[Paddlewise] Brief Report from Cypress Swamps

A small group of us put in just under the Trinity River bridge, 30 miles
east of Houston, for a day of exploring the nearby cypress swamps. The
weather was brilliant: sunny, clear air [a treat for us], and cool.  
Even the drivers of the 18-wheelers overhead seemed to be honking their
approval.

We spent most of the day deep in the little swamps and bayous,
periodically emerging into the startling light of one of the small
lakes.  It was magical.  We paddled at the feet of the cypress, the
folds of their skirts [buttresses, I think they’re called] exposed by
the low water level.  [A fascinating contradiction: the solid wood and
the implied movement in the swirls of the skirts.]  The cypress knees
standing silently along  the banks, looking like crowds of burghers from
a Dutch painting or fantastic animals or puckish unnamed creatures.  And
overhead,  the narrow passages were thatched with leaves and light.

There were birds everywhere.  Great egrets, snowy egrets, g.b. herons,
roseate spoonbills, cormorants.   The green heron standing hunched over
on a log, who eyed us warily as we came within several feet, but didn’t
bother to move.  The pair of black crowned night herons in breeding
plumage sitting high in the branches.  And as we emerged from one of the
swampy passages into a small lake, we were greeted by a swirl of white
ibis [ibii?] celebrating the sky, black-tipped wings made nearly
translucent by the sun. 
 
A glorious day, and another glorious reminder that you don’t have to go
far to see wonders; you just have to move through the world with the
eyes of a traveler.

regards from houston,
janet lowry
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