Date: 29 November 2015. Tate's Hell
(dwarf cypress tress)
© janice142
Just prior
to leaving Carrabelle I met a fellow who was quite nice. Johnny
Irwin drove me home from the grocery store one day. Believe me,
carrying a boat-load of groceries is Hard. He is a long-time boater
who also runs a charter fishing service.
That final weekend in town I was finishing up things that had been
started previously. Departure details can be found in the
From Carrabelle to St. Pete (via
truck)
article. Number One on that
list was the installation of the
Fan-tastic fan. It was placed in
the overhead of Seaweed unsecured. Without butyl to seal it down any
rain outside also occurred inside. That was not fun.
This was
one of those instances when I should have gone online and simply
bought the stuff. Argh!
I had depended
on someone to bring me the butyl. That is a mistake. As Daddy used
to say:
"The most
reliable helping hand I have ever
found is located at the end of my
right arm."
With a time
crunch at hand, Johnny was a life-saver. He said he could find the
butyl locally. Alas none was available in Carrabelle. The next town
over is Eastpoint and there we had success. Action Auto Glass
installs windshields and windows in cars. As windshields are put in
with butyl, we had found our spot!
Steve, the
proprietor of Action Auto Glass (phone: 850-670-1142) would not sell
me any butyl. Instead he gifted me with enough for my hatch. What a
sweetheart!
In the
meantime Johnny and I had time now to do a bit of relaxing. He
offered to take me to Tate's Hell. I am a nut for nature, loving the
look of the world before concrete paves over the wildlife.
This is a
picture I had taken on 24 October 2014 in Tate's Hell. To be offered a
chance to revisit was a treat.
The area Johnny and I initially
visited was beautiful. When we pulled up there were lily pads nearby.
A boardwalk led up to the cypress viewing area.
I enjoyed looking, really looking, at the area. It
was one of those times when I wished I had brought my binoculars.
Sometimes having a small pair of binoculars is great. I have a big
pair on the boat. Of late I find myself using the lighter weight ones far
more often.
The placard offered a history and details about the
area. Click ↓ for a full-size
version.
I imagine the Indians hundreds of
years ago saw exactly what we viewed that day...
CYPRESS KNEES (roots)
grow up from the ground and are real trippers if you are not careful.
Watch your step!
For the curious, the advice regarding
Cypress knees is from previous
experience The knots grow up from the ground and a hard. They can
twist your ankle easily. This time with Johnny, we stuck to the
boardwalk and I simply took pictures.
I played pirates and Indians in
cypress forests when a child...
It is easy to see why this area is
so special. The dwarf cypress trees were quite a treat to view.
Places like Tate's
Hell are paradise here on earth.
It sure would have been nice to have Seaweed at
anchor right off this shoreline...
The park was blooming with new life. I suspect folks
with allergies might not be happy here in the springtime.
Just up the river, more places to explore. I wish I had
a kayak...
And when I get done exploring one direction, I will
paddle the other way. Who knows what is around the next bend?
It was right nice of Johnny to take the time to drive
me all over creation for the butyl. The bonus stop at Tate's Hell
will always be remembered. Thanks Johnny!
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Johnny Irwin's website:
Seabreeze Fishing
If you want to catch fish, Johnny's your man. Should you
desire a tour with a guide who knows the area like the back of
his hand, contact Johnny Irwin.
He is a good guy.
http://seabreezefishing.com |
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It was fun getting to revisit Tate's Hell before
leaving Carrabelle. I would have loved to take Algae on that river.
With a picnic basket, my Skipper and a trolling motor there is a lot of exploring to
do in the area. Maybe you can visit too.
That is life on the waterfront.
Thank you again Cap'n Johnny. I appreciate so much the fun
afternoon. Happy cruising to you and yours.
I'd like to learn more about kayaks, specifically small
ones.
I've heard the ones with foot pedals are amazing. Is that true?
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