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Apalachicola Maritime Museum Apalachicola
River Trips 2010 An
epic one to two week Kayak & Canoe Educational Adventure of 250 miles
from Columbus to the Gulf |
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Trip Journals and Poetry from the Apalachicola River From Columbus, GA to the Gulf Last updated 4/27/2010 This paddle experience brings forth
amazing memories and stories that last a lifetime. We would like to share some of the journals
and poetry that have emerged from the river.
First is the name of our reliable support vessel, the Starfish
Enterprise, whose name emerged from her maiden voyage. Surrounded by paddlers, she began her
mission among the waters of the Apalachicola River and Bay. Inspiration comes with the time for clear
thinking which is in abundant supply along the days of paddling and
friendship around the campfire. Please enjoy the following and be sure
to add yours after your epic journey. I am the
Apalachicola River, By
Marilyn Blackwell, Educational presenter Apalachicola
River Paddling Trip – 2009, By
Larry Binder, Participant Chattahoochee
to Apalachicola Boat Excursion, By
Gary R. Crumley .¸¸.·´¯><((((º>.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸><((((º>
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I am the
Apalachicola River By Marilyn Blackwell, Educational
presenter I am woman; mother; giver of life. My locks of hair is
my beginning. My arms reach out from my long and
sinuous body. The swamp is my womb. I mate with the ocean during the
eternal rise and fall of the tide. The flood plain is my charge, which I
sweep clean in early spring and bring forth the crawfish from their
underground burrows. Mothers sweep the tinny babies from
their undersides and into my waters to forage and grow. In turn, the crawfish will feed the
bird, fish, the raccoon, otter and possum. My swollen waters clean the off-river
dens of the alligator, the otter and the den of the snapping turtle under an
old tusset. My swelling drives out the still,
stagnant waters from off-river lakes and ponds, replacing it with clean,
fresh water containing life that will forage and grow and will be foraged
upon. During my swollen time, the flowers
bloom and the egret nest over me. The snail attaches it’s
pearly eggs on plant stems just above me. All are nourishment for another,
leaving only seed enough for the season to come. In my womb where my mysteries abide,
devoid of seekers, my children serenade me with sounds that lift, enchant and
inspire. Dozens of tree frogs roll out a
synchronized song that will end in an instant. The raccoon plays the castanets and
the bull alligator plays the tuba. The owl demands that you hear and
understand. The fish and beaver slap my waters for emphasis. All other
creatures come in on cue. With summer coming, I recede into
myself, carrying the bounty of nutrients to my children round my feet. The
oyster will grow fat and the sea grasses will flourish. These many thousands of years I have
existed to give life. Mankind, whom I have also fed and sheltered has come to harm me. He has taken more than I had to give. He has accepted the gifts and taken a
part of the giver. I am unable to coach the crawfish from
their burrows. The otter den remained foul, then dried up. The springtime music of my womb grows
faint and my children perish at my feet. Their claims of restoration bring
further harm. Grant me time to heal, grant me my
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By Larry Binder Introduction : Hope I didn't leave too much of importance out. And these are obviously just my opinions. I hope the formatting doesn't get all messed up on your end. Thanks once again to George and his staff for all their hard work, and to my fellow paddlers for being such good companions. Wed, 10/28 - I drove to Harry's, loaded his gear, gave my cell phone to Mary so
we could take theirs on the trip, and headed to the beach. We arrived after 6 1/2 hours and found very
nice weather and the house in good shape.
Had dinner at Two Al's, then watched the Phillies take a game from the
Yankees. Too cloudy for
satellites. Harry had bought a new
electric heater and I brought one of ours down, but didn't need either, and
even a blanket, though it was chilly outside. Thu - We picked up pine cones from the
yard, mowed and weed-eated, finishing after lunch,
as it's a big yard and the mower is only a 22 incher. Many pinecones, at least 5 wheelbarrows
full. Luckily, Harry had brought
sandwich fixings, then we ate at Two Al's again, this time getting there on
"Trivial Pursuit" night. We
did well the first round, but came in last at the end. We're blaming our defeat on the fact that
the other teams had 5-8 players. Watched the Yankees take a lead, then
went to do some re-packing for the trip and start Cornwell's "Case
Solved." Cool, but no blanket or heater needed. Fri - Arrived about 20 minutes early
at the museum, but there were already other paddlers there unloading gear and
putting their boats on the trailer.
Patti arrived soon and told us the shuttle van would be late because
of a dead battery, so we had some time to kill, using it to get acquainted
with Carl, Fred and Mary, Jim and Julie, and Terry and Frida. When Jimmy arrived with the van, about 40
minutes late, we all loaded up, took our cars to a city lot away from
downtown, and headed north for Chattahoochee, where the trip would start just
below the Jim Woodruff Dam that forms Lake Seminole, catching flow from the
Chattahoochee and Flint rivers. George
Floyd, the major benefactor of the Museum, as well as the owner of The Dam
Store in Buford, Georgia, has bought 140 acres below the dam and is
converting an old commercial building into another canoe/kayak/outpost, and
that's where we were staying. We had a
late lunch of catered fried chicken and met more paddlers and members of the
staff, especially Neva, the program manager, and George, who gave a short
talk about why he is dedicating his life to defending the rivers. We also met the City Manager, Lee Garner, and
had a driving tour of Chattahoochee, location of the Florida State Mental
Hospital, as well as a tour and talk/movie by the Corps of Engineers Rangers
at the Dam visitor center. We were too
late for the tour of the power generating room. On the way back to the campground we took a
short nature walk to a spring fed pool that the town is hoping to restore to
use. When Lee left he offered to pick up
some missing items, like Croakies and ponchos at
the Dollar Store. He returned later
with them and some boiled peanuts and refused to take payment for any of
it. Starfish is a pontoon about 40
feet by 15 feet, with sinks, shower, tankless water
heater, 2 fridges, freezer, icemaker, huge gas grill, marine head, large
Honda generator, and 2 large freshwater tanks. It also has a full canvas roof and lots of
storage. Jeremy is the Captain and
designed the craft, and Iris is the live-aboard Cook who planned and prepared
all our meals. I got to know them well
after volunteering to make coffee the first morning, and then the rest of the
mornings on the river. Made me sort of
a semi-staffer, letting me spend more time with them, George, Neva, and
Patti. Also helped me get a shower
every other day! Back at camp we had
Dale Crider as a speaker. He is a
retired wildlife biologist for the Florida Wildlife Commission, and spoke and
sang to us of wild mushrooms and the history of the river and area. Fascinating speaker, and he had folks
pointing out familiar mushrooms and even eating them the rest of the trip. After all the paddlers had arrived, we found
that there were about 20 of us, and about 10 staffers, all going down the
river. In the 20 were 8 women from
Bozeman, Montana. They are members of
the Bozeman Women's Activity Group, and ranged in age from about 50 to
73. They do strenuous outdoor things
like backpack, kayak, cross-country skiing, etc. at home, and found out about
this trip from Martha, one of their members, who has been visiting
Apalachicola for a while, now building a place on Cape San Blas. Eva, the oldest, was always one of the front4
or 5 boats on the river. The only
problem I had with the BWAG's was when they taught me on Sunday how to do
"Brocades," Yoga exercises
that might have caused my shoulders to ache the next 5 days. Or maybe it was the paddling. We had catered ribs for dinner, then
anticipated a campfire with singing, but it started to rain, so Harry and I
went to bed early. His backpacking
tent is tiny, but light and easy to setup, and weather-proof! I had taken a shower earlier in a temporary
facility they set up far down the side of the building. No hot water! Sat - Up early and helped Iris find
the coffee supplies and get it percolating.
She cooked a hot breakfast, including some sautéed wild
mushrooms! Lots of packing and
shuttling of gear and boats to the put-in, which was in a city park about 1/4
mile away. The Starfish really looked
massive on its boat trailer, but they got it launched OK. I spotted our first bald eagle while we
were still packing. We didn't get on
the river until 2, so paddled down to the campsite for lunch, then headed
down to our first night's sandbar, at MM98.
The dam is at MM108, so only 10 miles, but we had to get there before
dark and make camp, so it was a hard paddle.
We crossed under the I10 bridge at MM100, and were delighted when
several truckers sounded their air horns at us. The river was about 9 feet above normal due
to heavy recent rains in Georgia, so the flow was almost 4 miles per
hour. Helped with the paddling. Grounding and tying off the Starfish was
interesting, especially as the river was expected to drop about a foot
overnight. Lots of room on the
sandbar, and we enjoyed making camp, visiting, dinner around the campfire,
then classical Spanish guitar playing by Sam, one of the staffers. We had collected a huge pile of wood, about
3 days supply I estimated, but burned almost all of
it. George really likes a big fire,
and the portable "stars and moon" cast iron fire pit he brought
along really looked neat, kept the fire off the ground, and provided a lot of
heat. Harry and I to bed early again
when the rain came back. It had
threatened all day, but luckily waited until then. Daylight Savings Time ended that night, so
we got an extra hour of well-needed rest. Sun - We were slow breaking camp,
then the staff had to work hard pulling the Starfish off the sandbar with one
of the Mako powerboats. After packing we were ferried back up the
river about a mile by the 2 Makos to Aspalaga Landing, property recently acquired by the State
of Florida, for a 90 minute hike led by 3 volunteers showing us the
endangered Torreya Tree and other environmental
things in the ravine filled area. One
of the volunteers is a volunteer firefighter, so we visited a bit. I found a great8 point deer skull. Then ferried back to the sandbar for lunch
and some hard paddling to our next sandbar, which turned out to be submerged,
so George found us a campsite in the woods along a small creek near Alum
Bluffs, near where we should have camped at MM84. Harry and I swapped ends of the canoe
today, and it worked just fine, though he had to keep telling me to
"Stop steering, just paddle!"
