This morning’s strong storm has moved to the east; a sparse layer of stray clouds has frayed and dissipated as well. In some places along the way, freshly snapped limbs litter the route. Approaching a dogleg where the riverside trail turns from the north toward the west, I come upon a location where a toppled tree lying across the width of the now stagnant river impedes the water flow. The trunk already had been one of the many leaning toward the waterway on the steeper southern bank, and on a past visit I could see where the roots had loosened, apparently due to overly saturated ground, the result of repeated heavy rains or elevated river levels throughout springtime. Although this sunny day at the start of summer could be characterized as calm and clear, and the flow of the lowered river has slowed such that the surface seems still, in many places an assortment of fallen trees, fractured branches, and uprooted trunks redirect the almost imperceptible current. In certain positions they act as barricades, completely interfering with any opportunity for canoes or kayaks to cruise through the clutter.
A Chaotic Array
A Chaotic Array
A Chaotic Array
This morning’s strong storm has moved to the east; a sparse layer of stray clouds has frayed and dissipated as well. In some places along the way, freshly snapped limbs litter the route. Approaching a dogleg where the riverside trail turns from the north toward the west, I come upon a location where a toppled tree lying across the width of the now stagnant river impedes the water flow. The trunk already had been one of the many leaning toward the waterway on the steeper southern bank, and on a past visit I could see where the roots had loosened, apparently due to overly saturated ground, the result of repeated heavy rains or elevated river levels throughout springtime. Although this sunny day at the start of summer could be characterized as calm and clear, and the flow of the lowered river has slowed such that the surface seems still, in many places an assortment of fallen trees, fractured branches, and uprooted trunks redirect the almost imperceptible current. In certain positions they act as barricades, completely interfering with any opportunity for canoes or kayaks to cruise through the clutter.