This has certainly been an odd winter, but Spring seems to have firmly dug its claws into our part of the country. It’s difficult to wrap my head around the fact that we were “enjoying” -25 degree weather just a couple of weeks ago in Yellowstone and today we took the kayaks out on the river for the first time this year.
Betsy and I try to get into the water as soon as possible. “Ice out” on the river is just a magnificent time to be paddling around. The variability of this year’s winter made ice out less of an event — and we were still wrapped up in our trip to catch it at the right moment. But there’s no time like the present and the temperature was in the 60’s and no rain in sight for a day, so on to the water we go. We paddled up and down our favorite stretch of the Assabet River in Stow.
Bluebirds are rather elusive around here and the only time we see them with any regularity is during early spring. We caught up with a small flock as the sun was starting to snuggle down into the clouds (my luck is impeccable), but it was great to see them again. People say Robins are a sign of Spring, but we see them all winter long now. Bluebirds are our sign of Spring.
In “Walden” Thoreau said “One attraction in coming to the woods to live was that I should have leisure and opportunity to see the Spring come in.” We take what leisure and opportunity we get and savor Spring’s arrival. Alas, back to work on Monday…