Kayak Canoe Alabama

Tuesday, February 15, 2005

Whiskey Ditch

Tuesday, February 15, 2005 brint.adams@us.army.mil

We could not pass up the opportunity to paddle in such beautiful weather, as my mother was in town visiting and wanting to get a taste of the delta. We put in at the old Riverdoc's parking lot on the Causeway at 11:30 AM, under clear skies, a slight breeze and 65 degrees. The tide was rising with the water level already high.

We started out paddling easily down Pass Picada, as several Ibis were browsing the shoreline, while a couple of fishermen were trying their luck near the restaurants. We turned up Apalachee River along the west shoreline and turned into the entrance of Whiskey Ditch. It was still early for the vegetation to start greening up and flowering. The high water was flooding over the normal shoreline, widening out the normally narrow ditch. As we made one of the many turns, I noticed a gator nearby, sliding into the water from the sunny bank. As we made our way back into the small lake, we scared up many sets of ducks, some cormorants, osprey and tri-colored herons.

We stopped for lunch at the end of the lake, and relaxed in this beautifully hidden spot in the middle of the delta. On our way back out, I noticed ahead in the same spot, the same gator sunning himself again. He was about a twelve footer and appeared to be totally black. As we approached, he slid back into the ditch while we were still about 50 meters away.

We arrived back at the lot by 2:00 PM after a thoroughly enjoyable and peaceful paddle on a perfect afternoon.

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