The sides of the creek were muddy and slippery and about 3 feet high,
and we had one paddler fall into the creek.
We pitched our tents all along the creek and they pulled the Starfish
up to the shore close enough for the gangplank from the side to reach and
tied the boat and used long planks to keep it in place, as we were on the
outside curve, with lots of current.
We got there about 30 minutes before sunset, so worked hard to get
camp set before dark. Another great
supper, delicious soup - garlic bread - pound cake, and Sam played some
more. Glad that they brought along
enough folding camp chairs for all of us, even though it meant more stuff to
load and unload each day. They brought
along the two 19 foot Makos and a 14 foot johnboat
to carry all the gear, and we really needed all that space, as few of us kept
our gear below the 35 pound limit.
Another huge pile of driftwood burned, thanks to the recent flooding
of the area. Harry and I had a nice
flat tent site, and they put up the normal Tiki
torches near the tents, but we were way back in the woods, so needed a
flashlight to get to it. A little too
close to Gary, who snores, and the staff, who had a meeting every night after
the campfire. Had my first shower on
the pontoon, even though it was pretty chilly that night. Mon - I woke early and saw no
lights on the Starfish, so got the fire going again, then went to the boat to
wake Iris and Jeremy, who never once were awake when I got to the boat in the
morning, always blaming it on a missing or faulty alarm clock or cellphone. By the
end of the trip I was one switch position short of being able to get the
generator running to perc the coffee! Job security for the Captain. After another slow camp takedown we paddled
down to Blountstown Landing, where we were met by the guest speakers and
vans, which took us to their Pioneer Village.
Very interesting place, but we spent too much time there listening to
Mr. Thomas, the former County School Superintendent, and touring the various
old cabins. It was about 2pm before we
got back on the river, so George decided we would come aboard the Starfish a
few at a time for lunch as we motored and paddled downriver. Harry and I were first aboard, as we
delivered Neva to the boat. We enjoyed
hotdogs and were getting ready to launch when Mary tried to get up to the pontoon
and was rolled into the river, maybe because we had 4 or 5 boats tied off on
that side, creating too big an angle for her to approach safely. The crew handled her dunking very well,
even getting her into a hot shower and loaning her some of Iris's
clothes. The rest of lunch went fine,
but Harry and I missed the speaker's talk on The Florida Trail. We paddled hard to the Estiffanulga
county boat ramp at MM63, where we camped, because our planned sandbar at
MM62 was submerged, arriving again late in the day. Jeremy had some interesting moments
bringing the pontoon in to the ramp because of the fast current, the eddy
where the cut to the ramp was, and a brisk wind blowing up river. Very nice facility with flush toilets and
road access, so were able to exchange guest speakers. Very good steak dinner after I helped
Jeremy figure out why his new propane tank would not flow gas to the
grill. Now George knows my name. Found out that Iris had pre-cooked a lot of
the meals and merely had to heat them up, but most breakfasts and the steaks
were certainly cooked on scene. Martha
and the BWAG's did KP. Had a very interesting talk by Steve Leitman, a Professor at FSU, who has been helping
environmentalists fight the water wars with Georgia. He's well known by the governors of the3
states, and reminded me a lot of my Scoutmaster in the way he talked about
things from a strategic point of view. Earlier he had paddled with us up a
side slough called Sutton Bayou that he said had, farther up river than we
could paddle, some 20 foot tall cypress knees, apparently because of the
regular flooding of the slough. Many
houseboats tied off along the banks of that slough and the main river,
starting right after we launched on Saturday, but few people visible. After the speakers, Jimmy played and sang
some country and bluegrass songs, joined in a bit by Sam. Tue - A pretty quick camp
breakdown, as we knew we had another 20 mile day coming. We finally stopped for the night at Iola
Landing, a privately owned but open to the public boat ramp at MM45 because
the sandbar at MM43 was submerged. Had
my second shower before supper. Just
ahead of me in the shower was Eva, who lost her shampoo overboard. Harry and I retrieved it the next
morning and returned it to her on the river.
Jim went swimming alongside the boat while I showered, but noticed a
deer carcass floating near him in the water, so ended up taking a shower
also. Harry and I and 2 others
volunteered to do KP, and ate first, a delicious Jambalaya. Then we were told we would do KP another
day because there were so few dishes! But
we never had another meal with lots of dishes, so never got to do KP, though
I washed quite a few cups in the mornings for coffee. Harry and I made sure
our tent was far from the staff area. Around the campfire we had a talk by
Phillip McMillan, an employee of the Neal Timber Company, which owns the boat
ramp and lets George's groups camp there.
Late that night we were awakened by a noisy 4WD pickup that drove thru
the boat ramp loop, then proceeded to play and get stuck in a muddy area
along the road, less than 200 feet from one of the tents. Quite an exciting experience listening to
them. Wed - On the river about
10:30. Paddled to the Wewahitchka
Gaskin Park and Landing, where we met Marilyn Blackwell, a founding member of
the Save the Apalachicola River group.
She talked to us about her frustration with the effort to improve the
river, then rode with us down the river to her daughter Monica's houseboat,
at MM33, where we had a great lunch of fried catfish, hushpuppies, grits,
sweet tea, and homemade cake. All of
us had beached our boats on the shore, so had to pull her houseboat closer to
the shore using mooring planks so we could board it. On the way there we passed Sand Mountain, a
huge pile of sand dredged by the Corps of Engineers, and were surprised to
see a sailboat, "Sophia," moored there. Turns out it was Linda and Mike, who had
been waiting 2 days for us. They both
used to work for the museum, but now have a small resort in Islamorada,
BestoftheFloridaKeys.com. They said they
could hear us coming for 30 minutes before we appeared. They joined us for lunch and moored that
night alongside the Starfish. We saw
them again when we finished the trip in Apalachicola. Linda even remembered meeting me at the
museum a couple of years ago! After
lunch we paddled like mad to get to our planned campsite near MM22, Owl
Creek, but it got too late and George found us a wooded campsite about
MM26. Again there was a small creek we
could paddle in, while the Starfish moored to the bank and Sophia tied off to
the pontoon boat. It was a small,
recently flooded area, with lots of small poison ivy on the ground. George had the staff clear the underbrush
with machetes and swing blades. The BWAGs pitched their tents on a
couple of large tarps because several of them are allergic to ivy. Around the campfire George asked if we
could try to leave the campsite by 9am the next morning so we could make up
the miles we missed. We had a guest
speaker that night talk to us about woodpeckers, red cockaded and
ivory-billed. Later we heard that the
staff was very worried that Neva and Jimmy were late from running him back up
the river in a Mako, and couldn't reach them via
radio. Turns out they had been stopped
by the Florida Marine Patrol because their front marker lights were out, and
their radio battery had died! The MP was stationed near a marker
buoy that was being submerged by the flooded river, there to warn any large
boats of the location of the channel.
The staff was very relieved at their safe return. Thu - Mike woke up the staff at 5
instead of 6 because his cellphone was showing the
wrong time, but we did get on the river early, 8:15! Before we left, the macerator for the
marine head got stuck on and put the head out of order! On the way George led us on a paddle up a
side creek that he thought was Owl Creek, where we saw a huge cypress tree,
but turns out it wasn't THE Owl Creek, but the "other" Owl Creek. Did I mention that we always had a staff
boat as lead and another as sweep, and they had radios to stay in touch with
each other? Well, George was usually
lead, in a white 20 foot rowing boat, very fast and easy to spot, especially
when he rowed standing up! We arrived
around 10 at Ft. Gadsden, a State Historic Site, with displays, pit toilets,
and the remains of the Indian/slave fort that exploded when attacked by US
troops back in the early 1800's, even though it was in Spanish Florida. They killed over 270 people with one shot
to the powder magazine, and a cemetery there contains their mass graves. We had run out of propane, so were lucky to
have car access there to re-supply both.
Martha's husband George joined us for the last 2 days of the trip. The staff cooked burgers over a wood fire
in the campfire ring, and that made a nice change. It was a lovely day, we had some spare
time, and lots of people napped in the sun or did brocades. We had 2 guest speakers, the caretaker for
the fort, Dave Burkey, and the director of the
Apalachicola Estuarine Research Reserve, Seth Blitch,
who motored up in his boat to join us.
The day continued to be lovely and we arrived at our planned sand bar
campsite at MM14 well before sundown.
Harry got me back for dumping him in the Cahaba all those years ago by
dumping me in the Apalachicola as we pulled ashore! We enjoyed smoked fish, green beans, and
mashed potatoes for dinner, served by the staff around the campfire, with
talks by Todd Engstrom about woodpeckers and George
Watkins about how he makes Tupelo Honey.
Turns out George is the Fire Chief for the Apalach
VFD, and only has about 12 active members.
