Delaware Water Gap

We trekked a short distance into Pennsylvania on Saturday and immersed ourselves in the Delaware River.

Two canoes and a kayak, two beers (ha!), banana bread, potato chips, swimming, and blessings for the Shad, who had spawned and were dying before our very eyes.
Away we floated, sun spilling everywhere and completely defying the rain clouds and rumbling thunder that followed us the whole way down the river but never quite managed to catch up with us.

It was seriously beautiful.
And I had three really outstanding birding moments.
A GIGANTIC immature Bald Eagle. He flew right over our canoe with a whopping I-shit-you-not eight foot wingspan, landed high up in a tree and just chilled for a bit.
And soon thereafter, about six Grey Partridges flew across our path, almost skimming the water and landing in the tall grass on the opposite side.

Then... A mama Merganser with about eight ducklings. Brought a tear to my eye they were so darn cute.

At this point in time, Erin and I were bottoming out, heading sideways over the rocks and laughing so hard we weren't able to paddle, so I couldn't pay too much attention to the ducks, aside from trying not to scare them with all of our flailing and loud laughter.

We pulled off the river just after five and it was literally minutes before it started pouring rain. We watched as huge bolts of lightning hit all around us and thunder shook the car.

A Gold Star of a day.
And thanks again, Mother Nature, for being so facking rad.

We mere humans owe you big time.

R-E-S-P-E-C-T.