Charlie Bear, Donna, Jimmy Carson, Chuck Hubbuch, and I went up to the St. Mary's River and did the Moniac, Ga. to St. Rte. 121 run, a total of 20.4 miles on 9/17/05. Until you've been there and have seen it for yourself, the Moniac run defies words. Even the pictures don't do it justice.

 

This first photo is near the start of our run. And it is like this for about 9 miles. (9609) 

 

 


The first part of the trip is entirely wood lined and very shady, which is good for the plain beauty of it but bad for pictures. Every time I make this run, I 'throw away' about a hundred pictures because they are blurred from the low light  conditions. (9624) 

 

 

 

 

 

As you can see from the water going around the tree in the previous picture, it is flowing pretty good on this run. As a matter of fact, we made the Moniac to Reynolds part in 2 1/2 hours. The first time we did it at 'low water' it took us about 4 hours. (9637) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is bliss. (9642) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here we are taking lunch break. (9653) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After lunch we headed back downstream. (9656) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some of the root systems of the cypress trees are quite grotesque to say the least. (9665) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The overhanging branches on this section makes for a beautiful and scenic float. (9672) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And even when it does open up a bit, it makes you want to come back again and again. (9694)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why we keep doing this same section over and over again.  (9701) (9711) (9726) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Now comes the part Charlie could do without, SAND PATTERNS! But hey, I love them, as do many others, so he loses. hehehe The brown color comes from the tannin in the water. As a refresher, tannin is produced from the decaying vegetation in the water. And since the St. Mary's as well as the Suwannee Rivers both have their source in the Okeefenokee Swamp, decaying plant matter is abundant. (9751) (9755) (9757) 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

And here is the sandbar I was walking on. Charlie 'accidentally' knocked my boat loose from its anchorage. uh-huh (9761)

 

 

 

 

Note the cypress on the left. A new tree has grown out of the old stump. Out here, life is truly tenacious. (9772)

 

 

 

 

Well I hope you have enjoyed this outing as much as you have enjoyed all the others. I am still learning my way around making this website, but I am learning. And I know Lance will be tickled to death.

As always,

ENJOY !

Jack Woodward

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