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Water and Me

Tag Archives: cypress

Trap Pond State Park 9/11/2019

15 Sunday Sep 2019

Posted by Ronald Parks in Eastern Shore, kayaking, nature, Road Trips, State Parks

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

cypress, egret, heron, kayaking, nature, Trap Pond, turtles

First off, I would like to thank the team @KayakingDelmarva for writing and documenting their trips/adventures to places I had no idea about. Because of them, Kathy and I have been able to follow their paths on our own adventures. Thank you!

I had previously written about Trap Pond a while ago when we were looking for a new place to hike, but because it was $8 to enter, we passed. Seems crazy to pay to go hiking. Kayaking and use of a boat launch is worth it though.

In the above photo is a yellow sign to the left:

The water was nasty looking and we did everything in our power not to touch it!

We followed the shore, passing the camping sites, into the first creek.

Dead end
Floating root system of lily-pads

Turned around and headed back along the shore, occasionally heading out into the open water, then back into the cypress.

Lots of turtles

Kathy took some nice pics of the flowers and nature, adorning her kayak.

And of course me photo-bombing her pics!

We then headed into another creek. A sign says this is Terrapin Branch. On Google maps it is noted as Thompson Branch. Lots of signs pointing you in the right direction.

Only became aware of this guy because of all the noise he was making.

Water still green back here

Various nests (or spy cameras?). Also odd markings on trees. Looks like scrapings from falling trees maybe?

Uh-oh! End of the road? A fallen tree in the way. There were a lot of trees down but for the most part, people had cut them out of the way.

My kayak will fit under, but I won’t.

So, I tried backing up and going full speed, to get my kayak to leap over it! No luck – just bounced off!

Time to turn around and go back.

He saw us first.
Turtle very still – “Please don’t look at me!”
“Are you looking at me?”
Cypress reflections

After about 4 hours out there, back to the launch. It will take quite a while to clean the kayaks off.

Nice pond to say the least!

Our path. Not really sure of the ending point only because I had no GPS signal. Very nice day. Thanks God for another great one!

Shad Landing – Kayaking

01 Wednesday May 2019

Posted by Ronald Parks in kayaking, State Parks

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Tags

bridges, Chesapeake Bay, cypress, kayaking, nature, photography, Pocomoke River, Shad Landing, Snow Hill

What a great day to take a break from doing ‘stuff’! Loaded the kayaks onto the truck and then headed to Shad Landing at the Pocomoke River State Park. Weatherman was calling for 80+ degrees. We did want to do an Assateague Island trip but the wind gust were to be 10-15mph. For our first time out this season we thought a more peaceful, relaxing trip would be better. Here is our map. Not a long distance trip but a fun one of almost 3 miles and 2-1/2 hours. 

There was hardly anyone there. The landing kind of reminded us of Mariner’s Point up in Joppa. Instead of doing the loop west-north then back southeast, we headed off to Rte. 113. Here is Kathy getting everything ready while I park the truck.

From the launch you paddle east, go around the pier and then head southwest. Pass by the lonely canoes on a rack, waiting for adventurers.

We did not see much wildlife, just some signs. Here it looks like a beaver wasn’t paying attention to what had already been gnawed upon.

There were some colorful flowers on shore like these little bells. Kathy knows most of the names for these things. I don’t.

Heading towards the left turn we wanted to make is this marker. Unlike Mariner’s Point, we didn’t have to get out of the way of any crazy boaters that don’t care about wakes.

The whole park seems like a giant swamp. Kathy’s brother Phil had me watch a show about the Pocomoke on Delmarva Life, a TV show down here – Back in the 1930’s-40’s they dredged the river and put the spoils along the shore, unbeknownst to them that the dikes they created stopped mother nature from holding and filtering the water before sending it down stream to the Bay, causing damage to the ecosystem. Right now they are in the process of removing the dikes for nine miles up near Rte. 50, to reverse 80 years of bad planning. Here is what the area should look like.

Lots of cypress.

An odd shaped knee to say the least. Looks like a worn out statue.

So we make our left hand turn and Kathy see’s this sign. It is halfway covered up. She goes in for a closer look and under ‘Canoe Trail’ is an arrow pointing right.

45 minutes later, on our return trip, the water had risen.

The water was high enough to take away the protection of the metal cones that protect the birds from predators. Also, the lily pads had come up, only to be submerged.

We did see a few turtles and one water snake.

Up ahead, Route 113. Water looks a little high but we came this far – 

Kathy wanted me to go through first. She don’t like spiders and snakes.

Kathy took a photo of me contemplating which arch to go thru-

Kathy then made it through safe and sound.

Looking back from the other side of Rte. 113.

Time to paddle back. Marina up ahead.

Leaving the park we headed south on 113 to see the river from up above.

Nice, as were all the fields of flowers on the drive home.

So glad we put a bunch of house stuff to the side for a while, to enjoy this wonderful adventure together. It was a very much needed escape.

Cypress Park Nature Trail

11 Thursday Apr 2019

Posted by Ronald Parks in Hiking, nature

≈ 1 Comment

Tags

bridges, cypress, Hiking, nature, Parks, photography, Pocomoke City, State Parks

While watching the local news for Delmarva, a segment came on asking for volunteers to help with a small park near Pocomoke City, adjacent to the Pocomoke River. We decided to head down and check it out. It was a short 30+ minute drive to get there. Here is the map. The park is right off of Rte. 13.

There was no one there except for Kathy, Molly and myself. And as will be seen in later photographs, the park/trail is in need of some TLC from volunteers! The path is made up of woods and boardwalks.

Kathy and Molly checking out the boards. The overall length of the hike is about 1/2 mile. Nice day for a walk, but beware – Ticks are out in full force!

After a walk along the water, the trail heads into the woods. This is looking back towards the pond.

Then lo and behold what do we see?

A bridge. A foot bridge.

And there we go.

The feed to the pond is from the Pocomoke River. Up river a ways, at Snow Hill, Kathy and I kayaked. Deep dark waters.

This next section of the trail could really use some help.

The cypress off-spring (Cypress knee) are covered with all sorts of growth.

And take many shapes.

Freshly gnawed beaver tree, toppled over.

Kathy getting a close-up view…

…of beautiful tree markings. Do you think it is a dogwood? No. How can you tell? By its bark! woof-woof. Molly thought it was funny.

Across another little stream to the opposite side of the pond. This puts you right next to Rte. 13, headed towards a cemetery.

Stay to the left to remain on the trail.

Bird holes or a screaming tree? It is your imagination to do with as you please.

Kind of early for this to be blooming out here in the woods don’t you think? It’s an artificial flower, probably blown over here from the cemetery. Oh! duh!

Well, this one is real!

Heading back to the parking lot.

Looking over at the foot bridge, two of four geese on the pond. Not much wildlife around.The silence was actually nice.

i won’t even go there, about mustache rides!

Mushroom condo.

Not a long hike so from here we headed to Ocean City for some Thrasher Fries.

KEEP WATER PURE

“Let us keep our water supply the way God made it. Man it seems has already made too much of a mess trying to improve his work.”

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