At first light, the eerie fog of the Alabama River is akin to an ever changing tapestry that filters sunlight like a prism into a kaleidoscope of spectacular colors! Through this tantalizing mist, distant objects begin to appear and the sounds of awakening life drifts into the senses from every direction. My opportunity of meandering down the lazy Alabama River and feeling its magic was made possible by being a part of a group of kayak and canoe enthusiasts who were enjoying a week of paddling and camping on the Alabama Scenic River Trail in the historic Black Belt from Selma to Miller’s Ferry.
It all began in the excitement and celebration at the Riverfront Market Days on Water Street along the Alabama River in downtown Selma. The festivities included arts, crafts, great food, children’s activities and local musicians that filled the area with friendly revelry!
After a hearty lunch at the historic St. James Hotel that is listed on the National Register. Our first leg took us downstream for about 4 hours to the first campsite at Six Mile Park. As normally happens in these trips, some paddlers are faster than others, so they tend to split into groups with the same skill levels for the rest of the week.
On Sunday, we paddled 11 miles from Six Mile Park to Tills Landing with a stopover at the locally famous Little Miami Sandbar where most “River People” spend their weekends in the summer months. This was followed by a visit to Alabama’s first State Capital at the Old Cahawba Archaeological Park with a tour by an expert guide.
The longest all day paddle of the trip was 15 miles on Monday from Tills Landing to Elm Bluff. During this part of the float, the river suddenly narrowed in places and the banks became much steeper. The geology in the sheer walls of the gorgeous river bluffs is breathtaking as it changes from white limestone to red clay! At one point during this section of the river, we all marveled at a perfectly preserved antebellum mansion overlooking the river. This was certainly the most educational and picturesque passage during my trip down the lazy Alabama River.
Though the next day only covered 10 miles from Elm Bluff to Chilhatchee Creek, we saw numerous species of waterbirds and more beautiful vistas before setting up camp. Nevertheless, a side trip to a famous eatery called the “Snack Shack,” that was made from a double-wide trailer and run by some lovely black ladies, was the highlight of that evening.
Following a gorgeous sunrise that seemed to explode through another foggy mist ascending from the warmer water into the cooler air, we paddled the 13 miles from Chilhatchee Creek to Gees Bend. A tasty Southern lunch that was catered by the local tourism folks in a scenic area at Bridgeport Landing Beach was included. We even had time before supper to explore the area and do a little fishing. Continue reading – http://www.examiner.com/article/floating-down-the-beautiful-alabama-river