10/03/2011 - McCullough Creek and Moore Creek

Launch: Home
Destination: McCullough Creek and Moore Creek
Distance: 7-1/4 miles (round trip).
Time Pedaling: 2-3/4 hours
Weather: Sunny, temp 75 degrees, winds calm. Tide low. Current negligible. Water surface calm. Water temp 77 degrees. NOTE: The water temp has dropped 5 degrees in the past 3 days. Once it starts getting below 70 degrees, one has to start thinking about the dangers of cold water immersion.

Header image - another kayaker was out on Dog River this afternoon. The mass of flowers he is looking at is Lantana.

I went to McCullough Creek to check on the alligator traps I first saw two days ago that I blamed on poachers. Oops, I was quick to judge without knowing the facts. State Conservation authorities put the hooks up. Today the hooks had been removed, so, I guess the State Authorities caught the nuisance alligator. I wonder if they killed it. Instead of removing spray cans full of toxic chemicals from our waters which is harmful to people, they remove an alligator that is pretty much harmless to people. Your tax dollars at work...

Well, alligators are mostly harmless except to dogs. This dog did the dog paddle trying to catch me today. Why is a dog chasing me on a public waterway? Why isn't the dog fenced in or on a leash like the law requires? Alligators have never chased me like this dog did. Dog bites to people are common, yet, alligators rarely bite people. Why don't the Conservation Officers put hooks with meat out on them to catch dogs that chase kayakers? Don't get me wrong, I love dogs, at least the trained ones, but I've seen too many people hurt by dogs and I don't know of anyone around here hurt by an alligator. I've been attacked by dogs dozens of times while riding a bicycle. Now they're chasing me on water? If Conservation Officers are looking out for public safety, they're baiting the wrong animals. (I'm off my soap box now.) Sorry Joy - your dog was running loose instead of being on a lease or fenced in.

McCullough Creek is a quiet creek with no boat traffic and not a house in sight.

There are usually lots of birds like this sparrow or wren in the trees around McCullough Creek.

Moore Creek is bedecked with all kinds of wildflowers right now. It's a nice paddle if you can get under the dredge pipe.

A big blue heron taking flight was voicing its dislike after I paddled too close for its comfort. I mean no harm Mr. Heron - you didn't have to fly off.

A Snowy Egret has a black beak and yellow feet. The feet didn't make it into this photo.

By comparison, a Great Egret, slightly larger, has a yellow beak and black legs and feet.

Oh look, a tagger loves his Mother. Uh oh, the tagger must have inhaled too many paint fumes - he did not know how to spell Mother.

A basic sunset on an absolutely beautiful fall like day.