04/22/2012 - Bayou Tallapoosa

Header Image is a photo of a water snake sticking out its forked tongue.

The amazing hugging tree in Rice Creek.

Rice Creek has some impressive Cypress Trees.

Bayou Tallapoosa was difficult to paddle today due to a half a dozen obstacles blocking the waterway. It is tricky to get out on a log, balance, lift the kayak, swing it over onto the other side, and get back in.

This species of turtle (Black-Knobbed Sawback Turtle) has unique markings on the top of its head so it appears it is looking at you even though it is looking in the opposite direction. For another view of this species, CLICK HERE.

A coot standing guard at the entrance to Bayou Tallapoosa.

Sometimes loud noises along the creek bank turn out to be squirrels. It is very quiet up in Bayou Tallapoosa as it is far from civilization.

The tracks here indicate a big alligator had recently climbed the bank.

Where there are alligator tracks, there are alligators.

When you're gliding along the shoreline going under limbs, be aware that snakes like to climb in those shoreline limbs.

Most snakes are harmless though, like this water snake. Look closely at its eye and you can see the reflection of my kayak. Yes, I was close. Snakes with round eyes are not poisonous though.

I ran into Capt. Mike who leads kayaking trips for 5-Rivers Delta Safaris. He was coming back from the Indian Mounds which was inaccessible due to the trail being too wet. Water was actually draining out of Dominic Creek into the Tensaw River.

The group of kayakers Capt. Mike was leading was having too much fun. It was a birthday party. What a great way to celebrate a birthday!

The Bartram Trail Canoe and Kayak platforms are still like new. That goes to show you how respectful boaters and other people are in this area.

 A fishing spider was the welcoming committee at the platform.

I paddled to the Two Rivers campground to see what its condition was like. It is a steep climb and expect to get a little muddy. There is a rope to help you get up the bank.

A houseboat on the backwaters in the Delta. People don't usually mess with anyone's fishing and hunting camps in the Delta and if they do and get caught, they are likely to get shot.

A yellow warbler near a vine of Poison Ivy.

I also saw Bob who runs Sunshine Canoes today. He was suppose to be leading a Bartram Trail paddle for Alabama Scenic River Trail in this area today but it was canceled due to a large tree that fell blocking Bayou Jessamine. Water levels were low today - it was easy to go under that tree. Bayou Jessamine and Bayou Tallapoosa both need some chain saw work done on them to make them navigable at all water levels.

Seeds were coating the surface of the water in some areas making it look white like snow.

Happy Birthday Earth!

04/01/2010 - Bayou Tallapoosa / Bayou Jessamine Loop

Launch: Rice Creek Landing near Stockton, AL

To see or download the Track of this trip, Click Here.

Header Image

1) Rice Creek Landing - water levels are finally down - 6 to 7 feet down. Check out the high water line.

2) Waldo? Forget Waldo - see if you can find the dangerous limb hook in this photo that is at face level. Yes, limb hooks sometimes blend in with the environment and are HARD to see. Click here to see the hook highlighted.

3) I hadn't expected to see such a wide variety of color in the trees today.

 4) The foliage was magnificent.

5) Receded waters left the forest floor coated with mud making it easy to spot where critters have been. 

6) Can you figure out what animals left these tracks?

7) Today's route was a loop through Bayou Tallapoosa with stops at Dead Lake Island and Jug Lake platforms. The carpenter bees were horrendous around the platforms so I stayed in the kayak. I also checked to see if the waterways were open to the Chippewa Lakes and Dominic Creek but water levels have to be higher to gain entrance to them.

8) There were about a half dozen snakes that dropped from tree limbs into the water today and in narrow waterways, one needs to pay attention when going near limbs. This harmless water snake, a mere foot away from the kayak, was soaking up some sun on the mud bank.

9) Alligators are not always easy to spot. Today I had to hug the bank to get around quite a few fallen trees. One alligator, high up on the bank and out of view, came crashing down the bank about 5 feet away while I was trying to get around a tree. That woke up me.

10) This is the Two Rivers Point WMA campground. Unfortunately, the metal stairway has shifted out into the water (top railing visible to the left of the kayak) and anyone wanting to camp here now must negotiate the mud bank and the climb could be 4-8 feet high. The root of the tree visible in this photo, is a helpful climbing aid.

11) These little ducks tried to keep up with the Hobie kayak but were no match as it passed them by. They were peeping loudly while mama watched from a distance.

12) An interesting camp site along one of the waterways. Probably a meth lab.

03/08/2009 - Bayou Tallapoosa

Launch: Public boat ramp on Rice Creek up near Stockton, AL
Cost: Free
Distance: Approx 14.8 miles.
Route: Paddle up Briar Lake to the Dead Lake platforms, then to Bayou Tallapoosa to Tensaw River and back.
Pace: Hard to Moderate against moderate currents, then Easy on the way back.
Average Speed: 1.6 mph.
Weather: Partly cloudy, 60-70 degrees, a few gusts of wind but mostly calm winds. The waters were high from upstream flooding. Current varied from 1-3 mph.

1) Rice Creek parking lot was under water.

2) Was only able to manage paddling about 2.0 mph upstream against the current.

3) Saw my first bear in the Delta.

4) Went to the Dead Lake platforms to take a stretch break. Strong currents subsided after leaving Tensaw Lake.

5) A couple of locals checking their trout line - no bites.

6) Entering Bayou Tallapoosa.

7) Old burnt out bald cypress tree.

8) Must be the latest in piercing – chain insertion. You never know what you’ll see on a kayaking adventure.

9) A few impressive red maple trees.

10) The usual towering butterweed now only 2-3 foot tall was abundant in some areas and quite beautiful.

11) Getting these two photos of a wild pig was a challenge. Had to get the camera out, turn it on, stop the kayak still in a 2 mph current and then try to position it for a shot, focus, and try to take photos while the current was pulling me into a tangle of limbs, quietly.

12) Little Piggy

13) Did you ever get the feeling that the trees were watching you?

14) While blazing my own trail through the woods (off river), I stumbled upon the biggest rookery of Great Blue Herons I’ve ever seen. 

15) Wish I could have explored the woods more. Ibis were also nesting in the rookery. 

16) I noticed orange on several trees from a distance and figured it to be survey paint. Happened to pass by orange markings and looked more closely. It is orange and gooey and it isn’t paint. Ewwww!

17) You gotta pay attention to your surroundings.

18) Not all critters are happy about their forced roommates during floods. In this photo, if you follow the twig just below the snakes head down to the bottom of the photo, you’ll notice an Anole (lizard) upside down on the twig. Bet the Anole isn’t too happy about what is above him.

19) The cabin at Bayou Tallapoosa and the Tensaw River was swarming with carpenter bees. 

20) Spent 9 hours on the water today and I didn’t want it to end. This was one enjoyable trip.

Note about paddling in flooded conditions: You have to be careful getting off the main streams and kayaking along your own trail. Big Spiders will jump from the water onto your kayak – it happened to me today. Snakes waiting in the trees for the water to slow down could easily fall into your kayak if you aren’t paying attention. Most everything you brush against has critters on it. Fire Ant colonies can be found clinging to the sides of anything. Wasp nests that are usually high overhead are now at face level during floods and easily bumped with the paddle during all the tricky maneuvering necessary to go around trees. While it is nice to enjoy the scenery, you must constantly be watching your surroundings. Take a GPS, and a compass so you know how to get back to the river.