I would have expected them to have a paid department. For the last 3 days Terry, one of the
BWAGs, had been borrowing Percogesic from me
because of back pain, and had even ridden in a Mako
this day. Patti and Julie, a nurse,
took over her medical care, giving her a real muscle relaxer and
anti-inflammatory, and she was much better Friday, but still not able to
paddle. Terry had even traded me a
chocolate energy bar for some pills, just as a joke. She got the bar from
Sam, who paddled with her a couple of days when her back started
hurting. I was finally able to show
the group the ISS and the Hubble that night, as we had clear skies and an open
view. I had my last shower of the trip,
again having to use dish soap. Fri - The water heater wouldn't
work this morning, nor for the rest of the trip, so washed cups with cold
water. Lucky I got that shower. Last day, with few miles, so got going
late, 11:15. George tried to find a
side slough for us, but it was closed off by drifted trees, so had to stay in
the main river until we turned into the St. Marks River. We paddled down it for several miles,
having made our lunch sandwiches before we left camp. We did see another alligator and a few more
birds, and lots of houseboats. Finally
we cut thru a tidal creek channel for about 3/4 mile, fighting the
current/tide the entire distance, reaching the Apalachicola about 2 miles
above the town. George kept us all
close together on the east bank because of all the other boats on the
river. It was pretty windy, with large
waves, but Harry and I engaged Carl in a three minute race behind a Mako, and did very well at keeping together, but Carl
still beat us. Harry paddled stern today
and hardly ever had to tell me to stop steering. We all paddled together to the west shore
and then out under the bridge, MM0, then back up to the museum, accompanied
by cheers and boat horns from spectators.
Must have been quite a sight.
Mass confusion at the museum, as everybody had their own ideas about
getting away. George had the staff
take the 2 Makos up to a boat ramp and tailored
back to the museum, so we had to await their return to get our gear. Helped several paddlers load their boats on
their cars or the trailer for the shuttle back to Chattahoochee. Some of us also helped unload gear from the
johnboat and the Starfish. Harry and I
gave checks to Patti for staff tips and some Tupelo honey. Got to say goodbye and thank you to Neva, Iris,
Jeremy, Jimmy, Sam, and George. Also
goodbye to some of our fellow paddlers.
Harry had offered to Carl to spend the night at the beach house, but
he wanted to get on the road. I helped
shuttle 4 of the BWAGs and Patti to her house, where they were spending the
night, then Harry and I got on the road.
Dinner at 2 Al's, where we told Little Al all about the trip. Back at the beach house for a very cold
night, even getting my heater out of the car rather than use3 blankets. Headed home the next morning after
winterizing the house. What an amazing journey! .¸¸.·´¯><((((º>.¸¸.·´¯`·.¸¸><((((º>
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CHATTAHOOCHEE TO APALACHICOLA BOAT EXCURSION 2009 BY GARY R. CRUMLEY 10-30-2009 TO
11-7-2009 INTRODUCTION
: UPON MEETING PATTY CHASTAIN IN APALACHICOLA A COUPLE OF MONTHS AGO AT A
PROGRAM MANAGER’S MEETING FOR THE FLORIDA WATERFRONTS PARTNERSHIP I FOUND AN
OPPORTUNITY TO ASSIST A FRIEND OF HERS. SHE INTRODUCED ME TO MR. GEORGE K.
FLOYD, WHO WAS KIND ENOUGH TO INVITE ME TO STAY AT HIS PLACE IN ST. GEORGE
ISLAND WHILE ATTENDING THE MEETING. HE ASKED IF I COULD HELP CREATE SOME
DESIGNS FOR THE APALACHICOLA MARITIME MUSEUM AND I STAYED ON FOR A COUPLE OF
DAYS WHILE DEVELOPING A SHELTER FOR HIS NEW DOCK. I WAS INVITED TO RETURN AS
HIS GUEST TO SEE THE APALACHICOLA RIVER ON A BOAT EXCURSION FROM CHATTAHOOCHEE
TO APALACHICOLA; THIS IS MY STORY. OCTOBER 31ST - DAY ONE I MADE MY DEPARTURE FROM THE BOAT RAMP AT CHATTAHOOCHEE
LANDING SATURDAY MORNING AFTER ARRIVING LATE FRIDAY NIGHT FROM MAYPORT. OUR
HOST GAVE US A WARM WELCOME AND DESCRIBED THE UPCOMING DAY’S EVENTS WHILE
CAUTIONING US ON SAFETY ON THE WATER. OUR EXCURSION DEPARTS (UNDER HUMID
CLOUDY SKIES AROUND 78 DEGREES) AT 12:30 IN THE AFTERNOON. HOMER HIRT (A
RETIRED NAVAL OFFICER) GAVE US A BRIEF STORY ON THE LOCAL HISTORY OF THE
COMMUNITY. HOMER HIRT IS A MAN WITH A
LIFE’S PASSION; THE RIVER STEAMBOAT. BORN IN THE PANHANDLE BACK IN “29, HE
GREW UP ON THE RIVER. HIS HOME TODAY IS STILL CLOSE BY THE RIVER IN
CHATTAHOOCHEE. HE GLADLY TELLS FOLKS THAT COME TO VISIT ALL ABOUT THE OLD
DAYS WHEN THE STEAM BOAT WAS AN ESSENTIAL PART OF THE RIVER; PROVIDING TRANSPORT
OF PEOPLE AND SUPPLIES UP AND DOWN THE APALACHICOLA RIVER. A HISTORIAN ON THE
SUBJECT, HE DESCRIBED HIS FRIENDSHIP WITH THE RIVER AND THE LAST FIRST CLASS
STEAMBOAT CAPTAIN ON IT; CAPTAIN TOM CORLEY. FROM THE OUTSET AS A CABIN BOY WHO LEFT HIS FARM AS A YOUNG
BOY TO BECOMING A “UNLIMITED” CAPTAIN WHO COULD TAKE THE HELM OF ANY VESSEL
AT SEA. HE WAS THE BUILDER OF THE LAST COMMERCIAL STERNWHEELER ON THE RIVER AND ACCOMPLISHED THE TASK AT THE AGE
OF EIGHTY YEARS OLD. CAPTAIN CORLEY BUILT HIS BOAT THAT REMAINS TODAY IN
COLUMBUS GEORGIA A REMINDER OF A RICH PAST AND PROUD HERITAGE. HE SPENT A
LIFETIME AS A MARINE SURVEYOR ALONG THE APALACHICOLA/FLINT RIVERS AND THE
MISSISSIPPI RIVER. HE WAS A STRONG COUNCIL AND ADVOCATE FOR THE RIVER; AND
ITS NAVIGATION ON IT. HOMER HIRT WATCHED HIS FRIEND PASS AWAY IN 2003 AND
CONTINUES TO TELL HIS STORY TODAY. AFTER BREAKFAST WAS SERVED (SCRAMBLED
EGGS, BACON, SAUSAGE, TOAST, COFFEE AND JUICE) THE CREW PACKED THE KAYAKS AND
CANOES ONTO THE TRAILERS AND TOWED THEM DOWN TO THE RAMP WITH ALL OUR GEAR
AND SUPPLIES. AS WE WALKED DOWN THE HARD CLAY ROAD, WE MADE OUR WAY DOWN THE
TRAIL TO THE BOAT RAMP ASSISTED BY MYCOLOGIST AND MUSICIAN DALE GRIDER [WHO
SANG WOODY GUTHRIE SONGS WHILE WE ATE].
HE GAVE US A LECTURE ON THE VARIOUS EDIBLE MUSHROOMS FOUND IN THE NEARBY
FOREST; PICKING UP PIECES OF WOOD COVERED IN THE FUNGI. WE TASTED OYSTER,
SHATAKI AND GOLDEN HONEY MUSHROOMS; AND TOOK SOME TURKEY TAILS TO BOIL LATER ON THAT ARE USED TO CURE THE
AILMENTS OF MANKIND; INCLUDING THE AIDS VIRUS. ALTHOUGH HE COULDN’T MAKE THIS
TRIP, HE HAS BEEN ON PREVIOUS TRIPS AND HAS ADDED HIS MELODIOUS VOICE AND
SONGS TO THE SOUNDTRACK OF THE CD “APALACHICOLA-DOIN’ TIME”; AVAILABLE FOR
SALE AT THE APALACHICOLA MARITIME MUSEUM.
