Another day at the river.

Wading down the river on a lovely afternoon. Actually it was just before noon. We waded down to the bridge and after going under we crossed the fence the rancher had put there to keep the cows from going upstream. Phillip took this pic not far from the fence and we continued on our way downstream.
Lots of watercress decorates the stream bed all along here. A few side streams where there are small ponds where cattails grow, cows have munched on them in places. We haven't seen any cows but can hear them calling each other down river.

When the river was high it dug a deep trench here at the base of the cliffs. There are small fish in these pools . About 2 to 3 inches long and look a lot like suckers. Biggest fish we have seen here are about 4 inches long. I don't think they ever get any bigger.

Lots of wild grapes grow along the river banks. They completely cover the trees and cliffs. They hang down over the rive in lots of places. They will be getting ripe soon, then the birds will have a hayday. There are all different kinds of birds here along the river. The squirrels and chipmunks will get their share too I bet.

This is where we turned around to go back. It's about a quarter mile from where we soak our feet. Time to head back and move up into the shade by the car. Our feet have been in the water for the best part of a hour now with this wade downstream. We took our time because there are lots of cool things to see along the way. Too bad you couldn't have joined us.



Granny

State of the union message.

Now why is it the birds on the last rung on the totem pole don't have smiling faces?

A day at the river.

This is the mighty Hassyampa river. Down here it is just a stream and this is a long long way yet from the headwaters. This is where we head to when it's too hot at the house to stay. We usually set our chairs in the water where i'm standing and just cool off a while. This spot is just upstream from where the road crosses the river.

Here I'm sitting upstream from the crossing, when a heron came up from downstream and checked us out. I leaned back so Phillip could take this picture of him at the edge of the crossing. Maybe trying to make up his mind if he wanted to continue upstream or not.

He's made up his mind and starts to cross the road and come our way. He's going slow and sneaky, all the time watching up close.

He went to the edge of the crossing and starts toward us. Still moving slow and wary. He crosses the road and starts to pass us not 6 feet away.

Still moving slow and sneaky he moves on past. He keeps us in his beady eyesight all the time. Looks over at us a few times as he passes.

Now he is going under the fence that is just behind us. Not 4 feet away at this point. Still moving slow and sneaky.

He's under the fence and thinks he is so cool. He gave us a few backward glances as if to say," see, I'm not the least bit afraid of you".

Now he slowly goes up the river just like it is an everyday occurrence. One real cool dude he is.

Just after Phillip took this shot he began to eat tiny fish and frogs again just like we weren't there at all. His beak clacked when he hit rocks while catching fish and flipped them up just to catch them a swallow them whole.

You never know what you will see and who you will meet on a day down at the river.