Arbuckle Creek - Part Deux

Arbuckle Creek

Part Deux

Day 1:

Arbuckle Creek Ramp To Niebert’s Fish Camp

March 21, 2015

On our second trip to Arbuckle Creek we took two vehicles so we could go further by doing a shuttle. We launched from Arbuckle Creek Ramp and headed toward our take out at Niebert’s Fish Camp. This part of the creek was very wide and open, but there were still many towering Cypress trees along its banks. 

There were many birds along the wide open areas including hawks, woodstorks and great blue herons.  

We passed quite a few cows grazing in the pasture and even saw a turkey with its fan shaped tail strutting for a female turkey. For the record, she turned and walked away.

 

At times it seemed like there was nothing but open pasture and then suddenly it twisted and turned and became more narrow with an umbrella of trees providing shade.

Swallow-tail Kites glided overhead and an alligator basked in the sun.

 

We paddled just under 10 miles. Once we made it to the take out at Niebert’s Fish Camp, we made our way back to the campground. We strolled around the campground while the sun was setting and then relaxed by the campfire already anticipating the next day’s adventure.

Day 2:

Burnt Out Bridge To Arbuckle Creek Ramp

March 22, 2015

With the scent of orange blossoms still in the air, the next  morning we launched from Burnt Out Bridge and paddled through a forest of Cypress Trees, limbs stretched out above us. 

Along the way we passed some Woodstorks, a Little Blue Heron and some other birds. 

The cows stared at us as we floated by.

We reached the part where the Roseate Spoonbills were seen the last time and there they were.

  

A few turtles could be seen sunning themselves on the twisted remains of a tree.

While talking and laughing we realized an owl in a tree was staring at us. We both got quiet  and I stuck around to get a closer look. It never flew away, but cocked its head at me as I took pictures of it. It was still there when I quietly paddled away.

To the muddy shore on our right, baby alligators blended right in with the scenery. There were at least three that I could count, but maybe more that I couldn’t see.

 

 We continued past the moss draped trees and it suddenly changed to a field, twisting and winding. 

More alligators were spotted in the water. Occasionally we would see a big alligator swimming ahead of us, but away from us.Then it would disappear. No doubt we paddled over a few of them.

We were getting a bit of a headwind once we got to more open waters and wondered if this is what the rest of the trip would be like. The winds calmed down and though we didn’t know it yet, the takeout was just around the corner. This trip was approximately 11.50 miles of gorgeous, scenic paddling abundant with wildlife.

I enjoyed this trip better than the trip the day before, but I’m glad I paddled both of them. Arbuckle Creek is definitely a favorite of mine and I hope to come back many more times.