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St. Marys River

The Slow Morning & The Home Stretch

September 22, 2025 · Last updated: July 10, 2026
The Slow Morning & The Home Stretch

For camp coffee that doesn't overpower, BWJ's dialed-in ratio is one leveled tablespoon of coffee, three stevias, and three heaping spoons of powdered creamer per serving — a fix after an earlier trip's much stronger brew.

The best sleep in the world is found between two cypress trees.

I can't remember the last time I slept until 9:30 AM, but the St. Marys breeze and the rhythmic sound of the water made it happen. We woke up to a beautiful morning on the sandbar, took our time with the fire, and enjoyed the rare luxury of a slow start before the final paddle home.

The Coffee CorrectionIf you followed our Okefenokee trip, you know I nearly sent Tina into orbit with my "three heaping tablespoons" of powdered coffee. This morning was about redemption.

  • The New Ratio: One leveled tablespoon of coffee, three stevias, and three heaping spoons of powdered creamer.
  • The Verdict: Success. When you're miles from the nearest kitchen, getting the coffee right is the difference between a good morning and a long paddle.

    • Staples of the Swamp: Rice & EggsBreakfast was a remix of a childhood classic. I grew up on rice, eggs, and sausage, and I've raised my kids on the same.

  • The Loadout: We took the leftover foil-pack mix from the night before—rice, sausage, peppers, and onions—and cracked four fresh eggs into the cast iron pot.
  • The Source: These weren't store-bought; they came straight from our own chickens back home.
  • The Result: Adding the tomatoes from the night before gave the traditional "staple" a fresh twist. It's a heavy, high-energy meal that sticks to your ribs for the work of loading the canoe.

    • Back to the HillThe final leg was a scenic cruise. We passed some unique "right-angle" trees and watched the bass fishermen working the banks before reaching our takeout point. Brantley (Boogie) summed it up best as we pulled into the driveway: it was a good time.

  • Sleep Quality: 10/10; the hammock-and-breeze combo is hard to beat.
  • Fire Prep: One-strike success with Vaseline cotton balls and shredded birch bark.
  • Menu: "Sandbar Scramble"—Leftover rice/sausage mix with four farm-fresh eggs.
  • The Takeout: High-incline hill; requires a four-wheeler or multiple trips for heavy gear.

    • Frequently Asked Questions

    What's a good camp coffee ratio for river trips?

    BWJ's corrected recipe: one leveled tablespoon of coffee, three stevias, and three heaping spoons of powdered creamer — dialed in after an earlier Okefenokee trip's coffee was too strong.

    What is the "Sandbar Scramble" breakfast?

    Leftover foil-pack rice, sausage, peppers, and onions from the night before, mixed with four fresh eggs (from their own chickens) and leftover tomatoes, cooked in a cast iron pot.

    What's the takeout like at the end of this St. Marys route?

    A high-incline hill that requires a four-wheeler or multiple trips to move gear up from the water.

    What's camp sleep like on a St. Marys sandbar?

    BWJ describes it as some of the best sleep available — the cypress cover and river breeze let them sleep until 9:30 AM on this trip.