Tim Driskell's Adventures

Florida Paddling

Fisheating Creek

Seventeen miles through cypress forest with Linda, Carter, Bob, and me — November 16, 2021

A Long Day on One of Florida's Wildest Creeks

On November 16, 2021, Linda, Carter, Bob, and I paddled roughly 17 miles of Fisheating Creek. It was the kind of trip that reveals why this waterway is so special: ancient live oaks, flooded cypress forest, dark tannic water, open marsh, wildlife, and a constantly changing path through one of the most natural landscapes in Florida.

Trip: Fisheating Creek, Florida
Date: November 16, 2021
Distance: approximately 17 miles
Paddlers: Tim, Linda, Carter, and Bob
Kayaks loaded and ready at the start of our November 16, 2021 Fisheating Creek paddle.
Kayaks loaded and ready at the start of our November 16, 2021 Fisheating Creek paddle.
A spreading live oak and its reflection frame one of the broad, quiet reaches of Fisheating Creek.
A spreading live oak and its reflection frame one of the broad, quiet reaches of Fisheating Creek.
Bob paddles through a narrow cypress-lined channel near the beginning of the trip.
Bob paddles through a narrow cypress-lined channel near the beginning of the trip.
Linda and Carter paddle beneath arching oaks draped with Spanish moss.
Linda and Carter paddle beneath arching oaks draped with Spanish moss.

We began with the boats stacked and ready, then quickly entered a landscape that felt far removed from roads and towns. Bob often moved ahead through the narrow passages, Linda kept a steady pace in her green kayak, and Carter was easy to spot anywhere on the creek in his bright tie-dye shirt.

Through the Cypress Forest

Much of the day was spent reading the water and following the channel through a flooded forest. The route bent around cypress trunks, passed beneath enormous live oaks, and repeatedly opened into quiet pools before narrowing again. Reflections often made it difficult to tell where the trees ended and the water began.

The group passes under a huge moss-covered oak, one of the creek’s classic scenes.
The group passes under a huge moss-covered oak, one of the creek’s classic scenes.
Bob leads the way through flooded cypress forest.
Bob leads the way through flooded cypress forest.
Linda follows the winding route through sunlit cypress trees.
Linda follows the winding route through sunlit cypress trees.
The group threads through a beautiful flooded forest section of Fisheating Creek.
The group threads through a beautiful flooded forest section of Fisheating Creek.
Carter, in his bright tie-dye shirt, paddles ahead through the trees.
Carter, in his bright tie-dye shirt, paddles ahead through the trees.
A short pause in the cool shade of the cypress forest.
A short pause in the cool shade of the cypress forest.
Dark tannic water, cypress trunks, and reflected light create a tunnel-like passage.
Dark tannic water, cypress trunks, and reflected light create a tunnel-like passage.
The kayaks follow one another around another winding bend.
The kayaks follow one another around another winding bend.

This is the kind of paddling I enjoy most. It brings ecology out of books and classrooms and makes it immediate: cypress knees, tannic water, wetland plants, forest structure, wildlife habitat, and the way water shapes every part of the landscape. A kayak lets you move quietly enough to notice those relationships without feeling separated from them.

Cypress trunks and bright green vegetation reflect in the still water.
Cypress trunks and bright green vegetation reflect in the still water.
Tim’s bow points into another narrow, shaded cypress corridor.
Tim’s bow points into another narrow, shaded cypress corridor.
Bob and Linda paddle together through a sunlit opening.
Bob and Linda paddle together through a sunlit opening.
The group crosses a broad pool surrounded by cypress and wetland vegetation.
The group crosses a broad pool surrounded by cypress and wetland vegetation.
Colorful kayaks stand out against the muted browns and greens of the swamp forest.
Colorful kayaks stand out against the muted browns and greens of the swamp forest.
Tim’s kayak enters another still cypress pool filled with reflections.
Tim’s kayak enters another still cypress pool filled with reflections.
Cypress knees rise from the dark water along the edge of the creek.
Cypress knees rise from the dark water along the edge of the creek.
A massive cypress trunk shows the scale and age of the forest.
A massive cypress trunk shows the scale and age of the forest.

A Break Along the Bank

At one point we pulled onto a sandy bank just beyond Burnt Bridge launch, stretched, and gathered the boats before returning to the water. On a 17-mile day, these short stops become important. They are a chance to eat, compare notes, and appreciate how much country has already passed behind you.

Carter and the group stop along a sandy bank for a break and to reposition the kayaks.
Carter and the group stop along a sandy bank for a break and to reposition the kayaks.
The kayaks rest on a sandy landing beneath the trees.
The kayaks rest on a sandy landing beneath the trees.
Tim points his kayak back toward the creek after the bank stop.
Tim points his kayak back toward the creek after the bank stop.
Linda and Bob paddle side by side through a calm section.
Linda and Bob paddle side by side through a calm section.
Tim smiles during the 17-mile Fisheating Creek paddle.
Tim smiles during the 17-mile Fisheating Creek paddle.
Golden afternoon light warms the cypress forest and its reflections.
Golden afternoon light warms the cypress forest and its reflections.

