Rising Waters & High Stakes: The Morning After
"I'm glad Mama pulled the canoe up, or we wouldn't have one today."
The rain that lulled us to sleep for ten hours transformed the St. Marys overnight. We woke up to a river that had risen significantly—what was only two feet of canoe in the water at sunset was a fully submerged hull by 8:30 AM. It was a stark lesson in river dynamics: always secure your craft higher than you think necessary when a storm is in the forecast.
The Morning Ritual: Sand, Grit, and Corned Beef Despite the muddy water and rising levels, camp life continued in stride.
The Coffee: 16 oz of fresh coffee in the "cow cup," served hot enough to burn—and maybe with a little river sand grit for texture.
The Breakfast: I didn't forget the eggs this time. We scrambled them right into the trusty cast iron skillet with corned beef hash—a high-energy meal that left us with more than we could finish.
The Transport: Carrying eggs in a pre-cracked container proved to be a masterstroke for easy river travel.
A River of Memories As we paddled the narrow, shallow bends toward the takeout, every landmark told a story.
The Cypress Jump: Passing a towering cypress tree brought back memories of a group tubing trip where "Billy from Baldwin" got stuck in the canopy, too scared to jump.
The Price of Progress: We passed the old "Creek Landing" in St. George. It’s now closed to the public because people didn't respect the private property—a reminder to always leave a place better than you found it.
The Ankle-Breaker: I pointed out the spot where a rope swing once stood 26 years ago—the same spot where a jump into three feet of water broke one ankle and tore the ligaments in the other. It was my last time swinging from a tree, but not my last time on this river.
The Final Stretch The water turned muddy from the runoff, and the technical navigation through tight turns was made easier by a cool late-August breeze. We were met at the landing by the whole crew—Boogie, Nana, and even my 83-year-old mother. It was a rainy, muddy, beautiful adventure that reminded us why we keep coming back to the blackwater.
Field Notes: Technical Breakdown
Hydrology: Rapid river rise (approx. 1-2 feet) documented overnight following local heavy rainfall.
River Safety: Canoe was almost lost due to rising water; always tie off to a fixed point above the high-water mark.
Navigation: River becomes "real narrow" and shallow near the St. George takeout; requires careful reading of the muddy water to avoid grounding.
Ethics: Respect private property to ensure river access remains open for future generations.
