Prairie Creek and Newnans Lake

My friend Angela and I went kayaking today on part of the Potano State Paddling Trail, named after the Potano indians who once inhabited the area. The trail circles Newnan Lake and meanders down Prairie Creek to Paynes Prairie State Preserve. We put in at Kate's Fish Camp, a quaint piece of history in itself.
Note the flock of resident geese:

Angela has a really nice lightweight Swift Adirondack Kayak.

And here I am in my slightly under-inflated "Esprit." I need to get a new pump, although the helpful fish camp owner worked on fixing a leak in my foot pump while we were gone. Nice guy.

The geese all came out into the creek to see us off.

Since neither Angela nor I thought of insect repellant, we opted to paddle out to Newnans Lake and save Prairie Creek for another day.

Cypress knees, knees, knees...

Entering the lake

With it's beautiful calm paddling waters.

We explored the shoreline

Great blue heron in a tree

Snowy Egrets

The red-winged blackbirds were singing their hearts out.

There were Boat-tailed Grackles....male

And female

Moorhens were Common

Little Blue was too

We drifted by lily pads,

And watched Bald Eagles soar

We saw many eagles...or a few eagles many times. I think this is a juvenile Bald Eagle

Now I know how it feels to be a "sitting duck." I think this was a decoy.

Getting hot...time to turn back

Back up Prairie Creek

 which has gotten rather sultry.

And the geese came out again to welcome us back.

Back at my site at Sportsman's Cove, artists have come to capture the view.

 I used to paint...

 Now, I'd rather just take a picture.