Lazing on the river.

SUNDAY, MAY 16, 2010


Lazing on the river.

Nothing like a day out of doors to clear the mind…

Almost nothing to... or is that what I really want to rant about?

It was so beautiful. The tide was going out when we arrived; a healthy breeze was in our face. There were four of us in our small fleet of kayaks as we paddled along down river trying to put some distance between us and the slew of college students back at the landing who were pumping up their rafts and tubes. Swilling the cheap beer. If it could be filled with air someone would soon be floating on it. The hand and electric pumps worked overtime.

We got far enough ahead that their shouting was inaudible to us and the wildlife. We just lazed along. The river was a bit low. Very, very clear. Since we were expecting an afternoon storm we were happy paddling instead of sitting at home worrying if we would melt.

There were lots of pretty flowers and extremely green plants growing along the edge of the Wakulla River. We put in just below the state park with its huge spring and paddled down river toward the Gulf. We did not worry about the oil spill or anything else except how the breeze was perfect and the overcast made it quite pleasant. If we hit it right we would be back at the ramp before the thunderstorm gave us second thoughts about the comfort of our recliner or couch.

Many birds were flying around. Some were singing or squawking to make their presence or territories known. We saw Kites, Eagles, Ospreys, Hawks, Turkey Vultures, Anhinga, Cormorants and several species of herons, although the nite heron really stepped up for today’s census. Quite a few song birds flitted along in the trees on the banks or flew back and forth across the river. One snake made a quick dash across the river, swimming rapidly and elusively on top of the water while another hitched a ride in the talons of a Red Tailed Hawk. Overall it was a pretty day.

We even saw a couple of families of manatees with their young. In case you didn't know, but wanted to: manatees fart underwater… you are certain of that when their bubbles surface and burst next to your kayak. We told one young couple that we thought it just might be against the law to pet the manatees with their paddles… and that it could get particularly ugly if they got the submarine that was as big as a hippo pissed off. Besides, if you prod manatees with a paddle it often causes them to fart. Is this a defense mechanism?

When we were just about tired enough to turn around nature made our decision easier. As the front approached, the wind picked up and the tide turned too. Both were now at our back as we headed upriver toward the ramp. The tide and wind combined were stronger than the current from the spring. Our trip back to the ramp was not at all taxing with the possible exception of the three raft cities we paddled past. PBR must have been on Super Sale somewhere close to the college. The students were boisterous and friendly but I wondered if at their slow pace drifting down river they would get to a take out point before the weather really opened up on them. I did not want to ruin their party so I failed to mention it as we waved and gave them our best ‘Cashier Smiles’. We leaned a little into the paddles to put the noise behind us.

Negative Rant for today is if you are still smoking - bring something to put the butts in besides the river. Few of the college students were smoking and I didn’t see any of them throw butts in the crystal clear river. I did however see some butts following closely behind a small flotilla of middle aged women in rental kayaks. At least I didn't see any beer cans floating along. There is still some evidence of past consumption from the cans and bottles underwater near the banks. None of them I saw were PBR. Maybe the college kids got the message from the first Earth Day.

The Positive Rant for today is our environment and what we need to sustain it. I think I am going to spend some time thinking about just that while I make the whole wheat bread.

It was so beautiful and I know it will continue to be. Maybe some of those fraternities and sororities will think of a river clean up for their next float trip.