Little Bateau Bay-Lower Crab Creek
Sunday June 27, 2004 brint.adams@us.army.mil
Rob, Bob, Dick, Susan, George and I met at the Exxon on the Causeway at 8:00AM to start what Rob posted as a fast (3-5 mph) workout paddle. The weather was pretty good, partly cloudy, light breeze, high tide and 77 degrees, although the humidity was pretty high at 85 percent.
We started out at a medium pace to get warmed up, heading NE across Chacaloochee Bay to the entrance of Conway Creek. We found out George just bought his kayak and was on his fifth paddle ever and he lagged behind a little. Once we got to Conway, we waited for him and he told us to go ahead and he would go ahead at his own pace. He had a GPS and assured us he would not get lost, as he would at least be able to return the same way.
The rest of us picked up the pace as we paddled north up Conway. Along the way, we saw several gators, as well as the beginnings of many lotus plants with their large white blooms sticking up between their large elephant ear pads. We passed Savage's Ditch on the left and turned right up toward Little Bateau Bay. We took the right of three forks and stopped at the dock of a fish camp along the way. After a snack break, we paddled into Little Bateau Bay, turned left (west) along a large field of lotus at their blooming peak. It was a sight in need of a camera, which I did not bring along.
We took the middle fork back down to Conway and turned right (NW) on up to the entrance of Tensaw River. We turned north and crossed the river to the entrance of Crab Creek and Lower Crab Creek. As soon as we entered the creek, we took an immediate left (west) on Lower Crab Creek. We followed it around to where it emptied into Delvan Bay. The south wind picked up considerably and we were back in open water, heading right into the wind on the way back down to the Causeway. When we reached the interstate bridges, we crossed under, around Goat Island (3 goats) and back east to the Exxon boat ramp.
The overall paddle with breaks took about 3:45, covering 12.9 miles at a 4.2 mph pace. Susan said we saw about 15 gators along the way, as well as an up-close view of a purple gallinule, several osprey and pelicans, etc.
All of us got what we wanted out of the hard workout along with the great visuals along the way. When we got back, George was there putting up his kayak, so we knew he did make it back alright. He even enjoyed the trip and said he was ready to come along on future trips.
Rob, Bob, Dick, Susan, George and I met at the Exxon on the Causeway at 8:00AM to start what Rob posted as a fast (3-5 mph) workout paddle. The weather was pretty good, partly cloudy, light breeze, high tide and 77 degrees, although the humidity was pretty high at 85 percent.
We started out at a medium pace to get warmed up, heading NE across Chacaloochee Bay to the entrance of Conway Creek. We found out George just bought his kayak and was on his fifth paddle ever and he lagged behind a little. Once we got to Conway, we waited for him and he told us to go ahead and he would go ahead at his own pace. He had a GPS and assured us he would not get lost, as he would at least be able to return the same way.
The rest of us picked up the pace as we paddled north up Conway. Along the way, we saw several gators, as well as the beginnings of many lotus plants with their large white blooms sticking up between their large elephant ear pads. We passed Savage's Ditch on the left and turned right up toward Little Bateau Bay. We took the right of three forks and stopped at the dock of a fish camp along the way. After a snack break, we paddled into Little Bateau Bay, turned left (west) along a large field of lotus at their blooming peak. It was a sight in need of a camera, which I did not bring along.
We took the middle fork back down to Conway and turned right (NW) on up to the entrance of Tensaw River. We turned north and crossed the river to the entrance of Crab Creek and Lower Crab Creek. As soon as we entered the creek, we took an immediate left (west) on Lower Crab Creek. We followed it around to where it emptied into Delvan Bay. The south wind picked up considerably and we were back in open water, heading right into the wind on the way back down to the Causeway. When we reached the interstate bridges, we crossed under, around Goat Island (3 goats) and back east to the Exxon boat ramp.
The overall paddle with breaks took about 3:45, covering 12.9 miles at a 4.2 mph pace. Susan said we saw about 15 gators along the way, as well as an up-close view of a purple gallinule, several osprey and pelicans, etc.
All of us got what we wanted out of the hard workout along with the great visuals along the way. When we got back, George was there putting up his kayak, so we knew he did make it back alright. He even enjoyed the trip and said he was ready to come along on future trips.
posted by brint @ 2:11 PM
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