FLORIDA CHARM
EXPLORING FLORIDA’S WAKULLA RIVER PADDLEBOARDING IN THE PANHANDLE, ‘SUN CAME OUT BRIGHT BEHIND ME’
addleboarding on Florida’s beautiful waters is one way I enjoy the outdoors. This past October I spent a beautiful sunny day paddling part of the Wakulla River, which is south of Tallahassee in the Panhandle.
I launched at the public boat ramp by the Highway 98 bridge in Crawfordville around 9:30 a.m. and paddled upstream. Due to a swift current, the first fourth of a mile was the most difficult of my trip. But this was my third time paddling the Wakulla River, so I was prepared for a workout. With a little effort and muscle, I made it to where the river narrows and is a little easier to paddle. I stopped for a minute to pull out my Canon camera from my dry bag and put its strap around my neck. I stood back up and resumed paddling. It did not take long for me to spot a few Suwannee cooter turtles getting some early morning sunlight. A Carolina wren started calling, which seemed to signal for other birds to start calling. Pileated, red-bellied and downy woodpeckers and tufted titmouses were adding their calls to mix. It was a nice soundtrack to listen to while I paddled.
I soon spotted an alligator in the water. After snapping a few quick photos, I passed by it on the opposite side with no issue. I also saw several belted kingfishers at a distance. They would quickly spot me and fly away with their rattling calls. The sun came out bright behind me, and I started to get hot. If my camera were not around my neck, I would have dipped my hat in the water. Instead, I used the paddle to splash river water on my bare feet to keep me cool. At one point during my paddle upstream, I saw a little buck jump up from a small narrow island in the middle of the river. There was too much brush for a clear photo, but I heard the deer splash through the water to get to the woods. Around noon I made it to the County Road 365 bridge, which is about four miles from where I started. The bridge is as far as you are allowed to paddle upstream, due to protected areas of the river. After docking my board at the ramp, I put my camera away and dipped into the water. It was cold, but it felt great! I then sat on my board, drank some water and ate a snack. After a few minutes of rest, I dipped in the water one more time before hopping on my board to paddle downstream.
Popular with beginners, the Wakulla River is mild enough and water levels sufficient for a round trip going upstream or downstream.
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PHOTOS ON THIS AND OPPOSITE PAGE BY BEN KNOWLES
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Written by: Ben Knowles
