I was trying to get back on the water today, and try to get out of this slump I have been in. I put the rack back on the truck, and hopefully the next time I take them off will be to replace them with the Thule Xsporter system. Its not like it takes a lot of time, are it is real hard to do, but pulling off and putting on the racks to deal with parking in Philadelphia and D.C. is just annoying. I have no trips planned until the second or third week of January, so I will be attempting to make up for lost time. BTW anyone looking for a set of Yakama Outdoorsman 300 full size pick up truck racks, let me know maybe we can work out a deal.
So enough with the rack excuse, the plan was to get the kayak out on Back Bay, and get the muscles working again, but the water level was just low enough that it too would have been annoying. I passed by Lotus Pond, and did not have a warm and fuzzy feeling about the water levels, but I was going to go for it if it looked doable at Little Island. Well at Little Island, the water level there was down to the level that you could walk well into the bay before getting to the waters edge, add to that another 50+ yards to get to a deep enough water, add that air temperatures in the mid 50s, and water probably 5 degrees below that, I opted to just take some pictures today of the area around the Little Island, Kayak and Canoe launch, and a quick walk around False Cape State Park.
I hope you enjoy the pictures.
The kayak launch at Little Island Park, not real promising, to much grass not enough water.
Looking out to Back Bay from the Little Island Kayak Launch. When you can see that sand bar out there, it is not a good sign.
That is a lot of grass, usually that is pretty clear
There evidence of a lot of non human traffic here
Seabirds in Back Bay Virginia, and to give an idea of the gradual slope of the bottom, they are all standing, not floating.
More tracks in the sand along the shore of Back Bay Virginia
Pretty much the same shot as before, slightly different angle, and a lot more zoom
I always take this picture, I guess to give some perspective on how low the water is, and far the walk is. You can get an idea of how low by looking at the brown line in the weeds on the left
The KAYAK and canoe launch at False Cape State Park. Trying to figure out why everything is labeled as a canoe launch, when I think I have only seen 2 may 3 canoes versus 100+ kayaks on Back Bay
Better view of the launch, nice sandy bottom...
Same launch, different angle
False Cape launch from the fishing pier, look closely at the gage, that is about 7 inches of water.
A ramp built in to the fishing pier at False Cape, the Ramp is locked, but I guess it is for NWR and DGIF use.
Not sure what the purpose of the jetty here is, maybe fish propagation.
Boardwalk in the reeds at False Cape State Park
Boardwalk transitions into trail.
Small pond along the trail
Looking at the fishing pier from the overlook.
Ducks on Back Bat Virginia
A view of Long Island from the end of the boardwalk trail at False Cape State Park
Relation of the Kayak Launch from the visitor center.
On the way home, I stopped by Lotus Pond, for some classic low water pictures
The sand bar has gotten a lot less sandy, and a lot more muckier.
Looking down Ashville Bridge Creek with low water
Seeing the short post is a bad thing, floating over the short post is a good thing
Ashville Bridge Creek on the other side of the road.
