Each of us has our own way of interacting with the Fox River – fishing, hiking, picnicking, boating, biking, and even swimming.  My two favorite ways happen to be paddling and photographing.  I’d like to share with you some of the reasons I enjoy those activities so much.

First of all, why do I choose a kayak, since there are so many other forms of watercraft?  When sitting in my particular boat (a sit-inside, for those of you familiar with kayaks), a portion of my body is actually below the waterline.  This creates great stability for one thing, but it also provides me with the sensation of being part of the river and its inhabitants; I feel like a 16’ waterbug.

With a double-bladed paddle, the standard for kayaking, I am able to move about the river with ease, even travelling upstream against the current, or pushing against a strong headwind (often more significant than the flow of the river in the case of the Fox). 

The wildlife I encounter don’t seem to be scared or nervous as I approach them in my boat.  On the contrary, they seem more curious, attempting to determine if I am a threat or not.  I present a low profile (most of my human form hidden under the deck), and I don’t believe the animals along shore are ever attacked by predators coming out of the water.  Do they think I am just a big log floating past?  Of course, if we were in Florida, this theory would not be valid, given the threat posed by alligators.

I also find that as the summer season progresses, the animals become more accustomed to my presence, and allow me to approach within a few yards of them before taking evasive action.  There are some shorebirds that will simply turn and walk away from me, but most take to the air if I get too close.  I try to avoid causing them to fly away, thinking that if I don’t push them to their flight response this time, they may even let me get closer when I encounter them in the future.

This lack of fear on the part of the animals gives me the ability to photograph the ones I encounter in a way unavailable to photographers approaching them from land.  My kayak has a foot-controlled rudder, so I can hold my camera securely with both hands as I drift closer and closer to my subject.  This brings me to my second favorite river activity, namely photography.

I choose to photograph with a full-size camera (a DSLR for those of you who know cameras) for several reasons.  As I look through my viewfinder (directly through the lens), I am able to isolate an eagle or a deer with the rest of the world completely shut out.  For that instant, it is just the two of us.  This is an experience I haven’t been able to achieve with a camera (or phone) that uses a viewing screen.  My telephoto lens allows me to bring faraway objects, like an eagle nest high in a tree, close for my viewing or to make a tiny damsel fly completely fill my frame.

Taking pictures allows me to revisit my day of paddling when I get home and transfer the images to my computer screen.  It also gives me a chance to share the experience with friends.  There are even times when I have discovered something in a photograph that I had not been aware of when I was on the river.  For example, I took a picture of a feather that had just fallen into the water from an eagle that was preening on a branch above me.  When I blew it up on my computer, I was shocked to find a tiny Damsel Fly perched on the tip of the feather, as if captaining his ship through the water.

Regardless of how you explore the Fox River, you have to agree we are truly lucky to have such an amazing treasure in our back yard.