out2sea03: July 2007

After about two weeks of intensive failing to plan, Nate, Jon, Adam, and I met at Tuscan Oven to plan an overnight trip down the Blackwater River. We left agreeing to meet at my apartment. We failed to set a meeting time. At about 9am, we were all at the apartment ready to go. A quick stop for sandwiches and ice and we were on our way to the take-out at Blackwater River State Park to leave a vehicle. Here we encountered our first obstacle...none of the guides noted that although you could make multi-day trips down the Blackwater, leaving a car overnight at the final take-out was not an option. Fortunately, we were able to pay Blackwater Canoe Rentals for an overnight space just outside the park.

From the park, we headed north towards the put-in at Peadon Bridge. We crossed the border into Alabama. That was unexpected...the entire trip was supposed to take place entirely in Florida. We turned around and found our missed turn; the street sign was entirely covered by tree's. Not that it mattered...the road was closed less than a mile later due to a bridge replacement. We turned around (again) and headed for Cotton Bridge two miles downriver. Shortly after noon, we were on our way down the Blackwater.

Enroute, we determined that we hadn't brought spoons or bowls for oatmeal in the morning. That later proved irrelevant, as we also forgot the oatmeal, granola bars, coffee, and s'mores makings (except the chocolate). Frankly, it's a miracle we survived. Jon and Adam were able to save the inner-tube containing beer and dinner from several near-punctures and we made it to our sandbar that night and lit a great fire. We found a lot of dead cedar across the river from our camp, so after some heavy hatchet work, we had cedar-smoked kebab's for dinner.

Sunday morning, after a breakfast that didn't consist of oatmeal and coffee, we made our way down the last 9-odd river-miles to the take-out. Sunday was significantly less eventful than Saturday and we pulled out at around noon.