Description
We set up and launched from "Site 21" on the birding trail on Swan Creek North Alabama Bird Trail", per Google Maps. It was a nice half acre stone paring area on the west side of the bay (of Wheeler Reservoir) formed at the mouth of Spring Creek and Swan Creek. 10 mph winds out of the SW kept my wife in her Bay, somewhat unsteady, to the point that we abandoned my idea of paddling across to the east and up the Swan Creek. I wanted to explore up the creek as far as we could until the current stopped us. However, we explored the west and north side of the bay. Lots of skittish turtles and a few large carp (I think) making splashes as we approached. No gators to be seen on this 60 deg F day. After an hour, lake was almost glass, but we were getting late in the afternoon and headed back in. Covered about three miles around the bay. Enjoyed talking with a local gentleman who had fished these waters all his life, had never seen anyone put 28 feet of kayaks into a Honda Civic. He informed us that a couple of years earlier, we'd have seen any one of five gators in the bay, but he thinks the last two cold winters took them out. We'll still be on the lookout this summer! Overall, nice quiet outing 15 minutes from home.
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