THE RIVER WAS WARM AND THERE WERE A COUPLE OF GUYS TOSSING LURES IN THE WATERS THERE BY THE BRIDGE. A FLOOD FROM UPSTREAM FROM
LAKE SEMINOLE HAD RAISED THE WATERS TO A SEASONAL HIGH MARK. WE PACKED OUR
GEAR INTO TWO 16' MAKO POWER BOATS WITH 90HP OUTBOARDS. THE DRY BAGS AND GEAR
STOWED IN TRASH BAGS FILLED THE BOATS. ALL IN ALL THERE WERE 15 CANOES AND
KAYAKS; THE TWO SUPPORT VESSELS, A 16' JOHN BOAT FOR CARRYING CHAIRS, A FIRE
PIT, VARIOUS EQUIPMENT AND SOME 2X4S, A 35' POWER CATAMARAN “THE STARFISH”
THAT PROVIDED US WITH FOOD STORAGE, SUPPLIES, A GALLEY, A HEAD AND OUTDOOR
SHOWER. GEORGE, OUR LEADER, ROWED DOWN THE RIVER IN AN OARED LONG BOAT. AS WE
DEPARTED, WE PRACTICED OUR ROWING SKILLS IN THE WARM SHALLOW WATERS CLOSE TO
SHORE. MY PENOBSCOT 17' TWO MAN CANOE WAS ALL I COULD HANDLE. WE PUT A SIXTY
POUND CHUNK OF STONE IN THE BOW TO BALANCE THE FRONT OF THE CANOE. I LASHED A
SMALL AMERICAN FLAG TO THE BOW, THREW IN MY COOLER AND A COUPLE FISHING
POLES. FASTENING MY PERSONAL FLOTATION DEVICE (PFD) SNUGLY TO MY CHEST. I AWKWARDLY KNEELED IN THE CANOE AND ATTEMPTED
TO PADDLE ON MY KNEES. I THEN SAT LOW IN BACK OF THE CANOE AND PADDLED WITH A
SINGLE OAR. A SHORT DISTANCE
DOWNSTREAM AT 1PM WE STOPPED TO HAVE CHICKEN SALAD SANDWICHES WITH APPLES,
GRAPES, TACO CHIPS AND SALSA. SOME HALLOWEEN CANDY FOR DESSERT AND AWAY WE
WENT DOWN THE RIVER. A COOL FRONT MOVED IN AS WE MADE OUR WAY DOWN THE
WINDING RIVER, DRIZZLING A GENTLE SPRINKLE ON OUR PARTY OF INTREPID
EXPLORERS. SOME HAD NEVER BEEN TO FLORIDA, COMING AS FAR AS MONTANA. OTHERS
WERE LOCALS FROM NEARBY ALABAMA, GEORGIA, AND FLORIDA CITIES SUCH AS HOMASASSA,
TALLAHASSEE AND APALACHICOLA . ONE OF THE FOLKS FROM TALLAHASSEE TURNED OUT
TO BE JIM ZIMMERMAN; A GUY I PLAYED RUGBY WITH BACK IN THE EIGHTIES. [WHAT A
SMALL WORLD WE LIVE IN] ALONG WITH HIS WIFE JULIE. WE ALL COVERED SEVERAL
MILES AS A PACK BEFORE SOME OF US BEGAN TO TIRE. I BECAME BETTER AT PADDLING THE CANOE AS I PICKED UP SPEED
USING A DOUBLE PADDLE LIKE THE KAYAKERS WERE USING; THE SUGAR RUSH OF MY TOOTSIE
ROLLS KICKING IN AND I SOON CAUGHT UP WITH GEORGE’S LONG BOAT. I KEPT UP A QUICK PACE FOR ANOTHER MILE OR SO UNTIL I
WAS ABLE TO REST A LITTLE AND DRIFT ALONG ON THE GENTLE CURRENT. I PADDLED SLOWLY TOWARD OUR NEARBY
DESTINATION; A SAND BAR JUST SOUTH OF BLUE SPRING RUN. THE NORTH WINDS BEGAN
TO CHILL MY WET BODY AND UPON REACHING SHORE, I STARTED TO SHIVER. MY TEETH
BEGAN TO CHATTER AND MY LIPS TURNED WHITE AS HYPOTHERMIA SET IN. JIM’S WIFE
JULIE AND PATTY SAT ME DOWN, GOT ME OUT OF MY WET CLOTHES AND WRAPPED ME IN A
WARM SLEEPING BAG, GOT ME SOME HOT TOWELS AND MADE ME SOME HOT COCOA TO
DRINK. MY SHOULDERS AND NECK WERE
STIFF AS A BOARD AND HURT LIKE HECK. THEY PUT A HEAT PACK ON MY SHOULDERS AND
I WAS EVENTUALLY NURSED BACK TO HEALTH. A SPRAINED SHOULDER ENDED MY DAY WITH
THE KNOWLEDGE I WOULD NOT BE PADDLING ANY TIME SOON. WE PITCHED CAMP, BUILT A BIG FIRE TO WARM OURSELVES WITH AND
SANG SONGS AFTER ENJOYING A HEARTY MEAL OF SMOKED TURKEY WITH GRAVY, YELLOW
RICE AND COLLARD GREENS. BEING IT WAS HALLOWEEN NIGHT WE STARTED A SPOOKY
STORY CIRCLE WITH EACH OF US ADDING ANOTHER LINE TO THE STORY AS WE WENT
HILARIOUSLY AROUND THE CAMP FIRE. NEVA, OUR COORDINATOR FOR OUR EXCURSION,
HANDED ME GEORGE’S SONY HANDI-CAM TO VIDEO TAPE THE EVENING. WHILE GEORGE
TOLD STORIES OF HIS BELOVED APALACHICOLA WE WATCHED THE FIRE AND LAUGHED AS
HIS BLUE MACAW “ZEPHYR” PEAKED FROM UNDER GEORGE’S HOODED SWEATSHIRT TO MIMIC
GEORGE SPEAKING . AS THE FIRE STARTED TO DIE UNDER THE DRIZZLING RAIN WE WENT WEARILY OFF TO SLEEP.
THE NEXT SEVERAL HOURS I TOSSED AND TURNED WITH GREAT DISCOMFORT FROM THE OVER EXERTION ON MY BODY. I EVENTUALLY DRIFTED INTO A
RESTLESS SLEEP, SNORING LOUDLY ENOUGH TO WAKE THE FOLKS IN THE TENTS ON
EITHER SIDE OF ME. AT TWO IN THE MORNING UNDER A BRILLIANT MOON AND A CLEAR
SKY I WANDERED OVER TO THE “STARFISH” (OUR MOTHER SHIP) TO TURN OFF THE
CLASSICAL MUSIC LEFT PLAYING SOFTLY ON THE STEREO THEN SLIPPED BACK INTO MY
TENT TO AWAIT THE BREAKING OF THE DAWN. NOVEMBER 1ST - DAY TWO WE AWOKE TO COUNTRY MUSIC COMING FROM THE STARFISH, COFFEE WAFTING
IN THE AIR. AS WE FOUND OURSELVES SOAKED BY THE DEW COVERING OUR TENTS WE
STOOD PATIENTLY IN LINE FOR BREAKFAST.
IRIS, OUR LOVELY YOUNG LADY FROM BUFORD GEORGIA WAS IN THE GALLEY AND
OFFERED A CHEERFUL GOOD MORNING TO ALL AS SHE SERVED UP SUNDAY MORNING FEAST
OF YOGURT, BAGELS, MUFFINS AND JUICES TO START OUR DAY. AS THE MORNING SUN
BEGAN TO DRY OUR TENTS AND WARM OUR CHILLED BODIES, THE TWO 16' MAKOS
SHUTTLED OUR PARTY UP RIVER TO TAKE A NATURE HIKE IN THE TORREYA STATE PARK’S
LOWER BASIN. THE UPLAND BUFFER HAMMOCK WAS FULL OF WONDROUS FERNS, ORCHIDS,
WILD FLOWERS AND ANCIENT TREES THAT COVERED THE FOREST FLOOR AND UP STEEP RAVINES
WITH OUTCROPPINGS OF LIMESTONE SPRINGS TRICKLING DOWN THE SLOPES, CUTTING
INTO THE FACES OF THE BLUFFS. PARK VOLUNTEERS BILL AND PAM ANDERSON TOOK US
THROUGH THE FOREST AND TOLD US OF THE MANY PLANTS FOUND THERE; THIS FOREST
BEING ONE OF THE TOP FIVE IN BIODIVERSITY AROUND THE COUNTRY. THERE IN THE FOREST, I REACQUAINTED MYSELF
WITH NATIVE SPECIES OF HOLLIES, MAGNOLIAS, AZALEAS AND FERNS THAT I HAD STUDIED
TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO AS A STUDENT IN LANDSCAPE ARCHITECTURE AT THE
UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA. IT WAS AS IF I HAD TAKEN A JOURNEY BACK IN TIME. I
FASHIONED A WALKING STICK FROM A FALLEN LIMB AS WE MEANDERED THE FOREST SLOPES
AND CROSSED MINIATURE WATERWAYS CUTTING THEIR WAY THROUGH THE LEAF COVERED
GROUND OF WHITE CLAY AND RIVER GRAVEL.
UPON OUR RETURN AT NOON WE REPLENISHED OURSELVES WITH A LUNCH CONSISTING
OF A BAR B QUE SANDWICH WITH POTATO SALAD, FRESH VEGETABLES AND SPINACH DIP.
THE SUN HAD WARMED THE SAND BAR AND OUR TENTS WERE FINALLY DRIED. THE RIVER HAD FALLEN ABOUT A
FOOT OVERNIGHT, LEAVING THE STARFISH GROUNDED ON THE BEACH. WE BROKE CAMP AND
HEADED SOUTH DOWN THE RIVER AFTER PUSHING THE STARFISH OFF THE SAND BAR. CAPTAIN JEREMY GUIDED THE BOAT DOWN PAST
LITTLE SWEETWATER CREEK TO OUR PRIMITIVE CAMPGROUND AT ALUM BLUFF IN THE NATURE
CONSERVANCIES’ APALACHICOLA BLUFFS AND RAVINES PRESERVE. AS THE SUN SET WE PITCHED OUR TENTS UNDER A
CANOPY OF TREES AMID SPARSELY COVERED GROUND AND BUILT A FIRE FROM THE DEAD
WOOD SCATTERED ABOUT. THE STARFISH ANCHORED OFF A STEEP BLUFF AND SERVED UP
THE EVENING’S FAIR; BEEF AND VEGETABLE STEW AND GARLIC BREAD. I VOLUNTEERED
TO HELP WITH MAKING THE DESSERT; A SARA-LEE POUND CAKE DRIZZLED IN FRUIT PIE
FILLINGS OF BLUEBERRY AND STRAWBERRY WITH A HINT OF MERLOT, HEATED IN THE
MICROWAVE FOR THIRTY SECONDS; IT WAS DELICIOUS! SAM, A NEW MEMBER OF THE CREW, PLAYED
GUITAR BY THE FIRELIGHT TO THE DELIGHT OF EVERYONE; WHILE SEVERAL OF THE
LADIES PRESENT FLIRTED WITH HIM AND HIS CURLY LOCKS AND YOUTHFUL LEBANESE
GOOD LOOKS. THE MOON SHOWN BRIGHTLY THROUGH THE TREES AS WE DRIFTED ONE BY ONE
OFF TO SLEEP. I WENT TO MY TENT TO WRITE THE DOINGS OF THE DAY. NOVEMBER 2ND - DAY THREE GEORGE WAS ANXIOUS TO GET THINGS UNDERWAY EARLY AS WE HAD A
BUSY DAY AHEAD OF US. HOT OATMEAL WITH RAISINS, CINNAMON, MAPLE SYRUP AND
SAUSAGES GOT OUR BELLIES FILLED AND HELPED GET THE DAY GOING. OUR GROUP LANDED BY MID MORNING AT NEAL LANDING; WHERE TOUR GUIDES
PICKED US UP IN TWO SHUTTLE VANS AND TOOK US TO VISIT BLOUNTSTOWN AND THE
PANHANDLE PIONEER SETTLEMENT AT SAM ATKINS PARK. SETTLEMENT DIRECTOR MARTI VICKERY GREETED US INSIDE THE
OLD FRINK GYMNASIUM TO TELL US A LITTLE ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE PARK. THEN WE SPLIT INTO TWO GROUPS TO WALK THE
GROUNDS. MY VOLUNTEER GUIDE, LAWANA MCDONALD, GREW UP IN THE AREA AND REGALED
US WITH INTERESTING TIDBITS ABOUT HER LIFE GROWING UP IN THE RURAL COMMUNITY.
