Bigbend Area Paddlers' Network

7/19/03 Lower Aucilla

This past Saturday's paddle was one of opportunity. Our trip was forming up late in the week, Friday for a Saturday trip, but when it was only Richard and I planning to paddle, Richard called Kathy who hooked us up with a trip planned by the Apalachee Canoe and Kayak Club for the lower Aucilla. I had hoped for the upper but was enthusiastic about doing a part of the river I had not done before. Saturday found 11 paddlers, with ten boats heading out to Lamont and south on 257. We put in there and placed cars at the take out, at Access point 37 on the Aucilla, about a mile or two below the "rapids". It was a beautiful day, a bit overcast, but unexpectedly cool for mid July. We got lightly sprinked on twice and heard thunder at various times, but saw no lightening and had no real rain. We were on the water about 11 am and stopped for lunch just below the "S" shoals. They were a fun ride and had some technically challenging moments. Even a stategically placed destroyed canoe half way through to warn would be showboaters of the risk of any fast water. Nice sandy bank on the west, immediately below the shoals. A perfect place for a little lunch break and self congratulation for navigating the shoals so well. The real treat was yet to come; "Lost Dog Rapids" or some other homaphonic name. About a mile above them, a fisherman on the shore warned us there were rapids ahead and we just felt that is what we had come for. Ten minutes later you could hear them coming up ahead. We were about to get out to scout the rapids before paddling them. It just so happened we wanted to get out at the exact point that one very large gator had chosen to sun itself. When the first boat was 100 ft away, it finally decided to vacate the spot and just wait for any stagglers who might dump before the rapids. This was one big gator. The water level was perfect. Bob, the trip coordinator, explained the stategy and then went down first, as we all stood on the bank and observed. Then one by one we each ran the churning water. It was a great ride. Anyone without a skirt on their kayak took loads of water. My sit on top took lots and then just drained it right out. The one canoe with us, decided to portage. We played at the rapids for a while, some tried different boats, and fooled around in the churning water. From there to the take out was a short way and I struck out ahead for some quiet time. This paid off big when I spooked two black tail deer that were sipping water in the mid afternoon. They startled, jumped six feet away, froze in their tracks, and then after a moment of perceived invisibility, bolted into the woods. My first deer sighting from the water in years. Take out was a narrow slot in the tree line on the east bank. I got home just before 5 and count this as one of the best paddles I can remember. Just another day in paradise. Art Cooper oldspooky@comcast.net

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