Sometimes the trip to and from a paddling put-in is a journey of discovery every bit as rewarding as any voyage on the water. Such was the case recently as I wheeled my way to a favorite spot, a swamp not far from my home. It was a blustery morning. Fitful autumn winds were shouldering past the last defenses of summer, ushering in cool days, colder nights, and icy dawns. An overcast sky added to the end-of-season chill, and when I reached my destination I wasn’t surprised to discover that the chorus had been stilled. Soon, however, the sun broke through the clouds, the air warmed perceptibly, and the silence was shattered by the cheery calls of white-throated sparrows, while squirrels showered friendly invective down on all passers-by from their perches in the tall pines. A handful of frogs even piped up, keen to get in a few last words before burying themselves in the mud.

Intent on capturing the chiaroscuro sky and the brilliant scarlet of the maples, I spent several minutes shooting photos. Only after I’d tucked my camera away and started gnawing on an oatmeal bar—self-powered travelers need to keep their tanks topped up at all times!—did I take my eyes off the horizon and look down on the world at my feet. The result? A welcome reminder of The Law of Inverse Appreciation, because there at my feet, a woolly bear marched steadfastly to cross the vast asphalt wasteland. I got down on my belly and followed him with my camera, and realized how little I knew about these familiar black and burnt orange caterpillars. Read more…