WE TOURED LOG CABINS BUILT IN THE 1820'S, ONE HUNDRED AND FIFTY YEAR OLD
CABINS, AN OLD TWO ROOM SCHOOL HOUSE, A SMOKE HOUSE, A GRAVEYARD, SOME TURKEY
AND HOG PENS, FRUIT GROVES COVERED WITH FIGS, PERSIMMONS, LOQUATS AND ORANGE
TREES READY TO EAT, HERB AND FLOWER GARDENS, A ONE CELL JAIL HOUSE CALLED THE
ALTHA CALABOOSE AND FINALLY THE OLD CLARKSVILLE GENERAL STORE AND POST OFFICE
WITH SOUVENIRS AND CANDY FOR SALE TO THE VISITORS. SADLY AS WE LEFT, A TRAILER BURNED AS FIRE TRUCKS HURRIED TO
THE SCENE. OUR VAN DRIVER TOLD US AN OLD MAN THERE HAD LOST HIS WIFE; SHE HAD
COMMITTED SUICIDE THE MONTH BEFORE. IT WAS AN ALL TOO GRIM REMINDER OF THE DIFFICULT TIMES WE ARE ALL FACING DURING THIS RECESSION.
WE THANKED OUR GUIDES AND HURRIED TO GET BACK UNDERWAY. IRIS GRILLED UP SOME HOTDOGS WITH ALL THE
FIXINGS. THEY WERE HANDED OFF THE BOAT TO THE PADDLERS ONE BY ONE AS THE GROUP PADDLED
DOWN THE QUICKLY MOVING CURRENT OF THE RIVER. WE WOUND OUR WAY THROUGH
SEVERAL BENDS AND THEN SLOWED TO PICK UP SOME SPECIAL GUESTS. OUR FIRST GUEST
WAS KEN WIMMER OF THE FLORIDA NATIONAL SCENIC TRAILS PROGRAM WHO EXPLAINED
THE PROGRAM AND ITS CURRENT ISSUES AND AGENDA TO CONNECT TRAILS AND ACQUIRE
LAND ON THE PROGRAM’S BEHALF AS THEY EXPAND THEIR TRAIL THROUGHOUT FLORIDA. HE
EXPLAINED HOW OUR TRAILS IN FLORIDA HAVE SOME PLACES THAT HAVE BEEN HELD BY DEVELOPERS
WHO ARE RELUCTANT TO LIMIT THEIR OPTIONS BY PROVIDING TRAIL ACCESS THROUGH
THEIR LANDS, SUCH AS THE ST. JOE COMPANY.
NEGOTIATIONS ARE BASED ON MILLIONS OF DOLLARS REQUIRED TO GAIN THE LANDS
NEEDED YET FUNDS REMAIN ELUSIVE TO THEIR CAUSE AS A RESULT OF THE ECONOMY.
STATE FUNDING FROM THE FLORIDA FOREVER PROGRAM HAS COME TO A HALT. ONE OF THE
UNIQUE ASPECTS TO THIS TRIP WAS THAT THE LECTURE WAS ONBOARD THE STARFISH;
WITH MR. WIMMER ARRIVING AND DEPARTING BY BOAT. OUR OTHER GUESTS WERE FROM FSU; MR. STEVE
LEITMAN AND HIS LADY COMPANION RANDY. THEY PADDLED THE RIVER WITH US FOR THE DAY
AND THEN HELD A SYMPOSIUM ON THE APALACHICOLA RIVER. WE DISCUSSED THE DILEMMAS
OF THE RIVER CREATED BY AN EVER INCREASING WATER DEMAND FROM THE HEAD WATERS IN
ATLANTA AT LAKE LANIER. TOPICAL DISCUSSIONS ENSUED AFTER STEVE PRESENTED THE
ISSUES AT HAND AND RANDY OFFERED HER INSIGHTS TO THE ISSUES. INCREASING WATER
DEMANDS COMBINED WITH DROUGHT CONDITIONS HAVE CREATED SERIOUS WATERING
RESTRICTIONS IN THE ATLANTA AREA. THE WATER WAR THAT HAS ENSUED WILL
ULTIMATELY HAVE TO BE DECIDED BY THE SUPREME COURT. THE RIVER’S WATER FLOW RATES
ARE AMONG THE TOP FIVE IN THE COUNTRY YET THE RIVER FAILS TO REACH LEVELS
HIGH ENOUGH TO RECHARGE THE ESTUARIES AND SWAMPS. LEGISLATIVE EFFORTS WILL BE NEEDED IN
COLLABORATION WITH FEDERAL AGENCIES LIKE THE ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS TO
BALANCE NAVIGATIONAL CONSIDERATIONS WITH ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION OF THE
WATER RESOURCES SO HEAVILY IN DEMAND. WITHOUT WATER TO FLUSH THE SWAMPS; SERIOUS
ECOLOGICAL RAMIFICATIONS WILL HAVE DIRE EFFECTS THAT WILL LAST FOREVER IF ACTION IS NOT TAKEN NOW. THE ESTIFFANULGA BOAT RAMP AND COUNTY PARK
OFFERED A MUCH WELCOMED RESPITE FROM OUR TINY HEAD ONBOARD THE STARFISH AS
THEIR FACILITIES INCLUDED RESTROOMS AND A PICNIC SHELTER WITH A PLAYGROUND.
IT WAS RATHER HUMOROUS TO FIND THE AUTOMATIC LIGHTS TURNED THEMSELVES OFF A LITTLE TOO SOON FOR THE LADIES IN THE
LADIES ROOM. IRIS WHIPPED UP A BOWL OF HOT GUMBO FOR EVERYONE. WE SANG A FEW
SONGS WITH JIMMY AND SAM PLAYING DUELING GUITARS WHILE I SANG ALONG IN THREE
PART HARMONY BEFORE WE SNUGGLED IN FOR THE NIGHT. NOVEMBER 3RD - DAY FOUR WE STARTED THE MORNING WITH A FIRE TO WARM US AFTER A CHILLY
NIGHT BENEATH THE STARS, OUR TENTS COVERED IN DEW. AS WE WAITED FOR THE WARMTH
OF THE SUN TO DRY OUR GEAR AND REVIVE OUR SPIRITS, IRIS SERVED UP SOME
SCRAMBLED EGGS AND BACON WITH JUICE AND COFFEE. WE LOADED UP OUR GEAR AFTER
ONE OF GEORGE’S CHILDHOOD FRIENDS, ROE SWEENEY, BROUGHT A COUPLE OF LATE
ARRIVALS FROM THE BOSEMAN, MONTANA GANG AND SOME SUPPLIES FOR THE NEXT LEG OF
OUR TRIP. WE LOADED UP OUR GEAR ONTO THE BOATS AND HEADED OUT INTO THE
BRIGHT, COLD SUN. MY SHOULDER WAS STILL TOO SORE TO SLEEP ON EVEN WITH MY
PAIN RELIEVERS SO PADDLING WAS NOT AN OPTION. I VOLUNTEERED TO HELP THE CREW
ONBOARD THE STARFISH AND STARTED THE DAY CLEANING THE BOAT DECK AND WASHING
THE BREAKFAST DISHES. WHEN LUNCH TIME CAME ALONG I HELPED IRIS MAKE THE
NOODLES FOR A COLD TUNA SALAD WE STIRRED UP IN A BIG BOWL WITH OLIVE OIL,
SEASONINGS AND FETA CHEESE. WE THEN WRAPPED FOIL OVER THE PLATES AND SENT
THEM OVER TO THE FOLKS WAITING IN THEIR CANOES AND KAYAKS IN A BAYOU BY THE
SHORE. I GATHERED UP THE DIRTY DISHES
AND SPENT THE REMAINDER OF THE DAY CLEANING THE GALLEY WHILE IRIS GOT SOME
WELL DESERVED TIME OFF TO PADDLE A KAYAK DOWN THE RIVER FOR THE AFTERNOON. JUST BEFORE DARK WE FOUND A SPOT UNDER THE
TREES TO STRIKE CAMP AT IOLA LANDING. MUCH TO OUR SURPRISE, A PRIVATE HUNTING
CLUB HAD LEFT ENTRAILS ON THE BOAT RAMP AND THERE WERE TWO DEER CARCASSES FLOATING
BY THE LANDING TO GREET US. PHEW! JIM ZIMMERMAN WENT SWIMMING IN THE RIVER
AND GOT THE WORST OF IT. HE MADE IMMEDIATELY FOR THE SHOWER ON BOARD THE STARFISH AS THE REMAINDER OF THE BOSEMAN
CONTINGENT REMAINED ON DRY LAND. THE
NEAL LAND AND TIMBER COMPANY HOLDS OWNERSHIP OF ABOUT 76 MILES OF RIVER FRONT
ALONG THE APALACHICOLA RIVER. MR. PHIL MACMILLAN, LANDS AND TIMBER MANAGER
FOR THE COMPANY, CAME DOWN TO THE LANDING TO SPEAK AT THE CAMP FIRE CIRCLE
THAT EVENING; AS LEE AND IRIS COOKED UP SOME STEAKS WITH MASHED POTATOES AND
A GREAT BIG SALAD WITH FRESH FRUITS AND WALNUTS FOR DINNER. WE LISTENED WHILE
PHIL TOLD US A LITTLE ABOUT THE HISTORY OF THE LAND THERE AND HOW THEIR COMPANY
CAME DOWN BACK IN 1918 TO PURCHASE THE LAND FOR THE HARDWOOD TIMBER THERE;
PRIMARILY FOR THE SWEET GUM TREES. HE EXPLAINED THAT WHEN THE VENEER MACHINES CUT THE GUMS, THEY HAD
A WAY OF CUTTING THEM LIKE UNROLLING A ROLL OF PAPER THAT MADE THE GUM TREES
ESPECIALLY DESIRABLE DUE TO THE SEAMLESS QUALITY OF VENEER THEY PROVIDED.
