Flat Water Paddling Galleries

Congaree Swamp Trip - November 2007 : A two day canoe camping trip in the Congaree Swamp National Park. 7 miles on Cedar Cree the first day, 13 miles on the Congaree River the second day. Participants: Roger Nott solo (trip coordinator), Myself & Dawn Southern tandem, Rhett Smith & Rachel Gates tandem, Wade Lucas solo with dog Luke. Water levels were very low - about 2 ft. on Cedar Creek gauge.

Congaree Swamp Trip - November 2007

A two day canoe camping trip in the Congaree Swamp National Park. 7 m ...

Updated: Nov 15, 2007 7:53pm PST

Thanksgiving Florida Trip 2005 : Paddling Juniper Springs and Silver River near Ocala, FL.

Thanksgiving Florida Trip 2005

Paddling Juniper Springs and Silver River near Ocala, FL.

Updated: Apr 10, 2007 10:11am PST

MLK Weekend Florida Trip 2006 : 3 Days of Florida Paddling The early start on the Silver River resulted in fewer power boats encountered than on any of my recent trips there. More birds to be seen as well, whether for the same reason I don't know. Crystal River has the only growing population of endangered manatees. Populations in other locations continue to decrease despite efforts at protection. Rainbow Springs is known for its extremely clear water. SCUBA divers flock to Rainbow year round to take advantage of this clarity. There was a notable lack of 'gator sightings on this trip, possibly due to the cool weather. More manatees than on my previous trips -- caused by cooler weather also? Spotted two bald eagles. Saw several osprey, one holding a freshly caught fish in its talons. We saw more, and a wider variety, of water birds and other birds than on any previous trip: anhingas, cormorants, white ibis, great blue heron, little blue heron, kingfishers,osprey, bald eagles, pelicans, great white heron, snowy egrets, great egrets, brown buzzards, turkey buzzards, and several varieties of ducks. We saw plenty of the rhesus monkeys along the Silver River, colonies evolved from escaped monkeys from the filming of Tarzan movies in the '30s and '40s.

MLK Weekend Florida Trip 2006

3 Days of Florida Paddling The early start on the Silver River result ...

Updated: Feb 28, 2006 8:53am PST

Presidents Day Weekend Florida Trip 2006 : Paddling in Central Florida on Juniper Springs / Juniper Creek and the Oklawaha River

Presidents Day Weekend Florida Trip 2006

Paddling in Central Florida on Juniper Springs / Juniper Creek and the ...

Updated: Mar 09, 2006 7:36pm PST

Florida Trip 12-07 : A weekend Florida trip to Grayton Beach area. Paddled a couple of rivers / creeks and hung out on the beach. Participants were myself, Dawn Southern, Wade Lucas and Gail Yester.

Florida Trip 12-07

A weekend Florida trip to Grayton Beach area. Paddled a couple of riv ...

Updated: Oct 13, 2008 6:06pm PST

Florida Trip 12-08 : 3 days in the Florida Panhandle. On December 7 we paddled the Perdido River on the Alabama State Line from River Annex Road to Fish Camp Road. The mileage was longer than stated in the guidebook, and we encountered 5-6 pullovers in the first 3-4 miles, making it a long day. We arrived at the take-out about 30 minutes before dark. On December 8 we paddled the Blackwater River from Kennedy Bridge Road to Cotton Bridge (Hwy 4). Again, the mileage was longer than stated in the guidebook, but the river was mostly free of pullovers, so the trip was much easier. On December 9 we paddled a short section of the Shoal River before getting an early start toward home. These were three very different rivers, all very pretty in their own way. Participants were myself, my wife Dawn Southern, my son Drew Hedden, Barry Smith, Frank Seco De Lucina, Jerome Walker, Jim Madeley, and Ben Okel. Photos are by myself and Barry Smith.

Florida Trip 12-08

3 days in the Florida Panhandle. On December 7 we paddled the Perdido ...

Updated: Dec 23, 2008 12:05pm PST

Florida Trip 02-09 - Turkey Creek : This was a Georgia Canoeing Association trip led by Lamar Phillips on February 15, 2009. Turkey Creek starts out as a tight, technical stream with clear, warm water and a white sandy bottom. As it picks up volume, it adds tannin and becomes more of a black water stream, especially after the confluence with Juniper Creek. The run ends in a bay in Valparaiso. The weather started out cloudy and drizzley, but the sun came out just before we got to the bay. Participants were: Lamar Phillips, Buddy Goolsby, Liz Carter, Butch Horn, Priscilla Dixey, Chad Boles, Dickie and Lee Tillman, Betty Rose, Will Gosney, John & Marilyn Haggerty, David Robinson and myself.

Florida Trip 02-09 - Turkey Creek

This was a Georgia Canoeing Association trip led by Lamar Phillips on ...

Updated: Feb 17, 2009 5:14pm PST

Lower Ocoee 07-07-09 : Our first trip on the Lower Ocoee from Ocoee #1 Dam to the Hiwassee confluence. Participants were Barry Smith, Dawn and myself. A very pretty river and an easy float. 11+ miles in 4.5 hours.

Lower Ocoee 07-07-09

Our first trip on the Lower Ocoee from Ocoee #1 Dam to the Hiwassee co ...

Updated: Jul 23, 2009 7:38am PST