Paddling into 2015

This may be long and boring, but I did post last May that I would nibble away at this maple tree that was blocking the river here ... and I've worked hard on it.


Just for comparison, here's the before picture taken last April.




October 7 Since last posting in July, the river level has dropped a lot and the current has slowed. More logs have joined the jam.

Looking downriver.




Trailblazer saw, camp hatchet, multitool, ropes & camera handy in the canoe, PFD on ... I start in ... towing the easy floater through the open channel near the opposite bank.






With the low water level, there is some clearing to do before the 'porcupine' or the 'island' can get through.







 
October 8 A little fun run around the corner before work begins. Never alone on the river. I think I am being followed.





 
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... October 8 The low branches have to go in order to be able to work under the overhanging limbs. Then it is back and forth manoeuvering 'inside' the tree. The untangling and grunge work begins. The limbs will make great firewood for the campfire on the bank. This day the water felt warmer than the air.


Looking upriver




The grunge is deep and jammed




Getting fewer pokes in the eye from the branches




Hard working Trailblazer

 
... October 8 Was I followed? This little guy was mostly a blur ... racing from the bank to the very tips of the overhanging tree branches, back and forth, all the while working his way lower. The Flash playing Snakes and Ladders. Very curious, he would hang over and take a good look at me ... and take off again. Finally I had to back the canoe off so he wouldn't jump in.




I am getting to like having this dock.

 
October 20 ... after a nice break camping ...

More cutting ... things are opening up. Done for the day. Red outlines work planned for next session.




October 23 All main cutting for this year is now done, all but one of the limbs cut are pulled onto a low section of the river bank for my campfire. But ... the last big sawed limb dropped ... with its top branches snagged on the far bank and the 'trunk' caught on the jammed logs. The channel is blocked.


I had no footing to lift the trunk out ... and from the canoe it was just too risky. Quit for the day, tired and very discouraged. So close.




October 25 I tried a few ways to free the trunk using ropes, but finally just gave in and tackled its upper branches, sawing a lot of them mid river and those only a little underwater. Cold water. The trunk eventually floated free after I cleared what tops I could in safety.



On the upriver side, the canoe turned the big limb ... then towed it through the narrow channel trunk first.




Open channel; much of the obstructing maple is removed. There are still lots of natural logs remaining along the bank and that's best.




With the low water level, the nightmare of jammed logs that I can now see underwater is discouraging, in spite of all the effort.

I will know better next spring how successful this work has been. Will the channel in high flood pass the logs that come downriver next spring?
 
... October 25

Water Pup's last paddle of 2015 takes us past river reflections to a take out point where I can pick it up in the trailer and take it to the shop for a sanding, painting, new foam liners and ... decals






A salute to my old aluminum Springbok canoe; it deserves no less.
 
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