From the Nose of Our Kayak: Chapter 18 "Wide Open Spaces...and a Little Stinker!"

Janet & Don Beasley

Hello and welcome to the JLB Creatives Blog, where you'll find an array of creative features from a hand-picked group of creative geniuses. 

Wednesdays on the JLB Creatives Blog are set aside for our blog book, "From the Nose of Our Kayak." JLB Creatives CEO, Janet Beasley, and her husband, Don, have been kayaking for nearly 10 years. Together they are excited to share with you, their awesome experiences that they have encountered. In this Wednesday feature you'll find kayaking stories, scenic nature photography from their outings, and some helpful tips when it comes to maneuvering your "butt sleds" (aka kayaks) on your journeys.

So if this is a topic that interests you, you'll want to be sure and become a follower of the JLB Creatives Blog, and stop in on Wednesdays each week for the latest chapter in Don & Janet Beasley's adventure blog book, "From the Nose of Our Kayak." 

Previous chapters can be found in our blog archives. We began the series on June 1, 2016.

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Don prepares for the day

From the Nose of Our Kayak

Don & Janet Beasley

Chapter 18: "Wide Open Spaces...and a Little Stinker!"

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While in Michigan we decided to try a new outing...Munuscong River. So we loaded up the new #WildernessSystems tandem kayak and headed out for the day.

Map of Munuscong Area

Munuscong juts off to the west from Munuscong Lake, a flat prairie-style body of water with an amazing view. The St. Mary's River, southwest of Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan, splits around Neebish Island and empties into Munuscong Lake northeast of Munuscong River.

The Objibway
heading south (down bound) into the rock cut

The lake freighters that are traveling up river take the channel of the St. Mary's River that lies to the east of Neebish Island, and those traveling down river use the west side of the island, which locals refer to as "the rock cut," a very narrow man-made pass between the mainland of Michigan's U.P. and Neebish Island.

Neebish Island is only accessible by ferry if you're driving a vehicle. The ferry has a schedule and is closed for the winter as of mid January and reopens April 1.

Neebish Island Ferry
Objibway heading on down river

We found the launch site on the Munuscong River and readied ourselves for the new adventure. 

As we paddled the river we spotted some beautiful wildlife including a blue heron and a king fisher. 

When we reached the open water of the lake we stopped paddling and to take in the the beautiful sight of Munuscong Lake.

Munuscong Lake
from the mouth of the Munuscong River

It made for a very different style paddle than we were used to, but impressive nonetheless. When we returned from our outing we loaded up the kayak and headed "out of the wilderness," back to the main road...but not without stopping for one more surprise. 

As we rounded the bend of the gravel road we saw something wiggling and "playing" in the middle of the road. We cautiously approached the critter only to find it was A SKUNK! YIKES!!! STOP THE TRUCK and wait for that little stinker to remove himself from the road and back into the woods.

Le skunk! Le Pu!

Finally he decided he'd had enough of whatever it was that was so interesting in the middle of the road and scurried off into the brush. As we passed over his play area we found ourselves gagging from the stink as if rolled into the truck through the vents! 

We laughed for quite a few miles, each time inhaling the stench and coughing over and over again. In about 15 miles the truck had finally aired out and it was homeward bound. We showered off then dashed off to enjoy a campfire with friends and family. We don't know if we ended up being two little stinkers ourselves, either we weren't, or everyone was just nice enough to let it go. 

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Kayak Tip of the Week: Currents can be tricky to maneuver when going from a river mouth into an open body of water. Always stay alert to assure a safe exit and/or re-entry into a river or lake that are connected. 

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A few of the nature shots we captured on our Munuscong outing...enjoy!

From the Nose of Our Kayak: Chapter 17 "Goosed in a Kayak!"

Janet & Don Beasley

Hello and welcome to the JLB Creatives Blog, where you'll find an array of creative features from a hand-picked group of creative geniuses. 

Wednesdays on the JLB Creatives Blog are set aside for our blog book, "From the Nose of Our Kayak." JLB Creatives CEO, Janet Beasley, and her husband, Don, have been kayaking for nearly 10 years. Together they are excited to share with you, their awesome experiences that they have encountered. In this Wednesday feature you'll find kayaking stories, scenic nature photography from their outings, and some helpful tips when it comes to maneuvering your "butt sleds" (aka kayaks) on your journeys.

