A few weeks back, the Tampa Tribune ran an article about the Alafia River State Park. In it, the author, Frank Sargent mentioned an easy launch for the South prong of the Alafia River. Being that I enjoy exploring new areas I went out to check it out.
I arrived on a Sunday and paddled up stream into the marsh. It was a beautiful paddle and I looked forward to one day continuing my journey downstream. This I planned to do in a couple of weeks.
Saturday, Feb 7, 2004. My paddling partner Kevin and I launch at 12 noon in my home built 15-½ foot canoe. The current is moving fairly swift, the sun was bright and we were protected from the breeze by the trees.
Within 200 yards, we run into our first obstacle. A cabbage palm that had fallen and crossed the river. Fortunately, there was just enough water to float us over it. After that we arrived at our first portage. Little did we know that this would be a sign of things to come on the rest of our trip?
The portage was about 4 rods. A rod is defined as the approximate length of a canoe used by the Voyageurs of past (16 1/2ft). We carried the canoe thru some muddy ground then thru a little poison ivy filled island. After looking around for a bit, we continued downstream.
Within the next hour, we had 5 more portages. All from 1 rod to approximately 30 rods. These portages were required due to the fallen oak and cabbage palms. The river would meander, and at the bends, we were sure to find a tangled mess of tree trunks, branches, and other vegetation. This paddle was to be more difficult than we had expected.
Our plan was to leave Kevin's truck at the Alderman's Ford canoe launch in order to ferry us back down to my truck located at the Thatcher Rd put in. Being the parks closed at 6 pm we had 6 hours for our journey. Or so we thought.
Back on the river, we would run into the same scenario over again. The few straight runs were uneventful and nice. The bends in the river would almost always be clogged with trees. I had started keeping a log of or portages on a little waterproof notepad. But after a while, the novelty wore off and we were concerned about what was ahead.
Now a couple of hours into the trip, I am silently getting concerned. I find I am constantly looking at my watch. We have no clue as to how far we have traveled, do not have any landmarks, and have not passed the one landmark we have identified (Lithia-Pinecrest road). We still paddle downstream, but the trip is becoming more difficult, and it is getting later.
The river is opening a bit, and we are starting to get into some pastureland. Across the river in front is a fence and cable. Illegal yes, but it still exists. We back up, turn on the speed and are able to paddle right over the obstruction. Now we have a curve ball thrown at us. How many more will there be and will we be able to get past them. We are committed to continuing downstream. Ahead is another fence. This time, we have to portage around on dry land.
As a lot of people know, this can be controversial. The law says the People own all land up to the mean high water mark as determined by the Army Corps of Engineers. Ranchers typically have a differing point of view. It is not a conversation I care to have with a ranch hand in the middle of no where, so we carry the canoe around and paddle away as quick as possible.
Aside from the fences, this part of our trip is relatively clean. We are still paddling thru the pastureland and even pass under a small concrete bridge. Just past the bridge, on the left we see a tent and some balloons. It looks like some one is throwing a birthday party. I am feeling a little bit nervous and all eyes are on us while we pass. One gentleman yells out Are you guys paddling back upstream?Â
I arrived on a Sunday and paddled up stream into the marsh. It was a beautiful paddle and I looked forward to one day continuing my journey downstream. This I planned to do in a couple of weeks.
Saturday, Feb 7, 2004. My paddling partner Kevin and I launch at 12 noon in my home built 15-½ foot canoe. The current is moving fairly swift, the sun was bright and we were protected from the breeze by the trees.
Within 200 yards, we run into our first obstacle. A cabbage palm that had fallen and crossed the river. Fortunately, there was just enough water to float us over it. After that we arrived at our first portage. Little did we know that this would be a sign of things to come on the rest of our trip?
The portage was about 4 rods. A rod is defined as the approximate length of a canoe used by the Voyageurs of past (16 1/2ft). We carried the canoe thru some muddy ground then thru a little poison ivy filled island. After looking around for a bit, we continued downstream.
Within the next hour, we had 5 more portages. All from 1 rod to approximately 30 rods. These portages were required due to the fallen oak and cabbage palms. The river would meander, and at the bends, we were sure to find a tangled mess of tree trunks, branches, and other vegetation. This paddle was to be more difficult than we had expected.
Our plan was to leave Kevin's truck at the Alderman's Ford canoe launch in order to ferry us back down to my truck located at the Thatcher Rd put in. Being the parks closed at 6 pm we had 6 hours for our journey. Or so we thought.
Back on the river, we would run into the same scenario over again. The few straight runs were uneventful and nice. The bends in the river would almost always be clogged with trees. I had started keeping a log of or portages on a little waterproof notepad. But after a while, the novelty wore off and we were concerned about what was ahead.
Now a couple of hours into the trip, I am silently getting concerned. I find I am constantly looking at my watch. We have no clue as to how far we have traveled, do not have any landmarks, and have not passed the one landmark we have identified (Lithia-Pinecrest road). We still paddle downstream, but the trip is becoming more difficult, and it is getting later.
The river is opening a bit, and we are starting to get into some pastureland. Across the river in front is a fence and cable. Illegal yes, but it still exists. We back up, turn on the speed and are able to paddle right over the obstruction. Now we have a curve ball thrown at us. How many more will there be and will we be able to get past them. We are committed to continuing downstream. Ahead is another fence. This time, we have to portage around on dry land.
As a lot of people know, this can be controversial. The law says the People own all land up to the mean high water mark as determined by the Army Corps of Engineers. Ranchers typically have a differing point of view. It is not a conversation I care to have with a ranch hand in the middle of no where, so we carry the canoe around and paddle away as quick as possible.
Aside from the fences, this part of our trip is relatively clean. We are still paddling thru the pastureland and even pass under a small concrete bridge. Just past the bridge, on the left we see a tent and some balloons. It looks like some one is throwing a birthday party. I am feeling a little bit nervous and all eyes are on us while we pass. One gentleman yells out Are you guys paddling back upstream?Â
