Grand Valley

Astounding Sparkling Water

4/20/2024, water L, 65stingray, 9:00-11:00 Wind: 14mph from WOC: 6 Lake beams absolutely brilliantlySweet scents soreBirds sing out joyously, led by purple martinsSole nesting goose her private 1 island-Today mate floats nearby with watchful eyeWind pushes to negate strokesTurtles have not yet emerged up onto their banks and branchesLight bright green continues to climb up …

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Hints of Pinks

4/13/2024, water R, 65stingray!!!, 10:00-12:30 Wind: 9mph from WOC: 6+Water temp 46° First day of a new yearStunning sparkling waterGorgeous Sunny morning after many days of rainBirds of every kind sing outGorgeous Purple Martin song is backBrilliant, breathtaking, bejeweled waterSandbar sinks back with rising waterNew paddle kisses water perfectlySun illuminates the new bright green growthFirst …

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Sole Goose Nesting

4/7/2024, water L, 82u-v, 2:00-3:30 Wind: 10mph from SEOC: 5/6 Greeted by Myko and Anna!Sparkling jagged waterConstant push of windTurkey vultures soar soundlesslySole goose nesting on tiny island – silent as I passMallard claims the other Island – spooks and flies awayTurtle clusters line 1N banksMassive splash from behind – beaver tail, or fish jumpingA …

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Bluegreen Wrinkled Water

3/30/2024, water R, 81v-dr, 1:00-3:00 Wind: 19mph from SWOC: 5+/6 (chopped by wind) Bright and sunny, strong windy dayTrees and grasses bend along banksBluegreen wrinkled waterBrightest of green climbs higher in the tree lineBouncy white-capped waters sparkle in their strengthMomentary reprieve from power of wind in SW cornerFlower petals, fuzz, and seed pods bob on …

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White Petals

3/24/2024, land L 9:30-11:10 Cold, bright early spring morningFaint green hills spotted with white flowering treesBirds jubilantly, out-singing each otherGeese call in the distanceWhistle to graceful vultures aboveLake water sparkles brilliantly, texturized by windEvidence of unfinished beaver work on treesSun illuminates new growthQuiet geese float and stand on guard on islandDeer prints in soft thick …

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Faintest of Green

3/13/2024, water L, 82u-v, 2:40-4:45 Wind: 11mph from SWOC: 6+ Bright warm spring dayWater still rising!Faintest of green in the lower tree lineA few Turtles out sunny rocks, exposed branches and starting to line 1N banksSome young and baby turtlesTwo curious vultures circle so close above head-fear they might my land on my SUP!Sweetest intoxicating …

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Nature’s Intricacies

2/26/2024, water, R, 81v-dr, 2:40-4:45 Wind: 8mph from SOC: 5+/6 (4 in 2 and 4S) Sunny, 70° in February!Gorgeous, brilliant sparkling edges of shimmering watersNot much change in beavers’ 4SE experimentWater levels thankfully still rising-small stream now under bridge into 1N-islands shrinking-1S ledge: rests on lateral malleolus-tire almost kisses Waters Edge-1NW branch: mid patella-1NW drainage …

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Sparkles, Ripples and Breeze

2/14/2024, water, L, 80 u-v, 2:30-4:30 Wind: 4mph from NOC: 6+/7 Sunny day, again near 50 degreesSaved big fish stuck upside downBathing gullsTracks and trails left by animals in shallow watersBlue Heron lifts up silently and glides effortlessly across the lake to avoid my approachGleaming water with sparkling distant edgesSo peaceful, not a soul around …

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Blue Skies

2/13/2024, land L, 9:20-11:00 Gorgeous, cold, sunny morningBirds of every kind sing outBlue skiesCardinal skirmishes in the brushStreaked clouds criss-cross sky and criss-cross waterTall yellow grasses on banks etch the edges of the waterGeese trumpet the beginning of mating seasonEagles out, away from nestDeer tracks in soft groundWater sparkles brilliantly from the lake belowGorgeous morning …

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