So if this is a topic that interests you, you'll want to be sure and become a follower of the JLB Creatives Blog, and stop in on Wednesdays each week for the latest chapter in Don & Janet Beasley's adventure blog book, "From the Nose of Our Kayak." 

Previous chapters can be found in our blog archives. We began the series on June 1, 2016.

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From the Nose of Our Kayak

Don & Janet Beasley

Chapter 17: "Goosed in a Kayak!"

Ready to launch onto Waiskai Bay
photo by Janet Beasley

You know those rare, awesome moments when you happen to be in the right place at the right time to experience nature at its best? That's what this chapter is all about. While vacationing in Michigan's U.P. we "set sail" on Waiskai Bay in Brimley, Michigan one evening and found ourselves in the midst of an evening roost! Only this wasn't a roost we paddled into but rather a roost that flew into us!

Let's start with some educational goodies first. Waiskai Bay is a small back bay that is nestled off of Lake Superior. It reaches from Bay Mills Point to the Waiskai River. Canada is in plain sight from the southern half of Waiskai Bay, and the ginormous lake freighters sail the channel between Canada and Bay Mills either heading toward the open water of Lake Superior, or toward the Soo Locks, in Sault Ste. Marie, that lead to the St. Mary's River and on into Lake Huron.

The name of "Waiskai" has been spelled differently throughout the years. You'll find Waiskai, Waiska, and currently it appears on road signs, designating the river, as Waishkey River. No matter how it's spelled the pronunciations are about the same, way-shkee, or wish-kee for the most part. 

Waiskai Bay is home to much wildlife including bear, fox, raccoon, and several bird species. From gulls to bald eagles, and from great blue herons to Canada (not Canadian) geese birds are the wildlife most commonly seen on and around the water. 

We're going to focus on the Canada Geese for this chapter.

Canada Geese Using the Water Top as Their Runway
photo by Janet Beasley

Canada geese are among some of the best known birds in North America. These particular type geese are marvelous creatures to observe both in-flight and on the ground. When they fly in flocks, such as during migration times, they will travel across the sky in the well-known "V" formation, and if the winds are cooperating they can cover up to 1500 miles in 24 hours. Their markings are stunning, and their honking sounds are just this side of haunting. They prefer to feed on grains, berries, and/or grasses, and are able to adapt to a wide range of habitats.  

Don on Waiskai Bay at Sunset
photo by Janet Beasley

It was in August of 2011 that we headed down to the water's edge of Waiskai Bay. For the first part of the day our friends joined us for a sunny afternoon paddle. We enjoyed seeing the bald eagles and a couple of passing freighters just off Bay Mills point. 

That evening Don and I took turns kayaking out to view the gorgeous sunset. Don took his turn and paddled out about 100 yards off shore. I grabbed the camera to begin photographing his silhouette in the evening's pinks and velvety blacks...

...I quickly changed to video when I heard the haunting sounds of the Canada geese, but had no idea what they were up to until...

It was a cool opportunity to be able to capture, on video, the sight and sounds of the geese coming in for a landing on the water. We are looking very forward to the day we can return to the north woods of Michigan's U.P. and kayak Waiskai Bay once again...this time with hopes of seeing a moose!

We've compiled a few more photos below for you to enjoy.

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Kayak Tip of the Week: Be camera ready while kayaking. When you hear the sounds of non-threatening wildlife in the distance, remain still and you may just catch a rare glimpse of something absolutely stunning to photograph! But if you aren't sure if the sound is threatening treat it as though it probably is. Be cautious and know basic wildlife rules of how to remove yourself from danger should it arise. No photograph is worth your life.

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More photos from that day for you to enjoy. 

