The Slow Morning & The Home Stretch
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 Correction If 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 & Eggs Breakfast 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 Hill The 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. It was a steep hike to get the gear up to the trailer, but seeing the four-wheeler waiting for us meant the expedition was officially a success.
Brantley (Boogie) summed it up best as we pulled into the driveway: it was a good time. Whether it's the technical "tight" sections of the upper river or the slow mornings on the sandbar, the St. Marys always delivers.
Field Notes: Technical Breakdown
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.
