Bottle Creek Indian Mounds
Saturday, February 12, 2005 brint.adams@us.army.mil
With a little trepidation, I led an ambitious canoe trip for Linda and my mother, Hally, who turns 79 next week. We traveled north on Hwy 225, passed over I-65, through Stockton to Rice Creek Landing, where we put in at 9:35 AM. The morning warmed up nicely to 65 degrees with partly cloudy skies, no wind and high water.
We paddled down Rice Creek, following two Auburn researchers, in their small powerboat. The water was like glass and very clear. The undergrowth had not started to green yet, so we could see deep into the Cypress woods, where a good part of it was partially flooded. Once out into Briar Lake, we crossed over and around the bottom end of Richardson Island, and continued west into the narrow cut-through to Tensaw Lake. The water was flowing rapidly out of the Tensaw and into the cut-through, so we had to paddle hard to make progress to make it through.
Once into Tensaw, we turned left and followed along the right side, which is Larry Island. The current was behind us, so we were able to relax for a short time, until we came to the entrance of the Tensaw River at the bottom of Larry. Looking straight forward, we crossed the Tensaw diagonally to the entrance of Bayou Jessamine. As we entered, the current was coming out, but not as swiftly as we had seen so far. The bayou was clear all the way to the split to Jug Lake.
At the split, we took the left fork, continuing on Jessamine, where the current became much swifter. We fought our way forward around the tight twists and turns, past the turn on the left to Little Bayou Jessamine. We soon came upon some of the blockages Bob and I encountered a few months ago, albeit at a higher water level. As we continued, we saw Rich and Carol coming downstream towards us. They indicated there was a large log across the bayou, requiring a portage, forcing them to retreat.
When we told them we wanted to take a look, they decided to turn around and see if we might work together to get both boats around the log. When we arrived, there was a fairly low bank on the right, allowing us to get out and pull our boats out and around to the other side. In just a few minutes, we were back in and paddling ahead to the end of the bayou. We did come across another log, which was still high enough above the water for us to pass beneath. So, we all ducked way down and worked our way under the log and continued.
Once we reached the end, we turned left downstream and with the current, on Bottle Creek. A short distance ahead, we reached a sharp bend to the left and came to the beach on the right bank in the bend, where we found two other canoes. I recognized them as Bob's and Larry's boats, as we found a place to get out and pull our boats up on the bank.
We began our hike inland on the trail to the Indian Mounds at noon, and soon came across the first of several large downed trees across the trail, thanks to the hurricane. We worked our way around, through the Palmettos, and came across the first of three swamp and stream crossings. The trail is typically fairly dry, but with the water up high everywhere in the delta, we had our share of water and mud to cross along the way.
When we reached the large mound, Larry, Julie and Bob called us up to the top to join them for lunch. We exchanged stories about our trip and their first night spent on the Canal Island platform. We all returned to Bottle Creek together and began paddling upstream to the entrance to Bayou Jessamine. When we reached the same portage, Bob was trying to saw an opening through the tree. He finally gave up and we all made the same portage as before.
Upon reaching the Jug Lake split, we decided to follow the campers the 1.1 miles up Jug Lake to the covered platform, where they were going to spend their second night out in the delta. Linda was about played out, but when coaxed on with the anticipation of a glass of Bob's wine upon arrival, she found renewed energy to pick up the pace. We rested for a half hour and took off at 3:30 towards Rice Creek.
The return was downstream for the most part, except for the Tensaw Lake alongside Larry Island, so we made fairly good time, making it back to the landing by 4:45 PM. The overall paddle with the side trip into Jug Lake was about eight miles, which was all Linda and my mother wanted and more. The sighting of our car was none too soon for them, as we quickly loaded up and headed back to Spanish Fort. It was a beautiful afternoon and a very enjoyable, although tiring, paddle for all of us.
With a little trepidation, I led an ambitious canoe trip for Linda and my mother, Hally, who turns 79 next week. We traveled north on Hwy 225, passed over I-65, through Stockton to Rice Creek Landing, where we put in at 9:35 AM. The morning warmed up nicely to 65 degrees with partly cloudy skies, no wind and high water.
We paddled down Rice Creek, following two Auburn researchers, in their small powerboat. The water was like glass and very clear. The undergrowth had not started to green yet, so we could see deep into the Cypress woods, where a good part of it was partially flooded. Once out into Briar Lake, we crossed over and around the bottom end of Richardson Island, and continued west into the narrow cut-through to Tensaw Lake. The water was flowing rapidly out of the Tensaw and into the cut-through, so we had to paddle hard to make progress to make it through.
Once into Tensaw, we turned left and followed along the right side, which is Larry Island. The current was behind us, so we were able to relax for a short time, until we came to the entrance of the Tensaw River at the bottom of Larry. Looking straight forward, we crossed the Tensaw diagonally to the entrance of Bayou Jessamine. As we entered, the current was coming out, but not as swiftly as we had seen so far. The bayou was clear all the way to the split to Jug Lake.
At the split, we took the left fork, continuing on Jessamine, where the current became much swifter. We fought our way forward around the tight twists and turns, past the turn on the left to Little Bayou Jessamine. We soon came upon some of the blockages Bob and I encountered a few months ago, albeit at a higher water level. As we continued, we saw Rich and Carol coming downstream towards us. They indicated there was a large log across the bayou, requiring a portage, forcing them to retreat.
When we told them we wanted to take a look, they decided to turn around and see if we might work together to get both boats around the log. When we arrived, there was a fairly low bank on the right, allowing us to get out and pull our boats out and around to the other side. In just a few minutes, we were back in and paddling ahead to the end of the bayou. We did come across another log, which was still high enough above the water for us to pass beneath. So, we all ducked way down and worked our way under the log and continued.
Once we reached the end, we turned left downstream and with the current, on Bottle Creek. A short distance ahead, we reached a sharp bend to the left and came to the beach on the right bank in the bend, where we found two other canoes. I recognized them as Bob's and Larry's boats, as we found a place to get out and pull our boats up on the bank.
We began our hike inland on the trail to the Indian Mounds at noon, and soon came across the first of several large downed trees across the trail, thanks to the hurricane. We worked our way around, through the Palmettos, and came across the first of three swamp and stream crossings. The trail is typically fairly dry, but with the water up high everywhere in the delta, we had our share of water and mud to cross along the way.
When we reached the large mound, Larry, Julie and Bob called us up to the top to join them for lunch. We exchanged stories about our trip and their first night spent on the Canal Island platform. We all returned to Bottle Creek together and began paddling upstream to the entrance to Bayou Jessamine. When we reached the same portage, Bob was trying to saw an opening through the tree. He finally gave up and we all made the same portage as before.
Upon reaching the Jug Lake split, we decided to follow the campers the 1.1 miles up Jug Lake to the covered platform, where they were going to spend their second night out in the delta. Linda was about played out, but when coaxed on with the anticipation of a glass of Bob's wine upon arrival, she found renewed energy to pick up the pace. We rested for a half hour and took off at 3:30 towards Rice Creek.
The return was downstream for the most part, except for the Tensaw Lake alongside Larry Island, so we made fairly good time, making it back to the landing by 4:45 PM. The overall paddle with the side trip into Jug Lake was about eight miles, which was all Linda and my mother wanted and more. The sighting of our car was none too soon for them, as we quickly loaded up and headed back to Spanish Fort. It was a beautiful afternoon and a very enjoyable, although tiring, paddle for all of us.
posted by brint @ 5:56 PM
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