I ran into the river types in the Amazonas area of Ecuador. The “yellow” rivers – not “white” ones there. Glacially fed ultimately, large, usually silty. And the Black rivers, fed from the surrounding land. The yellow ones, like the Agua Rico (out of landing place, Lago Agrio – and others, depending on the trip route), the highways of the rain forest. Big “canoes” of industrial size and strength, manufactured. Painted yellow with CocaCola ads painted on them. Carrying machinery, vehicles, etc. and you would reach some kind of cove or literal jumping-off place and get into a tiny, hand-hewn, canoe, holding maybe 8 people and canoist making at most 10, and wend your way to your scubby destination – or maybe fancier ones. But reached always via the narrow black waters.
And in Florida, on the farm, near Gainesville, there was “the creek.” The entry to the farming area, a sand road off the highway, leading to the sandier lanes to houses and fields had a little bridge and there was a crick in the creek’s course and we would go there. It was a kind of pool, holding a bunch of cousins and uncles. It was deep copper, almost black, and you could see your skin being amber and clear as you swam or stood near the surface. We knew it was clean, and just another colour. There wasn’t enough length in the pool for actual swimming, you just jumped, paddled stayed out of the small deeper area. Good times and they come back to me very strongly reading your accounts. Love it, Walter!
We have kayaked the Sopchoppy where it runs into the sea -- we paddled upstream between narrow banks on brackish water, ever watchful for large reptiles. Your essay brought back fond memories. The Apalachicola region is such a special place.
Yes, there is a lot of special stuff in the Apalachicola region. The upper part of the Sopchoppy River is my favorite. The sandhills section has a lot of lovely places too, both wetlands and uplands.
I ran into the river types in the Amazonas area of Ecuador. The “yellow” rivers – not “white” ones there. Glacially fed ultimately, large, usually silty. And the Black rivers, fed from the surrounding land. The yellow ones, like the Agua Rico (out of landing place, Lago Agrio – and others, depending on the trip route), the highways of the rain forest. Big “canoes” of industrial size and strength, manufactured. Painted yellow with CocaCola ads painted on them. Carrying machinery, vehicles, etc. and you would reach some kind of cove or literal jumping-off place and get into a tiny, hand-hewn, canoe, holding maybe 8 people and canoist making at most 10, and wend your way to your scubby destination – or maybe fancier ones. But reached always via the narrow black waters.
And in Florida, on the farm, near Gainesville, there was “the creek.” The entry to the farming area, a sand road off the highway, leading to the sandier lanes to houses and fields had a little bridge and there was a crick in the creek’s course and we would go there. It was a kind of pool, holding a bunch of cousins and uncles. It was deep copper, almost black, and you could see your skin being amber and clear as you swam or stood near the surface. We knew it was clean, and just another colour. There wasn’t enough length in the pool for actual swimming, you just jumped, paddled stayed out of the small deeper area. Good times and they come back to me very strongly reading your accounts. Love it, Walter!
We have kayaked the Sopchoppy where it runs into the sea -- we paddled upstream between narrow banks on brackish water, ever watchful for large reptiles. Your essay brought back fond memories. The Apalachicola region is such a special place.
Yes, there is a lot of special stuff in the Apalachicola region. The upper part of the Sopchoppy River is my favorite. The sandhills section has a lot of lovely places too, both wetlands and uplands.
Those drawings, in themselves, are well worth the price of admission!
Thanks for the compliment!
Agree!