Sparkleberry Swamp - February 12, 2005
Distance Paddled: Approximately 7.5 Topo Map GPS Arial Map
BIG - that's the word for this trip: big group, big blue sky, big surround of water, big flock of ibis (or is it ibii?), big box of shared cookies (yum!), big in-coming current from the river, big chance on the route back to the put-in and big barbeque buffet to finish it all off. In short, a big time and big adventure on this Sparkleberry Swamp paddle.
The list of paddlers starts with familiar names, then adds some new ones. Rembert and I were trip coordinators with able assist from Ernie, Wayne (and daughter Titiana) and Brian. Then we had Tom, Roy, Pam, Greg, Sheila, Dave and Diane, Lee and Ann, Rock, Linda, Carol, the three Ed's, Shawn and Dennis. The first-timers were Sam Sturkie, Ray Moody, Janice Foy, Barry Mock and Karin Wolfe. Yup, that is 28 people in 22 boats; quite a plethora of paddlers and a fabulous flotilla of water craft (sometimes I can't help myself!) We added lots of color to the brown and gray vegetation and black-water environment.
The put-in was a flurry of activity by 11:00 as all unloaded and packed up boats. While Gregg showed off his rescued keys and new hat (from the last trip) a hue and cry went up for spare canoe paddles. Yes, Gregg is off the hook and we all have someone new to tease-Lee Olson came well-provisioned - all except for his paddles! Luckily, the problem was solved through swapping and sharing, and soon we were all on the water. Whistles were checked, GPS's charged and walkie/talkies were all set to the same channel and we were off to a good start on a beautiful winter's day. Air temperature about 60 and water level at about 75 at the dam - great water level for some exploring in Sparkleberry.
Rembert, Ernie, Wayne and Tatiana took the early lead and the rest followed at a sedate pace. First-timers and old-hands too were awed by the beauty and stillness through which we paddled. Bird song, from mostly un-seen birds, added to the ambience. As we were negotiating the left turn from Otter Flat to McGirt's creek, the radios crackled and word came from the rear guard that we had a swimmer, inadvertent. He had plenty of assistance from Brian, Tom, Pam, Shawn and Ray. So the rest of the party took a break from paddling and waited for the 'tail' to catch up. Soon they appeared with Sam paddling a tandem canoe with Ray - thanks Ray for sharing your canoe - and Brian towing an empty sea-kayak - no easy task in the stump and tree filled water. But he appeared to be handling the extra task with considerable ease. (It always looks easy from the peanut gallery!)
Together again, we decided to take a side trip out to the river - for fun and also to find some dry land for a lunch spot - a decision at least one of our party had cause to regret later. But onward we went through the trees, following GPS waypoints and some faint memories from an earlier trip. We began to encounter some current, then some more current, then a goodly, strong current as the water came into the swamp from the river. Dry land was found before we actually reached the river and it was agreed that it was an adequate spot on which to lunch. This landing was tricky with strong cross-current, lots of mud and not much landing space but successfully negotiated by one and all (hunger is a great motivator!) Those that landed first were wonderful in helping the next wave of paddlers to land. Everyone got muddy up to their ankles (and knees) but some found it kinda fun (there was "joy in Mudville"?) - at least the complaints were not too bad. All were glad for the opportunity to stand up - eat some lunch - find a tree- and share conversation with old and new-found friends. After lunch, maps and GPS were again consulted and we decided to forge ahead through the swamp rather that re-trace what we had already done. Pam was excellent in grouping the entire party for our traditional group picture. Her tripod of 3 half-kayak paddles was a wonder of ingeniousness. Smiles were found as the trip was recorded for posterity - and our website home page.
Launching was an interesting challenge as we headed back into the strong cross-current through the deep mud. Soon, the entire flotilla was back on the water. In the scramble to get through a tricky curve, Roy did avoid a fellow paddler but not the strainer near-by. He got too up close and personal with some brush and hit the cold water. It seemed to happen very quickly but he did hold onto his paddle and boat - a masterful exhibit of proper capsize technique. While he slogged to 'dry' land nearby, Brian and I emptied and righted his boat and there were lots of helpful hands to move it to him. Being quite prepared, he soon changed into his complete set of dry clothes and re-appeared through the woods wearing a beacon-orange watch cap - very cheerful and an easy mark to follow in our twisty, tricky trail back to the landing.
All was well and we were again on our way, encountering a flock of ibis feeding and fluttering all around us. I led the group for a while straight (?) back to the post-license plate tree landmark - following a GPS track borrowed from an intrepid swamp traveler - Jerry Bright. It proved to be accurate though there were some rumblings behind me, I think, of a possible mutiny. Wayne, a frequent Sparkleberryier, came to my rescue and agreed with our path. I do admit here that even I had some trepidation - but faint heart never wins the day and we did successfully arrive at our landmark through some beautiful 'cross-country' paddling. Think everyone enjoyed the adventure but were glad to get back on the creek for the rest of the journey. From here, Brian, Tom and the towed kayak - yes, Brian was still towing - took a shorter route home while the rest of us explored the lower end of Sparkleberry Flats and I gave up the lead to Wayne. A Big Adventure and Beautiful Day in Sparkleberry.
Loading boats and gear was done efficiently at the landing with everyone helping. Borrowed paddles were returned and we were ready to go. 
Some were ready to head for home but about 12-15 of us (I had given up counting by then but I do know that we had 28 arrive back at the landing which was what we had started with, I think!) headed for yummy Country Fixin's Barbeque Shack just outside of Paxville (a great foodery). Gregg will shoot me if I don't mention, at least in passing, that our adventure was not quite over. We spent a fun - for us - 20 minutes after dinner watching and 'helping' Brian retrieve HIS keys from inside his locked truck. It is well-documented by our camera buffs and was accomplished with patience, grace and very few bad words. As a post-script, reviewing the trip with Pam tonight, we both admitted to having added a wire coat hanger to our regular paddling gear! Always something new to learn on every trip!
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