This morning we set out to paddle on Blackwater Creek. Our friend Judy and I had bought a pair of kayaks that we were dying to try, and Steve always loves visiting Blackwater, so the three of us headed east to Lake Norris Conservation Area.
We immediately noticed that the water level was up by about eight inches. The Blackwater paddle usually involves “scooching” over submerged limbs, so water that’s a bit higher than normal is a treat. Sure enough, Steve and I were delighted that so few underwater limbs tried to block our way.
Judy showed us a new technique for gliding under fallen trees, which came in handy as there were two or three trees blocking our progress. Instead of just bending backwards in a modified “limbo” technique, Judy scoots her butt forward in the kayak and leans back. It is much more comfortable and quite easy! It feels more steady and less likely to tip the boat, so I’ll be using that move from now on.
Ferns, mosses, pickerel weed, water lettuce…other than the black of the creek water, the overwhelming impression was green. And although we are having a hot October, the temperature on the creek was comfortable.
It’s about a mile from the small beach where we launch to Lake Norris. We paddled quite a bit through the dwarf cypress trees, admiring the tillandsia and spanish moss. I’m not sure there is a spot more peaceful than the south shore of Lake Norris, just west of the creek. The trees are so strange and stunted, and I always feel like a brontosaurus might, at any moment, slowly emerge from the wetlands surrounding the lake. We may have traveled another mile on the lake, and then a mile back to the launch site. It took about two hours, at a very leisurely pace.
Because of the underwater obstacles and low branches, this is not a paddle for beginners to take on without guidance. Anyone with a bit of experience will find this just challenging enough to never be boring. We believe we heard a gator drop off a log into the water, but we didn’t see any gators today. It was just a beautiful, relaxing day on the water.
In the future we would love to hire a guide to take us on this trip at night. The next time we go, I’d like to launch at sunrise. This is such a special place, and we want to get to know it better. Come with us next time!