 

Kayaking with Friends on Waiskai Bay
photo by Janet Beasley

A Friend Kayaking Waiskai Bay with Bay Mills Point, Freighters, and Canada in the Background
photo by Janet Beasley

Janet Returning from Her Afternoon Jaunt on Waiskai Bay
photo by a friend

Bald Eagle Spotted Over Waiskai Bay
photo by Janet Beasley

Great Blue Heron on Pilings in Waiskai Bay
photo by Janet Beasley

Canada Goose on Waiskai Bay in the Evening's Sunset
photo by Janet Beasley

Don Preparing to Kayak Off Into the Sunset on Waiskai Bay
photo by Janet Beasley

Don Sets Out into the Pink Sunset on Waiskai Bay
photo by Janet Beasley

Don Paddling Into the Sunset on Waiskai Bay
photo by Janet Beasley

Don on Waiskai Bay with Canada Geese in Background
photo by Janet Beasley

From the Nose of Our Kayak: Chapter 10 "Canoe vs Kayak"

Hello and welcome to the JLB Creatives Blog, where you'll find an array of creative features from a hand-picked group of creative geniuses. 

Wednesdays on the JLB Creatives Blog are set aside for our blog book, "From the Nose of Our Kayak." JLB Creatives CEO, Janet Beasley, and her husband, Don, have been kayaking for nearly 10 years. Together they are excited to share with you, their awesome experiences that they have encountered. In this Wednesday feature you'll find kayaking stories, scenic nature photography from their outings, and some helpful tips when it comes to maneuvering your "butt sleds" (aka kayaks) on your journeys.

So if this is a topic that interests you, you'll want to be sure and become a follower of the JLB Creatives Blog, and stop in on Wednesdays each week for the latest chapter in Don & Janet Beasley's adventure blog book, "From the Nose of Our Kayak." 

Previous chapters can be found in our blog archives. We began the series on June 1, 2016.

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From the Nose of Our Kayak
Don & Janet Beasley
Chapter 10: Canoe vs. Kayak

Being December in Florida brings some of the most beautiful weather in the nation. Nice cool, comfortable temperatures mixed with plenty of sunshine and bright blue skies. December, like November, is a continuation of an autumn feel in the air. 

Believe it or not, we dashed back to Rock Springs Run for one more run in 2010, and our visiting went family with us. At the time we didn't have but only one tandem kayak at the house in Florida, that being the Wilderness Systems T145 "Mean Greenie" as we like to call it.

That meant we needed to rent a vessel for our guests. The rental house didn't have any kayaks available at the time, so our company decided it was fine with them to tackle the river in a canoe. 

Even though a canoe and a kayak are similar, you'll find some differences. For starters each one has its own "look" about it. A canoe has an open bow and aft, meaning the front and back of the canoe come to a point (like a kayak) but there is no covering so to speak. A kayak lends itself to being more enclosed on the front and back, and even sometimes in the middle if it is a tandem kayak. 

Another difference is the seating. In a canoe the seats are "raised," sitting flush with the top rim. Usually canoe seats stem from side to side between the left and right rims of the boat with one seat in the front, one seat in the back and sometimes a seat in the middle. A kayak usually puts paddlers sitting "on the floor" of the vessel in a chair-like seat as opposed to a bench style found in canoes. There are also what are considered to be sit-on-top kayaks. The sit on top kayaks are a popular style sometimes used for fishing. 

Canoe paddles are "one ended," meaning that there is a paddle on one end, and some type of handle shape on the other. Kayak paddles boast blades on both ends. A canoe paddle can also be used as a make-shift rudder. Some kayaks, like ours, have a rudder installed and can be operated by pushing on right and left foot pegs attached to cables that steer the rudder.

A canoe is a real workhorse making it great for carrying tons of gear, supplies, and even the dog! Kayaks aren't known for their "roominess" though gear can be carried on top of the nose and tail by strapping it down with bungee style cording, or in handy (though small) lidded compartments on some kayaks.  

Depending on who you talk to, you'll get mixed opinions on this next topic. Which tips easier? We used to do quite a bit of canoeing. When we discovered kayaking we both found it to be much easier to paddle and maneuver...without feeling like we were going to tip over. We went over more times in our canoe than we can count, but in our tandem kayak we've stayed upright, unless we decide to tip it over and get cooled off. Smaller, narrower kayaks will feel very "roly poly" if you're not used to them. So for us, we prefer the less roly feel of our kayak...but again, others may feel better paddling the heavier solidity of a canoe. But we will tell you that an Eskimo roll in a canoe is most likely not going to happen. 

