Tons of Turtles

Yesterday I traveled to Clearlake California. I met up with Joe Benoit and Dave Patula for a day of kayak fishing and photography. A couple of times during the day I made some obligatory casts just so I could add the fishing part. Dave did pretty well fishing. He caught and released a six pound bass along with some smaller ones. Joe caught a fifteen pound carp that gave his kayak a Nantucket sleigh ride up into the tules. He also caught a few bass. I mainly focused on chasing all the wildlife that live around the edges of the lake. There were Canadian Geese, Green Herons, Ravens and noisy Yellow Headed Blackbirds. Lots of things to photograph but I mostly photographed the Western Pond Turtles. They are such a cool creature sunning themselves on the logs. I got good and sunburned on my lower calves where I didn't apply enough sun screen.

It was a beautiful day to be on the water. God's precious love and blessings to all, chris

Off to Clearlake

I had good time at Clearlake State Park today. I paddled away from the boat launch off into one of the sloughs. I photographed a wide variety of subjects. Western Pond Turtles, Tree Swallows, Cormorants, Canadian Geese, Wood and Mallard ducks. As well as a California Ground Squirrel. While I was photographing in the slough the wind came up. I noticed this odd sound and I realized that it was waves crashing on the beach. It gave me a rather exciting paddle back to the boat ramp. I was surfing the waves which made me really nervous to have my camera on board but the kayak handled it with no problems what so ever. By this time it had clouded up pretty heavily and was starting to spit rain. On the way home I stopped off at the dock at Lake Mendocino and the lake was flat as glass.

God's love and blessings to all,

chris

Note: I use a Native Watercraft Ultimate 14.5 Kayak that is really stable for photography.
Here is a link to some pictures and a description of the camera support I use on my kayak.Just copy and paste it into your browser

http://diyphotocheapodepot.blogspot.com/2011/04/kayak-camera-support.html