South Cheaha Wilderness Loop

“I would feel more optimistic about a bright future for man if he spent less time proving that he can outwit Nature and more time tasting her sweetness and respecting her seniority.” 

― E.B. White, Letters of E. B. White

There is nothing like being in the woods experiencing all this earth has to offer, it is almost addicting.  Every time you go, you just want to go back, wondering when the next time will be and how long will you get to stay.  If you ever get the taste of nature, it is very hard to get out of your mouth.  Nothing compares to it and everything inside you knows it.  It is almost as if your soul longs for it, at least I know mine does and every since I have discovered this, there is nothing that can replace it.  I never thought I would come to a point in  my life where I would desire to be outside so much, but I am glad that I am here and look forward to where this will take me.

Cheaha is a beautiful place, especially this time of year.  With all the leaves changing colors and falling to the ground it is a wondrous site that no picture can truly depict the beauty that you are surrounded by as you walk upward to Heaven and Rocky Top.  With an elevation of 2160' it is definitely a site to be seen as you look out onto the earth below and you can even see the cloud's shadow.  

The loop consists of many trails with very few blazes, but it was still pretty easy to follow.  We started it a little different then what the website suggests.  Starting at Turnipseed Hunters Camp going up to Rocky Top and back down to Adam's Gap.  We camped very close to the C.C.C. chimney the first night.  We had no clue that Pinhoti 100 was going on and had trail runners coming through our camp most of the night.  With little sleep, the next day we would decide to go ahead and finish the loop and head home.  We had ten miles to go at this point.  I never seen so many people in the woods at one time,  it was a great weekend to be out and about.

From the Pinhoti to the Skyway loop we came up on Devil's Den and decided to take a break.  It was very peaceful to watch the water race by as I ate lunch under a rock.  From there we made our way up to the Cheaha Falls Shelter.  From the shelter we could see most of our travels on the other side, it was amazing.  With a quick rest there we would finish the loop way before dark even with the time change.  I feel like we accomplished something this weekend.  With over eighteen miles in two days dodging trail runners and many people it still felt good to be in the woods.  Thank you David for letting me join.

Life is a funny thing, you never know what is going to happen but if you are determined there is nothing you cannot do.  I think as humans we do not give ourselves enough credit, we are very capable creatures.  Challenge yourself and if you truly want to succeed, you will.  Go outside and enjoy the vast wonders of Mother Nature and this place we luckily get to call home.  This earth is not ours we are just guests here.  Don't try to change it or make it better, it is already the greatest thing you could ever be apart of.  Until next time, live to wander.

Gulf Islands National Seashore

"I must go down to the seas again, for the call of the running tide is a wild call and a clear call that may not be denied."                     

                                                                                                                    -John Masefield

Never really been much on the beach, sand or the ocean but Sunday changed my mind a bit.  The beach that most people go and have their fun at is not the beach I experienced that day, it was almost like Bon Secour but it seemed endless.  Miles upon miles of undeveloped land and nothing but beauty as far as the eye could see.  White quartz sand surrounded by beautiful water, golden rods, and dunes.  Where is this?  The Florida district of the Gulf Islands National Seashore.

A few friends and I headed down to Perdido Key to paddle out and see the earth, I had no clue it was going to be as amazing as it was.  We started the day by dragging our boats from the road through the sand to start off in Big Lagoon.  From Big Lagoon we would paddle around five miles or so to what was known during the Civil War as Fort McRee.  Halfway there we stopped to eat lunch and take a break on Redfish Point, an excellent island with so many colors and beauty as the sun shined bright above us.  The lagoon was a little choppy but nothing that couldn't be enjoyed.  During our break, we hung out around an old abandoned boat, probably washed up from one of the hurricanes in previous years.  I decided I would climb inside in hopes to find a sack full of money, no money but still very interesting to be inside.