As the afternoon continued, the forest alternated with broader, brighter reaches. Blue sky, white clouds, and the red bow of my kayak added strong color to the dark creek.

The creek opens into a bright marshy channel under a deep blue sky.
The creek opens into a bright marshy channel under a deep blue sky.
Dramatic clouds and mirrored water accompany the group through an open reach.
Dramatic clouds and mirrored water accompany the group through an open reach.
Late-afternoon sunlight filters through the cypress trees.
Late-afternoon sunlight filters through the cypress trees.
A wide basin reveals the layered beauty of the flooded forest.
A wide basin reveals the layered beauty of the flooded forest.
Linda paddles through brilliant blue reflections beneath the trees.
Linda paddles through brilliant blue reflections beneath the trees.
The view from Tim’s kayak as the route continues downstream.
The view from Tim’s kayak as the route continues downstream.
Bob crosses a glowing opening between stands of cypress.
Bob crosses a glowing opening between stands of cypress.
Linda paddles through increasingly warm evening light.
Linda paddles through increasingly warm evening light.

Paddling into Sunset

The final hours became the most beautiful part of the trip. Sunlight dropped lower between the trees, the water turned gold, and every bend seemed to produce another view worth photographing. Linda, Carter, and Bob were still moving steadily as the long day approached its final miles.

Tim pauses for another selfie as the long paddle continues.
Tim pauses for another selfie as the long paddle continues.
Carter paddles through a corridor of blue and gold reflections.
Carter paddles through a corridor of blue and gold reflections.
Bob rounds a bend in one of the creek’s more open sections.
Bob rounds a bend in one of the creek’s more open sections.
Linda moves steadily across a broad, calm reach.
Linda moves steadily across a broad, calm reach.
Carter leads into another maze of trees and reflections.
Carter leads into another maze of trees and reflections.
The group enters a darker section as the sun lowers.
The group enters a darker section as the sun lowers.
Low sunlight shines between the trunks as the paddlers continue.
Low sunlight shines between the trunks as the paddlers continue.
Tall cypress trunks glow in the late-afternoon light.
Trrmite nest on a cypress trunk glow in the late-afternoon light.
Linda paddles near a wooded bank where the channel narrows again.
Linda paddles near a wooded bank where the channel narrows again.
Tim’s bow points through deepening evening shade.
Tim’s bow points through deepening evening shade.
The group enters one of the final open reaches of the day.
The group enters one of the final open reaches of the day.
Carter and Bob paddle near a grassy bank in warm evening light.
Carter and Bob paddle near a grassy bank in warm evening light.

Carter's tie-dye shirt nearly matched the sunset colors. We stayed together through the last open reaches while birds settled into the treetops above us. By the time we approached the takeout, the creek had shifted from bright afternoon blue to deep gold and evening shadow.

Bob paddles beneath a clear blue evening sky.
Bob paddles beneath a clear blue evening sky.
The setting sun shines directly down the creek.
The setting sun shines directly down the creek.
Golden sunset light reflects across the calm water.
Golden sunset light reflects across the calm water.
The final sunlight of the day colors the creek and surrounding forest.
The final sunlight of the day colors the creek and surrounding forest.
Linda continues toward the takeout after many hours on the water.
Linda continues toward the takeout after many hours on the water.
Carter smiles from his kayak in his unmistakable tie-dye shirt.
Carter smiles from his kayak in his unmistakable tie-dye shirt.
Carter paddles through golden sunset light.
Carter paddles through golden sunset light.
Carter and Bob share the final stretch of the creek.
Carter and Bob share the final stretch of the creek.
Carter keeps paddling through the long final miles.
Carter keeps paddling through the long final miles.
A close view of Carter late in the day.
A closeup view of a massive gator jars Carter back to reality!
Linda paddles past Carter as the group stays together near the end.
Bob Bodden having an awesome day on the water!
Wading birds perch high above Fisheating Creek at dusk.
Wading birds perch high above Fisheating Creek at dusk.
A large bird watches the creek from a bare treetop.
A large bird watches the creek from a bare treetop.
The paddlers approach the end of a memorable 17-mile day on Fisheating Creek.
The paddlers approach the end of a memorable 17-mile day on Fisheating Creek.

Seventeen miles is a substantial paddle, but Fisheating Creek kept changing enough that the distance never felt monotonous. The day was a complete Florida paddling experience: companionship, physical effort, quiet wilderness, ecological richness, and a finish in beautiful evening light.