July 10, 2010

This morning there was a large tent in Pecan Grove with several canoes underneath it. The Texas Water Safari, a 260-mile non-stop canoe race starting at the headwaters of the San Marcos River and ending in Seadrift, Texas (near the Gulf of Mexico) will begin today at 9:00 a.m.

No drivers were there yet. I did, however, see the young Red-Shouldered Hawk being chased by a small bird called a Thrusher. They were flying above the canoes in Pecan Grove.

Out on the boardwalk, I watched the beautiful mist on top of the lake move very slowly from the headwaters towards the river. After a while, it started to move towards the wetlands and slowly covered that area. It wrapped around the Great Blue Heron, which was hunting alone on the edge of the feeding place. Watching this sight was a very quiet and magical experience for me.

I saw a fish comfortably resting in a big hole on the lake bottom. Nearby, a Musk Turtle was nibbling on Algae. I also saw a school of small fish darting between patches of Algae. I could see the underwater activities taking place between these patches, and felt as if the wetlands are now awakening.

The younger one dot Yellow-Crowned-Night Heron showed off its hunting skills while I was standing on the boardwalk. The bird caught three crayfish at the barrier with surprisingly quick speed. However, those three big crayfish did not satisfy the bird’s appetite. It was still looking for more food to catch.

At 7:00 a.m. the competitors started to arrive for the Texas Water Safari.
I was glad to meet Mrs. Deborah Lane, assistant director of Aquarena Center, near the Landing. She was preparing for her solo paddling trip! Good Luck, Mrs. Lane!

After 8:00 a.m., hundreds of people were in Pecan Grove for this special event. Each canoe had a different size, style, color, and structure. It seemed like a huge exhibition of canoes. There were between one and six competitors for one, most of wearing tights and others in matching uniforms. At 8:30 a.m. the canoes were carried into the water for the competitors to test their paddling.

An old man pointed towards a large silver six-person canoe, and told me to look at it. “Team Marines Freedom Alliance” was written on the side of it with red paint. He told me that they were marines who plan to paddle for 48 hours non-stop (without sleep) until they reach the finishing point.

After the Anthem, a prayer, some instructions, and a whistle, all the competitors started paddling their canoes toward the river. They all seemed to be very strong and courageous lovers of the river, and were able to make quick decisions. I was happy that I got to see them take off!

After the all racers disappeared, I saw a Great Blue Heron fly out from the hill toward the wetlands. Some onlookers were gathered around its nest, so the bird had been watching the race from the hillside.

A student employee drove a jeep into Pecan Grove and started cleaning up the grounds after the beginning of the race was over. Another brought out four orange glass bottom kayaks for an Aquarena Center kayak tour. It was wonderful to witness the efficient work attitude that they possessed!