his hands and a feel for that which keeps us enchanted. You’ll forgive me if I now lean back into my chair and close my eyes, to day dream a bit about the year to come…

Good health, steady work and happiness to you, through out the coming year!

River heat rises to meet the clouds.