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Homenl-2021-12 9 Armand Bayou


Armand Bayou Trip Report
November 20, 2021
by John Ohrt

It was a gorgeous gorgeous fall day. Clear, cool, calm; a wonderful day to be outside. Alice Nissen, Amy McGee, Natalie Wiest, Christy Long and me launched right on time at 9 am.

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Kiosk at Paddling Trail Mile 18, Bay Area Boat Launch

 

We cruised southerly enjoying the mild weather. We saw ospreys, brown pelicans, herons, egrets, cormorants, and more ospreys. A flock of about twenty white pelicans soared overhead, the fall sunshine increasing the brightness of their wings. For such ungainly birds they are beautiful and agile flyers. More ospreys.

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The Group Skirting By Alligators, photo by Alice Nissen


We turned around after about an hour and a half, and explored the quiet and calm of Horsepen Bayou.

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John Ohrt, photo by Christy Long


We encountered a smallish alligator sunning itself; then a much bigger one, then a much much bigger one. We were able to pass gently by all three.

We surprised a group of feral hogs who high tailed it back into the woods.


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Alice Nissen (left) and Amy McGee, photo by Christy Long


We landed back at Bay Area Park after about three hours of paddling.

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Natalie Wiest, photo by Christy Long


We then had a relaxing lunch in the park pavilion. While at lunch we were joined by Paul, the HASK member who gave the Erie Canal program. He offered to lead a trip on the Canal if there is any interest.



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Lunch at the Pavilion
From left John Ohrt, Amy McGee, Christy Long, Alice Nissen, and Natalie Wiest, photo by Natalie Wiest

Then homeward bound for a nap and store our gear until next time.

 





The author, John Ohrt