THEIR PRIMARY USE FOR THE VENEER WAS IN THE MANUFACTURE OF WIRE CITRUS BOXES
USED FOR SHIPPING AROUND THE WORLD. THEY CONTINUE TO VENEER THE HARDWOODS TO
THIS DAY. THE PAPER MILLS ARE ALSO A BIG USER OF TIMBER, WITH ABOUT THIRTY
PERCENT OF THE TIMBER LAND’S HARVEST DEVOTED TO PULP WOOD PRODUCTION. THERE
ARE AROUND TWENTY FIVE SPECIES OF WOOD GROWING IN ANY PARTICULAR AREA AFTER A CUTTING OCCURS. PATCH CUTTING OF LAND
IS PREFERRED TO TOTAL CLEAR CUTTING. RIVER FRONT BUFFERS REMAIN UNCUT FOR
AESTHETIC REASONS, ALTHOUGH OPINIONS DIFFER ON THE PRACTICE OF ALLOWING THE OLDEST TREES TO DIE AND FALL INTO THE RIVER UNHARVESTED.
SOME SAY THE PRACTICE CREATES EROSION OF THE RIVER BANK UNNECESSARILY; OTHERS
SAY IT’S THE WAY NATURE INTENDED AND PROVIDES NATURAL HABITAT FOR GOD’S
CREATURES. AS THE PATCH CUT TIMBERLANDS BEGIN TO REGROW, THE NATURAL
PROGRESSION OF THINGS SELECTIVELY CHOKES OUT THE WEAKER SPECIES UNTIL THERE
ARE ABOUT FIVE DOMINANT SPECIES THAT TAKE OVER THE TIMBER LANDS; SWEET GUM, WATER
OAK, CYPRESS, HICKORY AND PINE. PHIL WENT ON TO EXPLAIN THAT MANAGEMENT
CONTINUES TO BATTLE INVASIVE SPECIES SUCH AS TI-TI TREE AND JAPANESE CREEPING
FERN THAT HINDER GROWTH OF THE DESIRABLE SPECIES OF TREES BY RAMPANTLY
COVERING OVER THE GROUND. AFTER DINNER
AND THE LECTURE, WE SAT AROUND THE CAMP FIRE UNTIL ONE BY ONE WE DRIFTED OFF
TO OUR TENTS TO RECOVER FROM A STRENUOUS DAY OF PADDLING. SAM CONTINUED TO
ENTERTAIN US WITH HIS GUITAR AS THE NIGHT GREW LONGER, AND AS THE NIGHT FADED
AWAY UNDER A FULL MOON, SO DID WE. ABOUT TWO IN THE MORNING WE WERE INVADED
BY MUD BOGGERS IN GIANT TRUCKS WHO RUMBLED AROUND IN THE BOGS NEARBY AND THEN
DISAPPEARED AS QUICKLY AS THEY CAME. THE FULL MOON SHOWN BRIGHTLY THROUGH THE
TREES. SOME OF THE CAMPERS, INCLUDING MYSELF, SLEPT THROUGH THE ENTIRE EVENT. NOVEMBER 4TH - DAY FIVE HOT CAKES AND SAUSAGES GREETED US WITH HOT COFFEE AND COCOA. I
GOT TO HELP SERVE THE HOT CAKES, BRUSHING THEM WITH MELTED BUTTER AS I STACKED
THEM IN THE WARMING PAN. AS THE HUNGRY GANG CAME ABOARD, I DUSTED THE HOT
CAKES IN POWDERED SUGAR AND DABBED A TABLESPOON OF BLUEBERRY PIE FILLING ON
TOP. A DRIZZLING OF MAPLE SYRUP ON TOP AND WE WERE GOOD TO GO! AFTER EVERYONE
GOT THEIR FILL I PUT THE FEW LEFTOVERS IN A ZIP LOCK BAGGIE IN CASE OF A LATE
NIGHT HUNGER ATTACK. WE LEFT THE IOLA LANDING BETTER THAN WE FOUND IT BY
SWEEPING THE ENTIRE AREA FOR BOTTLES, CANS AND TRASH; FILLING ALMOST A DOZEN
BAGS WITH TRASH LEFT BEHIND BY THOSE WHO FAILED TO REMEMBER TO RESPECT MOTHER
NATURE. OUR PARTY MOVED DOWN THE RIVER
TO GASKIN PARK AND LANDING WHERE I HELPED THE STARFISH TAKE ON SOME FRESH
WATER BEFORE MEETING OUR NEXT GUEST SPEAKER; MARILYN BLACKWELL. A CLOSE
SECOND TO MOTHER NATURE HERSELF; A RIVER KEEPER AND ACTIVIST, SHE HAS HAD A
PROFOUND EFFECT IN TAKING ON THE US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS AND THEIR FAILED ATTEMPTS
TO RESTORE THE APALACHICOLA RIVER THROUGH DREDGING AND FILLING. SHE EXPLAINED
THE FLOOD PLAINS’ AND ESTUARIES’ IMPORTANCE IN KEEPING NATURE’S BALANCE AND
CRITICIZED THE CORPS EFFORTS. SHE HAS
WRITTEN POETICALLY ABOUT THE RIVER. AS
I STOOD ON THE BOAT RAMP CONTEMPLATING THE OVER ALL BEAUTY OF THE MOMENT, A
FOUR DOOR ‘57 CHEVY COUPE PULLED UP NEXT TO ME. I MENTIONED TO THE OWNER, A FELLA NAMED
JOHN, THAT I HAD ONE OF THESE FINE CARS BACK IN ‘77 AND WE SWAPPED STORIES
ABOUT OUR CARS AND OUR WORK. JOHN HAS A FEW HORSES AND A RANCH OR TWO. NOW
RETIRED, HIS SONS TAKE CARE OF THE DAY TO DAY BUSINESS WHILE HE RELAXES AND ENJOYS
THE SUNSET YEARS OF HIS LIFE. WE ENJOYED THE VIEW OF THE RIVER TOGETHER AND
FELT THE WARMTH OF THE DAY. I
EXPLAINED WHAT THIS TRIP WAS ABOUT AND THE CORE OF OUR MISSION AS WE EXPLORED
AND DISCOVERED THE WONDERS OF THE RIVER. I BID HIM A FAREWELL AS I WAS NEEDED
ABOARD THE STARFISH, BUT GRATEFUL TO SHARE THE MOMENT. MARILYN CAME ABOARD
FOR THE RIDE DOWN THE RIVER. WE WENT TO VISIT HER DAUGHTER MONICA AT HER
HOUSE BOAT DOWN AROUND KENNEDY CREEK, JUST SOUTH OF BATTLE BEND ON THE RIVER.
