River Adventure (continued)

Jeff is so knowledgable about the river. He's says he's been on it all his life and after church, as a child, the grown-ups would take the kids down to the river to have a snake hunt. His eye is very trained. All of a sudden he yelled 'I see an Anaconda'. For a split second I think he really does and then DUH... Anacondas aren't in North America. But, he does see a big brown water snake quite invisible to the naked eye, curled up on a limb. That's MY naked eye, folks, I liked to have never located that thing. Jeff edges the pontoon up alongside the fallen tree where the snake is, too close for my comfort!! But, at that close range, how could I not see it!!!!

Fallen trees are a place to observe turtles and snakes but I love the fallen trees for their artistic form.

                              And the romantic notion that mistletoe always brings to mind.

Fallen trees provide great fishing ground and there were a few boats on the river. They were busy catching fish but when the engine conked out they asked if they could help. We didn't need them but it was so kind of them to offer assistance.

We saw a couple of beaver dams (but no beavers) one active, one abandoned. Jeff fished a slick stick out of the water and showed us where the beavers had chiseled away the bark and the soft stuff under the bark. You could see the teeth marks.

Our guide showed us where a Civil War battle was fought on the river. The Union troops brought in gunboats to try and shell out the Confeds who were on the hill. Gee, I hope I get correct what little I retained from his story.  I had not brought a pad and pen with me, much to my sorrow, for there was much to learn and absorb. This was the battle of Crumpler's Bluff. Today it is a very peaceful place and I enjoyed hearing about the battle.

I am so thankful that I got to view some of God's beauty, Blackwater River, right here in my own back yard. Thank you, Jeff, for a fantastic trip!