Which is faster? Typically a kayak is faster, however there are some canoes out there that can keep up with some kayaks. But as a rule of thumb a kayak will be faster.

You may be asking yourself, "Is a canoe or a kayak right for me?" Only you can decide that, and you'll be happy to know there is no wrong answer. Research your options, think about where you'll be using your choice, and don't be afraid to ask questions. Most importantly, have fun!  

Below are some photos of the scenery and wildlife we saw during our December trip with our family...us in our kayak, and our family in a canoe. It was a fantastic Florida December day on the river!

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Kayak Tip of the Week: If you are renting a canoe or kayak for the first time be sure and ask the rental person to explain some basic tips for paddling one or the other. This will help to put you at ease, and make for a much more enjoyable trip. 

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Turtles on a log

King Fisher with his catch

King Fisher perched

King Fisher taking off

Scenic autumn view on the Rock Springs Run River

"Partly Cloudy" 

Blue Heron

Passing by a turtle

Awesome oak branched reaching over the river

Photos by:

Don & Janet Beasley

JLBCreatives.com

From the Nose of Our Kayak: Chapter 4 "Come On Dad, It'll Be Fun!"

Hello and welcome to the JLB Creatives Blog, where you'll find an array of creative features from a hand-picked group of creative geniuses. 

Wednesdays on the JLB Creatives Blog are set aside for our blog book, "From the Nose of Our Kayak." JLB Creatives CEO, Janet Beasley, and her husband, Don, have been kayaking for nearly 10 years. Together they are excited to share with you, their awesome experiences that they have encountered. In this Wednesday feature you'll find kayaking stories, scenic nature photography from their outings, and some helpful tips when it comes to maneuvering your "butt sleds" (aka kayaks) on your journeys.

So if this is a topic that interests you, you'll want to be sure and become a follower of the JLB Creatives Blog, and stop in on Wednesdays each week for the latest chapter in Don & Janet Beasley's adventure blog book, "From the Nose of Our Kayak." 

Previous chapters can be found in our blog archives, we began the series on June 1, 2016.

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From the Nose of Our Kayak

Don & Janet Beasley

Chapter 4 Come On Dad, It'll Be Fun!


It's nice to catch up on life in general with family or friends, and for us, there's no better place to do that than in a kayak. It can also be a time of peace and quiet for adult family members (moms, dads, grand-parents, great-grand parents, and grown-up kids) to have time to bond.

Sharing our kayak adventures with others is a passion for Don and myself. We love to take friends and family kayaking to expose them to the beauty of Florida's best nature spots for viewing, and/or capturing photographs of mesmerizing scenes of nature and wildlife of a lifetime! 

Kayaking with kids is also a great way to spend time together outdoors. Nature has so much offer, and it makes a super, educational homeschooling outing for your students interested in science or ecology.  

We are excited that From the Nose of Our Kayak will come to pass not only as a blog book, but also a real life interactive experience for many, in the future, but keep in mind that quality takes time. Don and I hope to some day be able to turn our experiences, expertise, and knowledge that we've developed while kayaking, toward building a privately guided, pristine kayak touring adventure for adults. The adventure will lend itself to being educational, provide outstanding photography opportunities, and/or just give people a chance to get away from it all.

IT WASN'T LONG AFTER WE had started kayaking on a regular basis that Don's mom and dad came for a visit. Of course we had to take them kayaking...I mean they had always gone canoeing in Ohio, surely they'd love to kayak, right?

Dad and Don unloading at Ray's Wayside Park

Don's dad was ready to go! Mom, not so much. She had never been in a kayak, and was not comfortable going. No big deal...that meant she and I were going shopping while the boys were out (wink wink).

The guys had decided they wanted to try another leg of the Silver River...the run that branches off into the Ocklawaha River. 

