“Health Concerns…”

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‘Twas a cold early November when a group of friends ventured to the Blackwater River State Park near Holt, Florida for a 2 night/2 day camping and kayaking adventure. What follows are a series of photos of this incredible adventure…..

The Blackwater River in the Florida Panhandle is incredibly beautiful.

For several years now a group of friends have made an annual pilgrimage to the Blackwater River State Park near Holt, Florida to camp and to kayak the beautiful river. This time of year is special because with the approach of cooler weather few people visit the river. This also applies to biting insects!

Bob Aker built this Kayak Rack which transported five kayaks to and from the river. This rack proved to be an incredible benefit!

Prior to getting to the river paddlers stopped at the FWC Fish Hatchery. A biologist there took the paddlers on a tour of the “runs” which held several species of fish.

These are the “runs” at the fish hatchery which are used to study and raise fish.
Here are a few fish in one of the runs.
It was a beautiful day at the fish hatchery!
The first night was spent at the Blackwater River State Park which is a very well kept park. This particular area became known as “The Sawmill” once the sun went down…..
These fresh pastries were placed on a picnic table at the park campground around 4pm. Within half an hour “Dirty Mike and the Boys” got into these muffins and helped themselves. We’ve lost food to the resident raccoons in years past. This year proved to be no exception!
Firewood was gathered for an unseasonably cold November night in Florida
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Edward prepares to head to the river!
The key to making the trip work is to hire an “outfitter” who transports to boats, the gear and the paddlers 20 miles upstream to the Wilderness Landing and put out there. From there paddlers paddle downstream back to the state park. The outfitter showed up with four canoes already on the trailer which made the transport a little sketchy. All in all it worked.
Paddlers were hoping for a ride in the short bus since temps were in the low 40’s but it wasn’t meant to be. The outfitter arived in this old stake bed truck with benches in the back for paddlers to sit next to their gear and two kayaks which would not fit on the trailer.
And away they go!
Forty degrees at 35mph down the road produces a windchill of 23 degrees farenheit! It was a cold ride to the landing!
Twenty miles later paddlers arrive at the Wilderness Landing
The water level was low due to a lack of rain
Paddlers were glad to finally be on the river!
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The sun sets on the Blackwater River!
The campfire was a welcome relief on a cold night!
Daylight brings a new day on the Blackwater River
D
The Blackwater River State Park is home to thousands of Long Leaf Yellow Pines
Hot coffee on a cold morning!
Jay and Edward discuss the plan for the day
Odiel prepares the Jet Boil
Staying warm!
The river was low and beautiful
Steve enjoys the morning!

So ends another incredible kayaking journey on the beautiful Blackwater River! Although the temperatures were unseasonably cold the river was low and beautiful. We are truly blessed to enjoy such beauty with such a great group of friends. Until next time…

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