Took a last minute trip over to Fisheating Creek this past weekend. Wasn't sure if we were going to be able to go until Friday night and even then the water levels were iffy. Iffy on the high side I thought but turned out to be almost perfect.
We've paddled and camped on FEC 3 times since the first of the year and the last 2 times the water level has been about 1.25 to 1.75 ft and the CFS was way down around 10 CFS. Last week the guage started coming up and the levels were 3.75-4.0 and the CFS was running about 180. I had visions of a tight little cypress creek raging around bends and into strainers, etc etc. Fun for me but with the 8 yr old little bit along. Her sitting in the bow of a tandem. Not something I wanted to test out.
At any rate, we decided to run over and take a look at least. Turns out 3.5 and 150-200 cfs is about perfect... Lesson learned.
We caught our shuttle out of the fisheating creek resort over in Palmdale
http://fisheatingcreekresort.com/
We opted to do a pretty short run and spend two nights out and cover about 10 miles total. We put in at Burnt Bridge and headed upstream.
Beautifull clear skies. Gators everywhere. Swallowtailed kites were abundant. Bromiliads and all sorts of flowers around.
We paddled upstream for about an hour and came to a nice little island that was ready made for camping and got the seal of approval from the boss ( little bit)
Trees to climb.
Campfire wood to break up.
Dinner
Dessert
Pretty eventfull night as it is gator mating season and two big bulls decided to have a territorial dispute on either side of our little island campground. Big loud bellowing and tail slapping most of the night. Little bit was pretty scared but I finally convinced her that I would let nothing happen to her and she asked if I would jump on the gator and hit him on the head if he came into camp. I replied yes, If I had to I would. Her reply, Then can we eat him for dinner?
The next morning came up cool and foggy. Very quite and pretty
We finally got packed up and headed downstream by 10:30 or so. Not far to go and no real hurry. We fished and drifted. More gators and swallowtailed kites. ( no pictures of the kites dangit.)Lots and lots of plants and flowers.
Dinner caught along the way
Made about 4 miles on Sunday and came to a nice little sandy beach area that we had camped at on the last trip. Got set up and a soft rain started falling. We jumped in the tent and relaxed for a bit.
View from the front door
The rain broke quickly and we set about getting dinner ready and turned in pretty early since we were up most of the night waiting to bonk gators on the head the evening before. :wink:
Another beautifull morning greeted us Monday morning as well.
Hot chocolate and cheerios for breakfast and then just laid around the camp until midmorning and then it was time to pack up and head home.
Another great weekend!
We've paddled and camped on FEC 3 times since the first of the year and the last 2 times the water level has been about 1.25 to 1.75 ft and the CFS was way down around 10 CFS. Last week the guage started coming up and the levels were 3.75-4.0 and the CFS was running about 180. I had visions of a tight little cypress creek raging around bends and into strainers, etc etc. Fun for me but with the 8 yr old little bit along. Her sitting in the bow of a tandem. Not something I wanted to test out.
At any rate, we decided to run over and take a look at least. Turns out 3.5 and 150-200 cfs is about perfect... Lesson learned.
We caught our shuttle out of the fisheating creek resort over in Palmdale
http://fisheatingcreekresort.com/
We opted to do a pretty short run and spend two nights out and cover about 10 miles total. We put in at Burnt Bridge and headed upstream.
Beautifull clear skies. Gators everywhere. Swallowtailed kites were abundant. Bromiliads and all sorts of flowers around.
We paddled upstream for about an hour and came to a nice little island that was ready made for camping and got the seal of approval from the boss ( little bit)
Trees to climb.
Campfire wood to break up.
Dinner
Dessert
Pretty eventfull night as it is gator mating season and two big bulls decided to have a territorial dispute on either side of our little island campground. Big loud bellowing and tail slapping most of the night. Little bit was pretty scared but I finally convinced her that I would let nothing happen to her and she asked if I would jump on the gator and hit him on the head if he came into camp. I replied yes, If I had to I would. Her reply, Then can we eat him for dinner?
The next morning came up cool and foggy. Very quite and pretty
We finally got packed up and headed downstream by 10:30 or so. Not far to go and no real hurry. We fished and drifted. More gators and swallowtailed kites. ( no pictures of the kites dangit.)Lots and lots of plants and flowers.
Dinner caught along the way
Made about 4 miles on Sunday and came to a nice little sandy beach area that we had camped at on the last trip. Got set up and a soft rain started falling. We jumped in the tent and relaxed for a bit.
View from the front door
The rain broke quickly and we set about getting dinner ready and turned in pretty early since we were up most of the night waiting to bonk gators on the head the evening before. :wink:
Another beautifull morning greeted us Monday morning as well.
Hot chocolate and cheerios for breakfast and then just laid around the camp until midmorning and then it was time to pack up and head home.
Another great weekend!