Wandering This Earth: Bay Minette Basin Pt. 2

"I don't want to feel good all of the time, then I will use all of my good days up. Feeling bad is part of getting old, but I am doing pretty good to be almost eighty."

-Mr. Buzbee

Today I decided I would take my wife to Bay Minette Basin, because I knew she would enjoy it as much as I did on Thursday. We got a pretty early start on things this morning, and I felt privileged to have a pretty awesome conversation with Mr. Buzbee. It is only three dollars to launch at Buzbee's Landing and I encourage everyone to go there and give this man your money. He has been there his whole life and deserves a lot more than three dollars for his generosity. We talked for a few minutes about life, and how much I appreciate him allowing us to launch from his property. He said that he appreciated me and the more people to use it the better he would eat, which got us talking some more about how we are lucky because we can eat anything we want and how we are blessed because of that. This man's spirit is amazing, I could only imagine what it would be like to really sit down and talk to him. After the refreshing time I spent with him, we (wife and I) unloaded the canoe to realize we had left just about everything we needed at home, which is in Mobile, Alabama. I told her to sit tight and I would run up to the store and grab a few cheap paddles just so we could enjoy the day. It only

took around 15 minutes or so, as opposed to driving 30 minutes just to get back to the house, not to mention loading everything up and unloading it once again. While I was gone she had really nice conversations with an older gentleman and his son. It seems lately that everyone is picking up on our positive vibes and we are both really starting to enjoy people. All we have left in this world is each other, so we might as well come together and make this a better place.

Bay Minette Basin is one of my new favorite places to canoe. It is very close to home, quite, and very peaceful. There is nothing like escaping everyday life. I took her through the grass mazes and it felt like we were surrounded by butterflies, dragonflies, and giant fish. I felt that this one particular dragonfly followed us the whole day. He would land on my leg, my finger, the canoe and my paddle on occasion. I am sure it was a different one, but I like to think we had an extra passenger today. We stayed very close to the bank today, it was a very great idea. We found two nooks in between moss covered oak trees, very similar to one Paul and I found Thursday. The last one we came upon had an old Indian stomping ground, it was to perfect not to be. The banks were littered with oyster shells and palmettos where everywhere. We hung out in these nooks for a while, just enjoying the shade and the prehistoric vibes that it put off.

It looked very different today in comparison to Thursday, it is amazing how the same place can look completely different depending on the water levels and I am sure there are other factors involved as well. Vegetation covered most of the water today, but it was nice seeing the same sized fish as last time violently swimming past creating huge pathways in the water. They would leap out of the water as if they were flying. Today felt like how canoeing should be. We had no time frame, no where to be and no one telling us what to do. There were a few people around Buzbee's landing when we left but absolutely no one in Bay Minette Basin but me and my wife. It feels really good to escape everything and sometimes everyone as well. Mother Nature has her way of smiling down on you every now and again.

Coming back would be a little more work. The wind was blowing mostly against us around 5 mph with gust up to 8. It made the four miles we paddled seem like twenty , but it was also a great workout. We passed a few hunters in a john boat on the way back and stopped at the last nook to eat some sandwiches to fuel us for the rest of the paddle back to the landing. Once we left our picnic hide-a-way the wind seemed not as bad and Mother Nature was smiling on us once again.

What a beautiful day to be out on the water. There is absolutely nothing like it in the world. When the skies are right it is the most relaxing thing any human being could possibly due. The four miles we paddled today took us almost four hours, but it just goes to show that we were straight relaxing with not a care in the world.

I never would have thought in a million years that I would be doing stuff like this. I have found a strong calling to the outdoors and for me there is nothing like it in the world. I am truly blessed with a wife who not only supports it, but enjoys it just as much as I do. There is nothing like spending the day in nature with the one I love. Here is to many more adventures with her and my friends. Thanks to everyone who supports me with encouraging words, advice and to everyone who is kind enough to read these ramblings. I hope that I am encouraging you to go outside and find your adventure. Grab hold and never let go, the rewards are endless. Outside is a wonderful thing, the woods are a wonderful place and paddling is so very relaxing. Let Mother Nature smile down on you. Until next time.

Be sure to add me on Facebook, Google + (Dusty Norris) or Instagram (@living_wander). All the pictures that we take are on these. Please share with friend in hopes that they will share with a friend and a chain reaction will occur and I will find you all in the woods or on the water next time.