Troop 1501 Canoeing and Camping on Lunga Reservoir

23/24-Aug-2003

	A	B	C
1	Setting up the campsite...away from the nest of Giant Hornets (Vespa crabro germana) Ryan discovered...the hard way.	Catterpillar of polyphemus moth (Antheraea polyphemus).  It was knocked out of an oad treek by a golf ball hit from the other side of the cove.  My finger is 3" long from base to tip making the catterpillar about 3 1/4" long.	Catterpillar of polyphemus moth.  Brian's shirt as a backdrop.
2	Finally, on the water.  Mr M is about to find the god of the winds has a particular liking for his bow.	Checking the entrance to what appears to be a beaver lodge.  Under the kayak is a trough going under the lodge just to the right of John's elbow.	David and Ryan pointed out a cormorant (immature Great or Double-crested Cormorant) with a problem; its head and neck are wound with monofilament fishing line.
3	John managed to slip a net over the bird as it swam beside us...then he dumped in my lap.	You can see some of the line just in front of my wedding ring.  There was about 3 feet of this line, some of it disappearing down the bird's throat.	Since we couldn't unwind it, we clipped it.
3	One last check before releasing to see there were no other problems.  By the way, that bill is very sharp.  Fortunately the bird was tired and didn't struggle much.	When released, it swam off rather smartly.	Ryan and David.  Where is everyone else?
4	We finally find Brian, paddling close to the far shore toward camp.	We also find Charlie and Chuck.  Looks like Chuck has finally found the balance point of the canoe.	We decide to head to beach to swap John for Charlie and notice something odd.
5	Over a dozen tiger swallowtail butterflies are no the beach.	Ryan decides to try the single seat kayak.	Charlie's in the bow, fishing, and Ryan's practicing control.
6	Ryan, heading for the open water.	Ryan in the single, Charlie and David in the two-seater kayak, about to do a little fishing.	Ryan's caught something.
7	David and Charlie have found something too, a golf ball!	About 2 hours later, and the boys display their catch...about 20 lbs worth!	Time for dinner
8	Everyone had an opinion on how to cut green peppers.	Ryan, using an old-fashioned can opener to remove the bottom of a can so it can be flattened.  Not quite as easy it may seem.  Little did we realize two things about giant hornets; 1) light attracts them just as it attracts moths; 2) they don't sleep.	Chuck and John with examples of what we had on the inside of our lantern the next morning.
9	Notice the size of the extended stinger...about 3/8"!  Good thing they aren't agressive.	Time to go fishing...before this fellow gets them all (an Ardea herodias).	Ryan caught something, a small largemouth?
10	But is it a largemouth or a smallmouth?	Chuck and Tony	David trying his luck by the fish attractor.
11	Ryan and Charlie trying another fishing spot...	the same attractor.	David giving up on the attractor and trying the open water.
12	Entrance to the hive of the giant hornets.	The tree, in relation to the campsite.  We can confirm they are not agressive, but they are very curious and will sting if provoked.	Ryan and David returning the two-seater kayak
13	Brian pulling Charlie and the other canoe.	Another shot of Brian and Charlier.	With the canoe untied, Charlie returns the kayak to the other side of the boat house.
14	Charlie and David trying their hand at using fly rods. 2-o'clock to 10-o'clock and don't forget to pause!	A good time appears to be had by all, even though Ryan was stung. According to SPL-emeritus Cody, Great Hornets prey on Yellow Jackets. This could explain why we only saw one Yellow Jacket during the weekend (on Sunday, feeding on a dead Great Hornet).   It would appear we have 3 Scouts ready for trying kayaks on a river.