So we loaded up the kayak on mom and dad's van. Don and his dad took the van while mom and I drove a separate vehicle. We went to the finish point first, which was Gore's Landing, and parked one vehicle there. Before we left Gore's Landing Don entered a way-point into the handheld GPS. Thanks to technology, handheld GPS devices as well as navigation apps on our smart phones, we are able to track where we've been and where we're going without the worry of "drowning" our paper maps. Plus if disorientation sets in, it's quite the handy device to have on hand.

Taking care of business

We all piled into the van with the kayak on top and headed to the starting point, which was Ray's Wayside Park...where you don't have to portage 1/2 mile to launch!

Don and his dad began unpacking the van, unloading the kayak, and adjusting the kayak seating. Mom enjoyed the view, and wished she'd have packed a picnic lunch for all of us!


One thing we really appreciate about Ray's Wayside Park is that the parking is only $5 per vehicle, the launch area is inviting, has plenty of parking, AND there is a  modern restroom facility onsite. It's nice to be able to "take care of business" either before and/or after a long day on the water. 

I should have packed a picnic lunch!

Before long Don and his dad were ready to launch and head down the channel to the main river where this time they would take a left toward the Ocklawaha River, instead of a right onto Silver River which leads to the spring head. It was going to be uncharted territory for both of them, as Don and I had never done this leg before.

Mom and I watched until they disappeared out of view. I had mixed emotions by this point...I was nervous that the GPS's batteries might go dead before the guys found their way to Gore's Landing. On one hand I couldn't wait to hear their stories upon their return, yet on the other hand I was bummed that I was not in the kayak with them to get my own stories. I had so come to love the sport, I felt the kayak was literally calling to me (though shopping with my mother-in-law runs a really close second on my "fun things to do" list as she is a real bargain hunter, and together we find some of the best deals around). 

Pork BBQ fries, jalapeno`s, and sweet tea

We had made plans to hook up at a local BBQ restaurant once they returned. I was glad when my text notification let me know that the guys were back safe and sound, and would be on their way to the restaurant once the kayak was loaded.

We enjoyed our ginormous plate of BBQ fries (with jalapeno`s of course), sweet teas, and some nanner puddin' while the guys talked about how they were graced with beautiful sights. Unfortunately, they 
didn't snap any photos along the way, but for good reason; they were paying more attention to where they were and the winding bends of the river. 

Don assured me it was just as scenic as the part with which we were already familiar, but brought up the fact that the wildlife was not nearly as abundant as on the Silver River branch. In the end he was definitely OK with the fact that he had gotten to kayak that serene portion with his dad, sharing first time experiences together.

It ended up being a great day and evening for all four of us, spent both on the river and off.

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Kayaking tip of the week: If someone doesn't want to go kayaking, don't force them. No need to make their life miserable as well as your's.  

Adjusting Dad's seating
with Mom opting out

Dad looks eager to get going

Launch time!

Shoving off

Entering the canal to the river
"We'll see you for dinner!"

From the Nose of Our Kayak: Chapter 3 Monkeys...Really?

Hello and welcome to the JLB Creatives Blog, where you'll find an array of creative features from a hand-picked group of creative geniuses. 

Wednesdays on the JLB Creatives Blog are set aside for our blog book, From the Nose of Our Kayak. JLB Creatives CEO, Janet Beasley, and her husband, Don, have been kayaking for nearly 10 years. Together they are excited to share with you, their awesome experiences that they have encountered. In this Wednesday feature you'll find kayaking stories, scenic nature photography from their outings, and some helpful tips when it comes to maneuvering your "butt sleds" (aka kayaks) on your journeys.

So if this is a topic that interests you, you'll want to be sure and become a follower of the JLB Creatives Blog, and stop in on Wednesdays each week for the latest chapter in Don & Janet Beasley's adventure blog book, "From the Nose of Our Kayak." 


Previous chapters can be found in our blog archives, we began the series on June 1, 2016.

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From the Nose of Our Kayak 
Don & Janet Beasley
Chapter 3 Monkeys...Really?

Silver River's beauty never leaves you wanting, but this particular outing left us wanting...to go back time and time again! We began to realize, you never know what you're going to see on the shoreline, beneath the water, on the water, in the woods, high in the trees, or even higher in the sky.

