Yesterday we threw the canoe on top of the Suburban and headed down to Green Turtle Pond before it got too hot. The road, which was never very good, is deteriorating back to dirt. Not much is left of the pavement and what is still there makes for a very slow and bumpy ride. It is pretty though, like a dark green tunnel.

The pond was pretty quiet at that hour of the morning with only a few fisherman bobbing around the edges in their boats.

The canoe is such a thing of beauty, isn’t it?

It was a lovely morning to be paddling around. No breeze had as yet kicked up and the only ripples on the pond surface were from the prow of our canoe breaking the glass-like surface. Our oars dipped in and out of the water with a satisfying rhythm. As we passed the shoreline we heard a big PLOP! and looked in time to see the leftover wake of what was probably a turtle awakened from his on-shore slumber by our passing.

We stopped often to admire the view and the reflections.

We weren’t the only ones enjoying this beautiful morning. We disturbed a heron along the way.

(Sorry for the blur but I didn’t have a chance to change settings. Even though it’s blurry I still wanted to include it here.)

Some areas along the shoreline look like little planted-on-purpose gardens; like these reeds.

And these—all shimmery with sunlight.

I was totally captivated by the damsel flies and dragon flies in the shallow, more boggy parts of the pond. They zoomed and zipped around us at death defying speeds. I tried to capture a few flying by in the sunlight, but this was as close as I got. Can you see them?

Some used us a landing pad, either on my paddle or on the canoe, like these beautiful turquoise damsel flies. I remember my Mom used to call them ‘darning needles.’

We found this smallish bird hopping around in the reeds and spooked him up into the trees. We think it’s an immature double-crested cormorant. We watched him for quite a while.

(Right about now I was truly kicking myself for not bringing along my big zoom lens! Darn!)

They don’t call it Green Turtle pond for nothing! This turtle was sunning on a log until we paddled by.

We saw several other turtles in our trip around the pond; just heads poking up above the surface of the water. Every time I tried to capture them with the camera they ducked back underwater. Sly turtles!

All in all, a lovely paddle trip!

What a great way to start a day - beautiful.

Joyce, it was indeed! Glad you enjoyed!

The turtles weren’t sly…just a little bit shy!

I have to agree, it’s a beautiful way to start the day.

Beautiful! Looks like an idylic morning. So much to see and you are the perfect one to capture it all because you truly appreciate it all. Thank you for sharing- as always!

Susie, I might agree with you that they are “shy” turtles, but I happen to know they are snapping turtles. So maybe sly shy turtles!

Jessica. AH, thank you!

I love your photos and the design of your blog. It’s very striking and different.

As for how I found you . . . I think I used the Google toolbar that I downloaded. I typed in either “New Jersey” or “Jersey Girl” and hit the “Blogs” button on that toolbar. I’m always searching for other blogs on New Jersey to read and to add to my New Jersey Honor Roll of blogs that I have on my sidebar.

Your blog makes me want to explore New Jersey even more. It’s such an interesting and diverse state. I’m tired of the bad rap that New Jersey gets.

I finally booked my plane tickets to head back to Jersey this summer….and looking at your pics is making me even more excited!
What a beautiful canoe, and such beautiful scenery!

New Jersey Memories, Thank you! I try to make New Jersey look as good as it really is. I agree, it gets an undeserved bad rap. Looks like you live in Montclair—such a great town! I need to explore your sidebar!

Katie, good for you! I always love to hear from “old” New Jersey girls!

What a beautiful place!  I love the heron pic, such gracefulness!  Canoes are a wonderful way to get around!

First, thanks for showing off the wonderful parts of our state.  I was born and raised here, lived here for 60 years (except for 5 unhappy years in Florida), and I love it here.  Like several other commenters, I get tired of all the negative comments about NJ.  On the other hand, the incrediblely beautiful parts of NJ seem to be a well-kept secret, so for those who don’t care to explore a bit more, too bad!

Re your bird pictures, I don’t see a hook on the beak of the immature bird you thought might be a cormorant.  I’m thinking that you have an immature heron there, possibly an immature green or night heron, but since you have pictures of adult blue herons, my money would be on an immature blue heron.

My photo of a green heron:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/momcat14c/3740736578/

black crowned night heron:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/momcat14c/4690677405/

Not as good as yours, I’m afraid.  I need a better telephoto!

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