Florida Trail Association
Western Gate and Choctawhatchee Chapters
Chipola River Paddle
April 25-26, 2008


The camping group arrived at Florida Caverns State Park on Friday, April 25, and set up camp.  Some sported shiny new campers and others roughed it in tents. The group included Harlan Welch, Ann Welch, Susan Fishbaugh, Paula Fries, Richard Kersten, Wallis Mayo, Paul Mayo, Dottie Doherty, Linda Taylor, Susan Berg, John Veasey, and Ed Williamson.  On Saturday, we were joined by Susan Creel, Randy Creel, Trudy Walden, and John Carson at Yancey Bridge in Marianna.  The weather was ideal and we launched around 10:00.  The paddlers had a very enjoyable float with stops at several points such as Sandbag Spring and some of the group explored caves in the limestone rock formations.  We stopped for lunch at Maund Spring and some hardy swimmers went for a dip and explored the bottom of the spring.  At the end of the 10-mile paddle, we took out at the SR 280/Magnolia Road Bridge between 3:00 and 4:00.  On Sunday, after planned activities were over, campers were on their own and enjoyed hiking or fishing in the park and one group joined up with Frances Stone of Marianna and did a paddle down Dry Creek.
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We're off!


Put in at Yancey Bridge



One Susan says
"Paddle this way"

View upstream


Part of the group


Another Susan says "That's too much work."


Sneaking an early lunch

eating lunch

Limestone formations near the cave


Susan and Ed


Ed


Cave along the river

eating lunch

Wild flowers near the cave


If you look closely
you can see the snake


The elusive bird finally caught on camera


Enjoying the ride

eating lunch
Cypress knees



Ed and Paul


Getting the kayaks loaded back up


Taking a hike around the
caverns

eating lunch

Outside the caverns