WE WERE JOINED BY MIKE AND LINDA ABOARD A 48 FOOT SAILBOAT CALLED THE SOPHIA;
RIGHT NEAR SAND MOUNTAIN AT MILE MARKER 36. WE MEANDERED DOWN THE LAZY RIVER TOGETHER
AS THE SUN WARMED UP AND MADE FOR A VERY PLEASANT AFTERNOON. IRIS WAS
ESPECIALLY CHEERFUL AT THE KNOWLEDGE THAT MONICA WAS GOING TO SERVE LUNCH AY
HER HOUSEBOAT. WE DINED ON FRIED CATFISH, CHEESE GRITS, HUSH PUPPIES AND DILL
PICKLES FOLLOWED BY A THICK SLICE OF FRESH MADE POUND CAKE. AS I BOARDED THE BOAT
WITH THE LAST PIECE OF CAKE, ZEPHYR PRACTICALLY SNATCHED IT FROM MY HAND. I
HAD TO CUT THE BIG BIRD A SLICE; PERCHED WITH ONE CLAW ON THE RAIL, THE OTHER
AROUND THE CAKE, HE DEVOURED IT. CAPTAIN JEREMY AND I GRABBED A PIECE OF
TURKEY FROM THE FREEZER AND BAITED OUR HOOKS IN HOPE OF GETTING A BITE WHILE
WAITING FOR OUR CUE TO CAST OFF. JEREMY FISHED THE CURRENT IN DEEPER WATERS
WITH NO SUCCESS. I FISHED CLOSER TO SHORE OUT OF THE CURRENT AND STARTED GETTING
A FEW NIBBLES, THEN A BIG TUG AND BAM, MY BAIT WAS GONE! GEORGE ORDERED US TO
CAST OFF BEFORE I COULD TAKE ANOTHER SHOT AT IT, BUT IT WAS COOL TO AT LEAST GET A BITE ON THE LINE. THE
CATFISH HERE CAN GET PRETTY BIG AND I’M HOPING TO GET ANOTHER SHOT AT IT
LATER ON. WE PULLED IN AT DARK TO
BRUSHY CREEK TO SET UP CAMP A FEW MILES SHORT OF OUR DESIRED LOCATION AT OWL
CREEK. THERE WAS A LOT OF GROUND COVER TO CLEAR SO WE MANNED THE AXES, BRUSH
CUTTERS AND MACHETES TO CLEAR A SPACE TO SLEEP. TENTS SHARED CLOSE QUARTERS THAT NIGHT AND WE WERE ALL STUFFED FROM A LATE LUNCH. IRIS
WHIPPED UP A CHICKEN CHILI FOR US WITH ONIONS, CHEESE AND SOUR CREAM. A DASH OF
HOT SAUCE AND IT WAS SHOWTIME! WE WERE
READY FOR THE NIGHT’S ENTERTAINMENT. OUR SPEAKER FOR THE EVENING WAS MR.
CHUCK HESS OF THE US FORESTRY SERVICE. HE TOLD US ABOUT THE RED COCKADED
WOODPECKERS AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO THE FOREST. HE MENTIONED THAT THE LONG
LEAF PINE IS CAPABLE OF GROWING UP TO FIVE HUNDRED YEARS OF AGE. THE RED COCKADED
WOODPECKER IS ONLY FOUND IN LONG LEAF PINE FORESTS. THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN
THE TWO WAS VERY INTERESTING TO LEARN ABOUT.
THE LONG LEAF PINE CAN SUFFER FROM A MALADY THAT CREATES A SOFT SPOT
IN THE WOOD THAT THE WOODPECKER CAN PENETRATE WITH ITS BILL. OTHERWISE THE
WOOD IS VERY HARD AND AS IT GROWS BECOMES VERY VALUABLE AS LUMBER. IT CAN
TAKE EIGHTY YEARS OR MORE BEFORE THE SOFT WOOD CONDITION OCCURS THAT ALLOWS THE WOODPECKER THE
ABILITY TO CREATE A NEST, WITH THE SOFT WOOD CONDITION RENDERING THE TREE WORTHLESS
FOR THE LUMBER TRADE; THUS THE NICKNAME PECKERWOOD. A DECLINE IN THE ACREAGE OF LONG LEAF PINE HAS LEAD TO A
DECLINE IN THE WOODPECKER POPULATION. NOW EXTINCT, THE IVORY BILLED WOODPECKER
THRIVED ON THE LONGHORN BEETLES LIVING IN THE PINE TREES; WITH A REQUIREMENT
OF 6,000 ACRES PER MATED PAIRING OF THE SPECIES. THEIR EXTINCTION WAS A
RESULT OF OVER HARVESTING OF THEIR HABITAT. THEY NO LONGER HAVE AN
ENVIRONMENT LARGE ENOUGH TO LIVE. ONE
OF OUR CREW MEMBERS, DANIEL, CELEBRATED HIS BIRTHDAY THAT EVENING TILL THE
WEE HOURS WITH HIS FELLOW CREW MATES. WE SANG HAPPY BIRTHDAY AND ENJOYED A
TERRIFIC CHOCOLATE CAKE WITH FUDGE ICING.
MEANWHILE CREW MEMBERS JIMMY AND NEVA TOOK MARILYN UP RIVER BACK TO
GASKIN PARK IN THE DARK. TWO HOURS LATER WE WERE ALL CONCERNED. ONE OF THEIR
DELAYS WAS MARILYN’S BREATHING THE NIGHT AIR SLOWED THEM DOWN, THEN THEIR
BOAT LOST THEIR BOW LIGHT AND THEY GOT STOPPED BY THE FWC. DUE TO A LACK OF
RADIO CONTACT, WE NOTIFIED THE COAST GUARD AND PRAYED FOR THEIR SAFE RETURN.
ABOUT AN HOUR LATER OUR PRAYERS WERE ANSWERED AND EVERYONE WAS SAFE AND ACCOUNTED
FOR. I HAD RETIRED EARLY TO CHECK ON
THE WORLD SERIES AND CONTINUE WRITING THIS JOURNAL. NEW YORK WON THE WORLD
SERIES THAT NIGHT AND I DRIFTED OFF TO SLEEP AFTER A VERY LONG DAY. NOVEMBER 5TH - DAY SIX THE DAY GREETED US WITH GOOD WEATHER. WE BROKE CAMP AFTER IRIS
SET US UP WITH CEREAL AND MILK FOR A QUICK BREAKFAST. WE HAD A LONG PADDLE
AHEAD OF US. BY LUNCH TIME WE LANDED IN GADSDEN AT A PARK WHERE THERE WAS A RESTROOM THAT LOOKED LIKE A LOG CABIN BUT
WAS MADE OF CAST CONCRETE. NO WATER SUPPLY, AND A NO FLUSH TOILET THAT READ,
“PLEASE DON’T THROW TRASH DOWN IN THE TOILET, IT IS VERY DIFFICULT TO REMOVE.” NEARBY WAS A PAVILION WITH A HISTORY OF
THE PLACE, A DIORAMA OF THE FORT THERE AND SOME HISTORIC ARTIFACTS ON DISPLAY
THAT WAS BUILT THERE BACK IN THE 1970'S.
KAYAKING IN TANDEM WITH PATTI ON THE TRIP WAS MARTHA DIAZ. SHE HAD HER
HUSBAND JOHN JOIN US FOR THE REMAINDER OF THE TRIP THERE AT GADSDEN. BEFORE EATING OUR LUNCH, OUR SPEAKERS
INCLUDED A CARETAKER OF THE LANDING WHO EXPLAINED THE LOCALE, THE INDIANS AND
THEIR INFLUENCE ON THE REGION, AND ITS INTRICACIES. OUR SECOND SPEAKER, SETH BLITCH, WAS FROM
THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AND SPOKE ABOUT THE
TERRITORY, THE RIVER AND HIS ROLE IN HELPING TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC. HE LEFT
US A BIG MAP OF THE REGION SHOWING VARIOUS JURISDICTIONS OF SEVERAL AGENCIES RESPONSIBLE
FOR OVERSIGHT OF RIVER. WE ENJOYED
GRILLED CHEESEBURGERS AND THEN RETURNED TO THE RIVER, THE SUN WAS WARM AND
THE WIND WAS COOL, BLOWING STEADILY OUT OF THE NORTH AS IT HAD BEEN ALL WEEK.