As we arrived closer to Fort McRee, you could almost feel yourself going back in time as you looked upon the hill and wondered how rough it was for those soldiers during the most deadliest war in history.  Fort McRee was established to defend Pensacola Bay, along with Fort Pickens and Fort Barrancas.  On November 22, 1861 Fort Mcree was bombarded by Union forces and ships Niagra and Richmond.  Though Richmond took heavy fire from the Confederate troops, Fort Mcree was no match and 5 p.m. that day the Fort was silent.  The next day Niagara resumed fire on the Fort as well as the Union controlled Fort Pickens, although the Fort survived it was badly battered.  With chunks of wall demolished by cannon fire and most of the wooden decks destroyed by fire the Fort was no more and the Confederate abandoned and set fire to McRee by 1862.  Battered and burned is how the Fort would stay for the next three decades.

In 1898 a battery was constructed with eight inch rifled guns, known as Battery Slemmer, also in 1899 a battery of rapid fire guns where installed known as Battery Center but by 1906 a hurricane destroyed most of the structures.  The guns where later removed for WWI and sent to Europe.  Later the sight of Fort McRee would be used during WWII as another battery, constructed but never used.  The war ended before the guns where even installed.  The remnants of this still remain.

After exploring the Fort, we paddled back across the lagoon and decided to take the Gulf back to the cars.  This would be a first for me and made me a bit uncomfortable, but I always up for new adventures and it was well worth it.  As we made our way back dolphins almost seemed to be following us, making sure we made it back safe.  There is nothing like watching the sun go down as you paddle back on the ocean.  I encourage you to get out of your comfort zone, do something that you will remember for the rest of your life.  If you have never experienced paddling give it a try, if that doesn't intrigue you, everything I talked about can be reached by foot.  Overall it was an eleven mile paddle, but the benefits and the sites you get to see are well worth the effort.  This earth is not our home, but it truly welcomes us as guest.  With a little respect and effort your soul can be freed.  Try it, I promise you won't regret it.  Until next time, live to wander.

From the Causeway to the Alley

"Humans are disappearing from the outdoors at a rate that would make them top any conservationist's list of endangered species. "
                                                                                                                              -Tim Gill

I know everyone doesn't have as much free time as they would like, but what do you fill your free time with?  I hope from reading this blog I have challenged you to go out and enjoy the outdoors, enjoy mother nature and realize what great beauty this earth still holds.  It is a blessing to be able to go outside and see things from a different point of view, to know that this land still holds adventure, still holds a journey and most of it is free or worth the money you have to pay for it.

Sunday I met up with a group of friends with my wife to paddle the causeway.  I have paddled around the area but never what we did that day.  We put in on the Causeway just below the Oyster House which is know as Pass Picada.  From there we would head down the Apalachee River into Mobile Bay.  Once in Mobile Bay we would follow the Bay Bridge (I-10) all the way to Daphne Alabama.  Besides the constant sounds of the cars passing overhead it was amazing and a new perspective on things.  I will never see the the Bay Bridge the same way ever again.  Upon arrival in Daphne we decided to head into D'Olive bay into D'Olive Creek.  The creek is where many people walk a boardwalk in Daphne known as Alligator Alley, but we would paddle it, something I have always wanted to do.  Under the walkway and also HWY 98 we
would paddle up the creek talking about how prehistoric it looked and then all of a sudden the biggest alligator I have ever seen slides right into the creek.  No exaggeration it was almost as big as my canoe, which is thirteen feet long.  We kept going anyway and made our way to end, ends us behind the Jubilee Mall Shopping Center, we called it "Shopping Cart Graveyard" because of all the carts that were submerged under us.  Overall it was twelve mile paddle and on the way back we got to see the sunset over the bay and do a little night paddling.  This would be our first time to paddle at night and it was amazing to see the stars come up as we paddled along the water which was as smooth as glass.  The wildlife was very amazing despite the noise, I guess they are used to it, we definitely were not.  On the way back we cut up Shellbank River, which is very similar to BayMinette Basin.  Apparently a bald eagle lives out there, we saw the nest but not eagle, maybe next time.

Thank you Misty, Frank, and David for an awesome adventure and great way to relax and enjoy the Causeway, Bay Bridge and Alligator Alley in ways never imagined.  We are definitely the ones enjoying this great earth and all it has to offer.  Until next time, live to wander.