The floodlands out from Tranquille invite paddlers an opportunity to paddle for about 10 km through channels, bays, and lagoon-like mazes of wetland vegetation.   Launching out of Tranquille, both sides of the river await exploration.

As the freshet approaches in June, the wildlife also moves in.   The earliest residents are ducks, geese, blackbirds, and other nesting waterfowl and wetland birds.   Under the water, fish and aquatic invertebrates proliferate and the larger birds like great blue herons and pelicans also move in.   With the abundance of life also come the predators.   Bald and golden eagles, ospreys, red-tailed hawks, and even kites and peregrines can be spotted.   Painted turtles sun themselves on logs.   All are best seen while drifting quietly.

Paddling requires both hands and attention to balance, so calm conditions and a slow approach facilitate seeing and photographing wildlife.   When we paddle out into this area in June and July, we try to take our time and keep the focus on exploration.   On the last venture, a number of dead-end channels were found.   As the river recedes at the end of freshet, through channels start to disappear, but new surprises can still be found – wild asparagus, knotweed in flower, amphibians, and wading birds.

Framing all of this are the hills and skies of the Thompson River Valley, a favorite place.