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Solitary kayak and autumn foliage

Photo Essay: Autumn Splendor on the Root River

November 19, 2024  |  Topics: Places


By Eddee Daniel

There’s nothing like a body of water to reflect and amplify the already lustrous colors of autumn. The body of water in this case is the Root River in Racine. And I was able to witness the splendor from the water in my kayak, along with a group led by members of the Seno K/RLT Conservancy. Now, astute followers of The Natural Realm will immediately wonder how I could have been paddling a kayak with a torn rotator cuff (see previous story if this is news to you.) The answer is I’ve been waiting for over a year for a good time to post these photos. Now is the right time, not only because we are in gloomy mid-November and some autumn glory ought to brighten up your day, but also because my torn rotator cuff/surgery has made it difficult for me to get out and take new photos.

Our little flotilla of kayaks put in the Root River at the Horlick Dam impoundment, paddled upstream for a couple miles, then floated back. The colors of the riparian foliage, peaking in late October, were spectacular the whole way.

Seven kayaks Setting out from the Horlick Dam boat launch.
Setting out from the Horlick Dam boat launch.
A colorful scene!
A colorful scene!
Great blue heron landing.
Great blue heron landing.
Passing close to the heron.
Passing close to the heron.
Kayaking in technicolor!
Kayaking in technicolor!
A meditative moment.
A meditative moment.
Painted turtle alert!
Painted turtle alert!
We passed an angler in the shallows.
We passed an angler in the shallows.
The group passes by a heron rookery.
The group passes by a heron rookery.
Heron rookery.
Heron rookery.
Tour leader Nancy.
Tour leader Nancy.
Resting.
Brian resting.
Autumn Splendor!
Autumn Splendor!
Heading home.
Heading home.

Related (kayaking) stories:

Floating down the Bark River with Flotilla 2018

Downtown Milwaukee’s river of kayaks 2019

Menomonee River Valley Kayak Tour 2020

Peddle to Paddle in Lincoln Park 2021

An Historic Return to the Milwaukee River and Indigenous Roots 2021

Loew Lake by Kayak—at Last! 2022

Kayaking a Surprising Suburban Wilderness 2023

Related (Root River) stories:

Kayaking the Root River with Root-Pike WIN and SEWRPC 2023

Photo essay: Kayaking in the Root River Challenge 2019

The Horlick Dam on the Root River in Racine will be removed! 2024

Eddee Daniel is a board member of Preserve Our Parks.


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