Paddling on the Little Miami

Laura had wanted to go kayaking before leaving for her mission trip in a couple of weeks time, and we felt today was going to be the best day. Unfortunately the weather wasn't great - very grey, overcast and very humid, with a chance of showers and possible thunder showers, though they said these would be most likely after 4pm. However, we had no sooner paid and picked up our paddles than it started to rain! Fortunately the rain didn't last long and after a while it did brighten marginally. Laura, as you can see rented a kayak, Roger and I were in a canoe. The dubious weather did at least mean it was relatively quiet on the river. As we neared the end, Roger spotted a large bird in a tree. He initially thought it might be a turkey vulture, but as we got closer and looked more carefully, we realized it was a bald eagle. We had recently heard there was a bald eagle on the Little Miami, but we hadn't seen it. The bald eagles have made a wonderful come back in the last thirty years in Ohio. In 1979 there were only 4 nesting pairs in the state. As of 2008 there were over 150 nesting pairs. The eagle was sitting in a tree that had several nests in it, which we came to realize were herons nests. At one point the eagle took off and soared over the river and back, and there was such a cacophony erupted from the tree, as I suppose the herons nests had young in and the parents were frantic!
In the evening, Roger and I were out at our church bell choirs end of season dinner at Valley Vineyards, a local winery, actually very close to where we had been canoeing. You grill your own steak or salmon, then there is a choice of salads, rice or baked potato and vegetables, followed by dessert, and of course accompanied by a bottle of wine. Despite the forecast having said the best chance of showers would be after 4pm, the skies were actually beginning to clear by this time, and when we left there was actually a lovely sunset.

One year ago: Sunny morning in the park