On Saturday (10 29 05) we finally got it together for our kayak outing with Anne Hopkins, past president of the University of North Florida, presently a political science professor. Charlie Bear got a 'demo' tandem kayak for he and Anne. I of course had my tandem for me and Dot. Donna, Charlie's daughter, was in his 14 foot single and also joining us for his first time out kayaking was Owen Wilson, who like myself is another employee of Physical Facilities. Owen has had his own 12 foot kayak for some time now but just never got around to using it. And I am quite certain he will now tell you what he has been missing. 

We put-in at Reynolds bridge which is up on Rte 185 in Georgia and paddled a little over 14 miles downstream to Rte 121. So it was Anne's and Owen's first time out and a new distance record for Dot. The weather was cool but the sun was out with no clouds. It was a bit breezy, but thankfully we were mostly down between the banks of the river or in the woods so to speak so the wind didn't affect us a whole lot. Once again, y'all enjoy our outing.

Dot and I got to the meeting point first and while we waited I snapped a few pictures. This of course is a cobweb with morning dew. 

This is Anne and Charlie.

Here is the whole gang. Donna leading the way clearing out the occasional low hanging spider web for us followed by Owen, then Anne and Charlie, and of course Dot sitting in front of me.

The first 5 miles or so goes through the woods, literally. There are many trees in the riverbed that have to be gotten around or through.

Anne is learning to paddle. She's been canoeing before but paddling a kayak is a little bit different. Easier, but different.

Is this a happy camper or what?

Like I said, Owen found out what he has been missing by not using his kayak. Owen, like the rest of us, loves the woods. And paddling along in silence is truly peaceful.

Getting around the trees.

This says it all, doesn't it?

Negotiating a logjam. 

After the jam. 

Owen's turn.

Some of the many cypress roots and knees we saw. The shapes they form is fantastic.

Here you can see how in some places the banks close-in.

It was a beautiful day to be out.

Every now and then I would stop paddling to take a picture and tell Dot she was steering. She did good except for one time where the current directed us into a bank. Well, ok, maybe I was a little late in telling her she was in control. 

More cypress roots. 

Some of the shapes are pretty amazing.

Of course the lower the water gets, the more the knees are visible.

I was wading in the chilly water to get some sand pattern pictures, but the sun hitting the water made some pretty neat pictures.

And we did see a lot of cypress trees.

The last 9 miles or so, the river opens up some.

Some evidence of the amount of water flow during times of high water.

So ended another nice day on the water in good company. Everyone enjoyed themselves immensely. And the scenic beauty of the St. Mary's river is like a magnet that keeps drawing us back for more. Willingly, very willingly.

Jack Woodward      mailto:  jackwoodward66@hotmail.com

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