Boat Trip From Pigeon Hill Launch to Flat Island via Jordans Delight Island

Steve Resotko and I began our trip to Flat Island from Pigeon Hill Launch with calm seas. Weeks before this trip
Steve had visited the Island





We passed  Jordans Delight. It is a beautiful Island and attracts migratory birds.
By boat is a 14 foot with a 15 HP Mercury engine, Steve and I switch back and forth on whose boat to use on a given trip.

Harvesting Alewives - Narraguagus River - Cherryfield, Maine- Late Spring 2013




After the alewives are caught, they are transferred to "tote like" containers and  used by lobster men as bait their lobster traps. A shortage of alewives could affect the fishermen lobster catch season.

 

Seen in this photograph are two lobstermen with net capturing alewives just above the Narraguagus River in cherryfield, Maine.

Alewives swim through a gate into a fenced pen on the Narraguagus River

just above the dam in Cherryfield. In years gone by alewives were part of some  Maine families meals. Now a days alewives are used as bait for lobster traps.

After a hard days work harvesting alewives the lobster men gather around the tail gate to review the day and make work related jokes.

Shore Drive-Thunder Hole- Sunday Afternoon March 10, 2013

Driving toward Mount Desert Island Sunday afternoon, I noticed that the Blue Hill Bay as well as the Frenchman Bay waters were calm. After parking on Shore Drive I saw giant swells sweeping in on the shore and crashing against the pink granite ledges and boulders. My guess was there must have been an off shore storm riding the high  tide to the shore in Acadia National Park.

Over the next couple of hours I took 66 scenic photographs with my Samsung Galaxy 3 as I had left my Nikon D-200 at home. The above picture is a panoramic shot including part of Thunder Hole.

Walking along the path was exhilarating to hear the crushing ocean waves crash on the shore.
In this picture you  are looking eastward toward Thunder Hole.

The combination of  winter snow and  crashing surf high lighted the cliffs looking south.

Here is a near duplicate picture of the one above, I liked so much I thought I would add it to this series.

Walking eastward I captured this scene of beach stones washed ashore years ago...maybe hundreds of years ago. 

Another panoramic view of Thunder Hole.

The shutter on the Galaxy III is some what slow to react. I managed to capture this image by watching the incoming swells and anticipating  its crashing in the Hole.
Thanks for viewing my pictures. I may add a few more later.

Ice-Smelt- Fishing on Narraguagus River at Cotton's Shore Cherryfield, Me. Late Jan. 2013

It is high tide on the Narraguagus River January 26, 2013. To ice fish the river one had to be on the ice bank of the river at least and hour before high tide. I was too late to leave "Cotton's Shore" for the ice huts. I took some photographs and would return hours later when the tide began to ebb. Returning,I parked my car again on the icy shoulder of route 1. It was really cold walking to the parking area near the marsh's edge. I could see that the ice between me and the huts was breaking up. I  was intimidated  about walking out to the huts. 

I was drawn to this ole Chevy truck. Parked next to it was Larry Martin's red pick up. I love old trucks and this one seemed to be in good condition. I wondered who owned it. Time would tell. Walking around to keep warmer, I took additional pictures of the marsh area. Here are a couple of them.

To me the marsh and river have a "wild" quality . I was attracted to this particular scene because of the way "nature" had carved -forged-the ice into something beautiful. The temperature was near zero and there was a light breeze. I had to keep moving to keep warm.

A stream feeds this marsh. It flows under route 1 in Cherryfield and drains Cotton's land to the North. In this view you see the stream flowing toward the river.

By now I'm getting pretty cold so I hiked back again to my car parked on the shoulder of Route 1.One of my favorite places to shop and get warm is Bayside Market in Milbridge not more than 3 or 4 miles west of Cotton's Shore. I stayed at the grocery about two hours or so  then headed back to the river again.

Later when I returned from Bay Side Market, and in the distance walking away from the huts on the river I could see some one who waved to me. He walked up to his truck, the old 1948 Chevy. After a short mutual introduction, he volunteered to walk me out to the huts because he knew I was intimidated by the ice breaking up between us and the huts. Out on the river his hut looked like a dome space ship to me. You remember me about four years ago I took a picture of you ice fishing space ship? .He remembered. Thus I met Rick Santerre from Cherryfield for the first time. 

I

There was activity going on on the river. West (not shown in this scene) had just cut ice blocks from the river with his chain saw the blocks would be used to help hold down the huts from movement and seal out the flow of cold winds. Pretty neat idea in my way of thinking. Right to left Larry Martin, Rico Fickett, and John Bull.

Here is a view of three smelt fishing huts.

Unknown to me as I changed cameras, the smelters were preparing to leave the river. The batteries died from the cold in my Nikon. Now it was my galaxy S3 turn to be exposed to the cold temps. It was hurry up to do any more picture taking.
Rico Fickett posed for this shot. He is from Cherryfiled.

Larry Martin stands next to his fishing hut. Thanks to Larry who helped me arrive on the river .There is one more photo to add. I want to thank you for looking and listening to my stories.

We walked back to his truck. "Can I bum a ride back to the main road Larry", I asked. I got into his truck and was able to click this up close picture of him driving over the marsh with my galaxy S3. Just one more thing. Larry has been fishing the river since he was a kid. And before he let me out at route 1, he said he was going to  give some of his smelt ketch to the men who helped him learn the skill of smelt fishing on the Narraguagus River.  I had a good day of adventure and fun on the Narraguagus River.

Kayaking on the Wacissa River Florida Steve Resotko

Here's the Wacissa River. Wonderful place, full of wildlife. Best
place I've been kayaking to date. The Wacissa is a spring fed river,
cyrstal clear water.

Starting Down Stream.

Common Moorhen.

Great White Heron.

Great Blue Heron taking to flight.

Snowy Egret in flight.

Bird house long shore.

Raccoon hunt .

Raccoon Wading along shore

Thank you for looking at Steve Resotko's self guided Kayaking Trip on the Wacissa River here in Florida. Please check his Slide Show for additional pictures.

Gators-Ducks-& Light House- Trekking with Steve Resotko in Florida 2013

Park Viewing Stand

Gators in the Marsh

Closer View of Gator

Gators are capable of moving quickly.

Ducks and Shore birds seen in a lagoon.

Florida Light Houses continue aiding passing ships.

A winding sandy road leads to this light house.

Gators are territorial.

Ice Fishing Eagle Lake January 2013 Acadia National Park




Two experience ice fishermen proudly show their catches

 

He is showing a large Brook Trout. The largest one I've seen caught on the Lake.





After fishing all day he is heading back to his truck; then home.





Pulling their sled they head toward the shore.





Notice the traditional ice fishing ash backpack in his sled.





A windbreaker, backpack, and a pair of leather gloves. Wait there is more.

  

Up close view.



A close up view of his Brook Trout.



I asked the fishermen who caught this
Land Locked Salmon if
I could photo his fish.

For me this was one of the moste exciting days
on Eagle Lake in a long time
I got to meet some real nice guys.
Hoping to get their names next trip to the lake.
Thanks for looking.