Rode 27 miles into the marsh this evening with a running average speed of 15.7. It probably would have been faster if I hadn't needed to deal with water across the road for an extended stretch. Ultimately, it was too much and I turned back. This piece of road is underwater more often than it isn't. Too bad. It's a beautiful way through the marsh.
Wildlife was good this evening. It started out as a squashed snake ride with about half a dozen along the way. I'm guessing that the cooler weather has the snakes seeking the warmth of the asphalt, not so good. At the point where I turned back because of the water, I saw two adult bald eagles perched in adjacent trees, pictured below (map link). It's unusual to see adults together when not nesting. Later, on the top of Blackwater's wildlife drive, I came upon a pair of sika deer. I very nearly hit one. They wouldn't move and seemed completely unafraid. I could have touched them. It took some effort to get them to scamper off the pavement into the woods. Further on, I saw another eagle perched alone in an isolated tree. There were the usual herons and egrets as well, but almost no migratory waterfowl of any kind.
I also rode past the Nause-Waiwash Band of Indians' Longhouse (map link). It seems to be used mostly for storage. A picture is posted above.
It was an unexpectedly satisfying ride, after the disappointment of having to turn back at the water.
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