Palouse River
Gray skies, gray water, and a few drops of rain beginning to fall, as we drop anchor at the mouth of the Palouse River where it joins the Snake. What? Go for a Zodiac in weather like this? How uncomfortable!
And yet we do, and kayak too, and as we begin to get into the rhythm of the thing it becomes a very rewarding morning. A bald eagle, the first of our trip, awaits us moments after we begin our cruise. Farther along, a porcupine waddles his way up the hill, seeking shelter. A beaver slaps his tail and dives beneath the water, startled by our passing. A ring-neck pheasant calls in the distance, and a raven squawks in reply. Three golden eagles perch on a high rock cliff, carrying on a conversation of their own. Another porcupine is in a willow tree along shore, and a yearling mule deer bounds away as we
approach. Traveling by kayak or by Zodiac is a special way of seeing wildlife in the magnificent canyon of the Palouse River. Later we shall take a short trip by school bus to see Palouse Falls, and come to understand this land from a different perspective.
Almost to our surprise, we become aware that the rain has stopped, the air has warmed, and a pale sun shines through the clouds. What we thought of as a gray day has become most colorful.
Gray skies, gray water, and a few drops of rain beginning to fall, as we drop anchor at the mouth of the Palouse River where it joins the Snake. What? Go for a Zodiac in weather like this? How uncomfortable!
And yet we do, and kayak too, and as we begin to get into the rhythm of the thing it becomes a very rewarding morning. A bald eagle, the first of our trip, awaits us moments after we begin our cruise. Farther along, a porcupine waddles his way up the hill, seeking shelter. A beaver slaps his tail and dives beneath the water, startled by our passing. A ring-neck pheasant calls in the distance, and a raven squawks in reply. Three golden eagles perch on a high rock cliff, carrying on a conversation of their own. Another porcupine is in a willow tree along shore, and a yearling mule deer bounds away as we
approach. Traveling by kayak or by Zodiac is a special way of seeing wildlife in the magnificent canyon of the Palouse River. Later we shall take a short trip by school bus to see Palouse Falls, and come to understand this land from a different perspective.
Almost to our surprise, we become aware that the rain has stopped, the air has warmed, and a pale sun shines through the clouds. What we thought of as a gray day has become most colorful.