WE MADE CAMP ON A DREDGE SPOIL SITE AND SETTLED IN FOR THE EVENING. OUR LAST
SPEAKERS CAME TO SHARE THEIR KNOWLEDGE. A GENTLEMAN SPOKE ON THE IVORY BILLED
WOODPECKER AND HIS COMPANION; ON THE TUPELO HONEY PRODUCTION MADE FROM THE LOCAL
WOODLAND TREES THERE. WE DINED ON
GRITS WITH CHEDDAR AND GOUDA CHEESE, CATFISH FILLETS AND GREEN BEANS. WE
FINISHED THE NIGHT OFF WITH JIMMY AND SAM PLAYING THEIR GUITARS AND WE ALL
GOT A TASTE OF MEADE; BREWING TUPELO HONEY AND SCUPPERNONG GRAPES TOGETHER TO
MAKE A WINE LIKE CONCOCTION BY OUR SPEAKER ON MAKING TUPELO HONEY. I GOT TO MAN THE CAMERA THAT EVENING AND
SHOT SOME FOOTAGE OF SAM AND HIS STORY ON SONG WRITING. STARTING AT AGE TEN,
HE HAS PLAYED CLASSICAL ACOUSTIC GUITAR FOR TEN YEARS NOW; AND HAS STARTED WRITING
SONGS. ONE WAS FOR HIS IRISH ROOM MATE THAT HAD A SORT OF JIG TO IT; THE
OTHER A SONG DEDICATED TO HIS YOUNGER SISTER, MICHELLE. THE FULL MOON ROSE OVER THE RIVER AND SHOWN
DOWN BRIGHTLY, THE OWLS AND FROGS
MAKING THEIR MUSIC LULLED US TO SLEEP. NOVEMBER 6TH - DAY SEVEN AS WE GOT READY FOR BREAKFAST I AWOKE EARLY TO HELP CLEAN UP
THE GALLEY. I MADE A CONCOCTION OF LEFTOVER GRITS AND CATFISH TO GO WITH OUR
SCRAMBLED EGGS AND BACON; IT WAS QUITE POPULAR WITH EVERYONE. GEORGE BROKE
OUT SOME TUPELO HONEY AND WE ENJOYED IT ON OUR WHEAT BREAD WITH ORANGE JUICE
AND COFFEE. I SET UP A CAMERA ON A TRI-POD OVER BY THE CANOES AND HAD THE
PLEASURE TO INTERVIEW OUR SEVERAL OF
OUR GUESTS ONE BY ONE AND ASKED THEM THEIR NAME, WHERE THEY WERE FROM AND
WHAT THEY LIKED ABOUT THEIR TRIP; AND WHAT WE COULD DO TO MAKE IT EVEN
BETTER. WE WERE OVERWHELMINGLY PRAISED BY THE GROUP WITH VERY LITTLE
COMPLAINT. WE BOARDED EVERYONE ONTO THEIR BOATS, CANOES AND KAYAKS AND SENT THEM
OFF TO ENJOY THEIR LAST DAY ON THE RIVER; ENDING OUR JOURNEY AT THE
APALACHICOLA MARITIME MUSEUM. CAPTAIN JEREMY AND I MADE OUR WAY BACK ON A
DIFFERENT PART OF THE RIVER, STOPPING OCCASIONALLY TO DROP A LINE TO SEE IF
WE COULD CATCH A BITE. THERE WERE MANY BOATS THAT WE ENCOUNTERED AS WE MADE OUR WAY BACK; AS THIS WAS THE WEEKEND
FOR THE APALACHICOLA SEAFOOD FESTIVAL. WE PASSED BY AN OLD RAILROAD SWING
BRIDGE ON OUR WAY HOME AND SAW A DERELICT SHRIMP BOAT; NOW BEING USED AS A
PIRATE/HOUSE BOAT BY A FRIEND OF CAPTAIN JEREMY’S. HAVING A LITTLE TIME TO
SHARE, I INQUIRED ABOUT HIS PAST. CAPTAIN JEREMY HAILS FROM BEND, OREGON AND
HAS LIVED HERE IN FLORIDA FOR SIX YEARS. HE WAS JUST TWENTY-FOUR WHEN HE LEFT
HOME IN SEARCH OF HIMSELF. AS HE MADE HIS WAY TO FLORIDA HE WOUND UP IN PORT
ST. JOE HITCHING HIS WAY ACROSS THE STATE AND GOT A RIDE FROM A FELLA WHO NEEDED
HELP FIXING HIS HOUSE. SOME TIME LATER HE FOUND A JOB WORKING ON BOATS WHEN
HE MET GEORGE WHEN HE WAS EMPLOYED AT THE WELDING SHOPT THAT CUSTOMIZED THE STARFISH
[A 35 FOOT POWER CATAMARAN WITH TWIN FOUR STROKE 115HP YAMAHA ENGINES] FOR
MAKING RIVER TOURS ON THE APALACHICOLA RIVER.
HE’S BEEN IN THE EMPLOY OF THE MARITIME MUSEUM EVER SINCE THEN. AS THE CAPTAIN AND I CIRCLED THE RIVER
WAITING FOR OUR GROUP OF INTREPID EXPLORERS TO CATCH UP; WE LOOKED AT THE
SHRIMP BOAT TIED TO THE RIVER BANK. IT WAS TATTERED AND WEATHERED TO THE
POINT IT WOULD BE TOO EXPENSIVE TO REPAIR; SO HIS FRIENDS QUINN AND NIKKI
LIVE ABOARD THE OLD BOAT; ENJOYING A LAID BACK LIFE STYLE ON THE RIVER. OUR GROUP UPON THE WATER ENJOYED A BAG
LUNCH OF TURKEY AND CHEESE WITH APPLES AND A CARAMEL DIP WITH CRACKERS AND
SODA WHILE MAKING THEIR WAY THROUGH THE SLOUGH BY ST. MARKS PASS. AS WE
WATCHED THEM COME UP TO OUR LOCATION ON THE RIVER THE SUN SHONE WARM AND
BRIGHT ACROSS THE SHINING WATERS. WE HEADED FOR THE WATER TOWER OFF OUR STARBOARD SIDE AND OUR FINAL
PORT OF CALL; THE APALACHICOLA MARITIME MUSEUM. IT WAS JUST A LITTLE PAST
THREE IN THE AFTERNOON. WE PULLED UP TO THE NEW CONCRETE DOCK AND MADE READY TO DISEMBARK THE SHIP’S SUPPLIES AND TAKE
ON WATER TO CLEAN THE GALLEY AND MAKE OUR VESSEL READY FOR HER NEXT ADVENTURE.
SURPRISINGLY, THEY PADDLED RIGHT PAST US. THEY WENT TO THE BLESSING OF THE
FLEET BEFORE RETURNING TO THE MUSEUM. INSIDE
THE MUSEUM WE SAID OUR GOOD BYES TO THE FOLKS FROM OUT OF TOWN. I WAS
FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE INVITED TO DINE AT THE FESTIVAL WITH THE CREW. THERE WAS PLENTY TO CHOOSE FROM AND WE ALL ATE HEARTILY;
THEN WALKED BACK TO THE MUSEUM TO PACK UP OUR GEAR AND HEAD FOR OUR TEMPORARY
QUARTERS ON ST. GEORGE ISLAND FOR THE NIGHT AT GEORGE’S HOME BY THE BEACH. WE CLIMBED UP TO THE ROOF TOP
DECK TO WATCH THE STARS AND UNWIND AFTER A LONG AND ADVENTUROUS VOYAGE ON ONE
OF FLORIDA’S MOST BEAUTIFUL RIVERS. NOVEMBER 7TH - DAY EIGHT A LONG HOT SHOWER, A HOT CUP OF COFFEE, A WARM BED TO WAKE
FROM AND ANOTHER DAY IN THE SUNSHINE [THAT IS APALACHICOLA] STARTED MY DAY. IRIS
AND I TOOK A VAN TO THE MUSEUM TO MEET UP WITH THE REST OF THE CREW. GEORGE
AND SAM HAD RISEN EARLY TO RUN IN THE 5K FUN RUN FOR CHARITY AND I GOT A
TICKET TO THE LOCAL CHURCH BREAKFAST FROM HIM. I WALKED OVER TO THE UNITED METHODIST
CHURCH TO ENJOY A PANCAKE AND SAUSAGE BREAKFAST WITH SOME OF THE LOCAL
MEMBERS OF THE CONGREGATION AND REINTRODUCED MYSELF TO MR. SAWYER, WHOM I HAD
MET AT THE APALACHICOLA PROGRAM MANAGERS MEETING. HE MENTIONED TO ME HE HAD
BEEN THE THIRD GENERATION TO LIVE HERE AND HIS FATHER HAD BROUGHT THE FIRST
CRANE LIFT TO THE WATERFRONT WHERE THE MARITIME MUSEUM NOW RESIDES DOWN ON
WATER STREET. COLONEL BUZZETT AND HIS WIFE WERE SEATED AT OUR TABLE WITH MR.
SAWYER AND HE ASKED HOW I CAME TO APALACHICOLA. I EXPLAINED OUR TRIP AND THE
WATERFRONTS PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM HERE AND IN MAYPORT. HE TOLD ME HE STAYS IN THE MAYPORT NAVAL AIR STATION’S HOTEL
WHEN VISITING MAYO CLINIC TO TREAT HIS WIFE’S BREAST CANCER. HE ALSO MENTIONED
HIS SERVICE TO OUR COUNTRY AND THE FACT HE GRADUATED FROM WEST POINT ACADEMY [WHERE GEORGE HAD ATTENDED] ON D-DAY BACK
DURING WORLD WAR II. WE TALKED ABOUT THE ISLAND OF ST. GEORGE AND HOW HE KNEW
GEORGE’S DAD AND GRAND FATHER WHO HAD BUILT HOMES THERE ON THE ISLAND MANY
YEARS AGO. HE BID ME FAREWELL AS HE AND HIS WIFE RETURNED TO THE ISLAND. I MADE MY WAY DOWN THE STREET TO WATCH THE PARADE AFTER
STOPPING AT THE LOCAL GAS STATION FOR A COKE AND A CHAT WITH THE PROPRIETOR THERE
WHO WAS PROUDLY WEARING HIS UNIVERSITY OF FLORIDA TEE SHIRT WITH SEVERAL
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIPS ON IT. WE CHATTED ABOUT THE GATORS AND THE LOCAL
ECONOMY BEFORE I HEADED OUT TO SEE THE PARADE. I RAN INTO SEVERAL OF OUR
FRIENDS FROM THE CANOE TRIP WATCHING THE PARADE FROM THE STREET CORNER. THEN I AMBLED DOWN
THE STREET TO TAKE IN SOME OF THE LOCAL COLOR AND TAKE SOME PICTURES OF THE TOWN.
I RETURNED TO THE MUSEUM TO FINISH WRITING MY JOURNAL AND GET STARTED ON THE
PLANS FOR THE NEW DOCK SHELTER FOR THE MUSEUM. IT’S A LITTLE AFTER NOON AND
FOLKS ARE ALL OVER THE PLACE GETTING READY FOR A LIVE BAND TO COME AND PLAY
HERE LATER TODAY; AS VAN MORRISON’S “TUPELO HONEY” PLAYS IN THE BACKGROUND.
IT’S TIME TO GET BACK TO THE DRAWING BOARD.
LATER IN THE EVENING WE ALL MADE OUR WAY BACK TO ST. GEORGE ISLAND FOR
A LITTLE GET TOGETHER AT GEORGE’S HOME ON THE ISLAND. I BUNKED IN THE BACK OF
THE HOUSE WHERE GEORGE’S DAD HAD A WORKSHOP. HE CARVED REPLICAS OF THE MANY
WILDFOWL FOUND IN THE PANHANDLE AND ON THE ISLAND. |
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