View of Silver River in mid October 2009
from the nose of our kayak

The deer drag had worked like a charm and we had portaged to the launch area in no time. We excitedly launched the kayak at Silver River State Park for the second time. We knew we had 2-1/2 miles to paddle up river before we could coast back down on the river's gentle current to the launch area. At the time, 2-1/2 miles paddling up stream was quite the undertaking for us beginners. 

We cleared the markers and were deep within nature in seconds. Ahhhhh...peace and serenity at last.

Before we could even get to the first bend a green heron greeted us in the marshy terrain near the shoreline. His glossy green, well-outlined feathers, and chocolate coloring around the neck are what caught our eye. His large non-webbed feet gave him the balance he needed whether on a branch or walking across the mossy top of the water. Thrilled beyond belief, Don stopped the kayak, and I snapped a few shots as this was a first sighting for us to add to our birding list. 

Green heron from the nose of our kayak

The scientific name for a green heron is butorides virescens. The word butorides is from Middle English - butor "bittern," and

Ancient Greek - oides, "resembling." The word virescens is Latin for "greenish." 

They are  a smaller water fowl, but impressive nonetheless. They can quickly change from a short stubby appearance to a long-necked stately sight. 

Just past the green heron a great blue heron stood poised, ready to pierce its unsuspecting lunch. 

The proper name for the great blue heron is ardea herodias. Ardea is Latin for heron. Herodias was a princess of the Herodian Dynasty of Judaea during the time of the Roman Empire. So you

Great blue heron
from the nose of our kayak

could say this bird has a "royal" appearance. To Don and I, they are magnificent no matter how many times we see them.

As if that weren't enough eye candy within a very short period of time, we spotted an anhinga perched high above. 

Being it was October, the sky was as blue as the top of our kayak, and the leaves were somewhat starting to dwindle, so it made for an easy sighting. 

Anhinga drying its wings above our kayak

Anhingas are diving birds, and are known by many names including snakebird, darter, American darter, or water turkey. When their swimming is done, they perch on branches, stumps, or logs and spread their wings to dry. Males are black and white, females boast a brownish neck. Their distinct "ow waa waa waa" grunting sound is strangely unique.

We have to admit, the first time we saw an alligator it was a bit intimidating from the low angle of the kayak. But we soon learned that if, you keep your distance, don't antagonize or feed them, and for heaven's sake don't kayak with raw chicken in your boat, you're probably going to glide right past them unnoticed. We've had a few encounters that have startled us (no immediate danger), and have learned how to keep a watchful eye at all times for these prehistoric beasts...on any fresh water we kayak in Florida.  

Florida alligator from the nose of our kayak

As the shadows began to lengthen we found ourselves looking for monkeys. Monkeys...Really? Yes, believe it or not, there are monkeys in central Florida. 

How did we know to look for monkeys on Silver River? Silver Springs amusement park has always been known for its glass bottom boat rides, and monkeys. But how did the monkeys get there? There are rumors. One rumor is that the monkeys were released after the filming of the 1939 movie Tarzan Finds a Son. Another rumor says that in the early 20th century a river boat pilot purchased the monkeys to bring in tourism. He put them on an island not knowing they were swimmers, so the fury critters spread throughout the area. Regardless of the rumors, the monkeys are here but they're not native to the area according to wildlife experts (who are not fond of them for ecological reasons). But that doesn't seem to douse the thrill of seeing the monkeys as you're paddling up or down this pristine river. 

First monkey we ever saw
from the nose of our kayak

Feeding the monkeys is prohibited, and for good reason. They should not become "comfortable" with human interaction, but rather remain curious from a distance. They can become mean, jump in your watercraft after more food, bite you, or if you're enjoying a trip up or down the river with your pet it too can be in danger from being attacked by the monkeys. We enjoy watching them from a safe distance, and using our zoom lens to photograph the adorable, yet menacing, creatures. Don and I actually have sat and watch them for hours sometimes.

Needless to say, we left Silver River that day wanting...but only wanting more surprises on the same river, and could not wait for our next day off!

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Kayak nature viewing tip: When you're kayaking through nature, remember that you are the foreigner. Respect what nature allows you to see.