Cedar Creek
by Dean Leistikow

June 17, 2023

The weather was beautiful for our Saturday, June 17 Cedar Creek (Dover Forge – Double Trouble) trip. The Western Ave gauge was at 5.1, so the water topped out about 5 inches below the top of the Ore Pond dam.  

Presumably, this was the last weekend day before the crowds come out post graduations and school summer dismissals. As hoped and somewhat expected, there were no other paddlers until we got to the Ore Pond dam. Consequently, we saw many, many turtles (including one giant one that somehow was not bothered by us being only 2 feet from him while he was feeding in very shallow water), an egret, ducks, and many small birds.  A friendly local man chatted with us as were unloading and mentioned that we might see a variety of native orchid and we think we saw it. There were plenty of ripe blueberries but still probably 90% of the blueberries were still green. 

There were only the 3 low beaver dams to shimmy over and the concrete Ore Pond dam to carry over.  Joining me on this twice postponed trip were Cory and Gail.

Dean