(post updated April 2020. sometimes my updates leave some ambiguous day/date/today references, but I try to catch those)
Most of my posts are about "routes", with fairly specific directions and and route details. But one or two are about exploratory trips, or "wanderings". This post is one of the latter. Much like my post about the North Pass of Manchac - Paddling North Pass Manchac and Its Bayous - this post is meant to describe some options for you to go wander, take pictures, forget about the rest of the world, while making up your route as you go.
Most of my posts are about "routes", with fairly specific directions and and route details. But one or two are about exploratory trips, or "wanderings". This post is one of the latter. Much like my post about the North Pass of Manchac - Paddling North Pass Manchac and Its Bayous - this post is meant to describe some options for you to go wander, take pictures, forget about the rest of the world, while making up your route as you go.
One of my first posts here was about kayaking or canoeing on Blind River, north and south (downriver or upriver) from the St James Boat Club, in Gramercy, Louisiana. That post was about two options for specific, out-and-back routes: Paddling Blind River-Two Options
This post will be about a third option, or set of options: Simply exploring the various intersecting waterways you cross when paddling up or down Blind River. Most of the pictures here are from trips I did in November, 2019 and April, 2020, on the downriver (north) side of Highway 61, but there are many, many options. On both sides of Hwy 61, going upriver or down, you have quite a few side routes worthy of exploring, especially if you're just looking to wander, fish, take pictures, or "get lost for a little while". A quick glance at a map or satellite image of this area will reveal dozens of these offshoots, and offshoots from offshoots, so you have tons of places to wander.
This area is always alive with birds, and as you wander down these bayous and canals, your ears will fill with the sounds of birds, and frogs, and things splashing off of logs as you approach.
This area is always alive with birds, and as you wander down these bayous and canals, your ears will fill with the sounds of birds, and frogs, and things splashing off of logs as you approach.
Many of these canals and bayous get so narrow, and vegetation is so thick, that in the satellite image I was going to include, you couldn't distinguish between water and trees, hence the map view option.
The St. James Boat Club launch, in Gramercy, LA, is the starting/ending spot for all of my Blind River trips.
https://www.google.com/maps/place/St+James+Boat+Club/@30.1015316,-90.7364447,15z/data=!4m5!3m4!1s0x0:0xa5713959d1be6b18!8m2!3d30.1015861!4d-90.7347911
Regarding distance and safety:
Since this is a post about exploring, and not following a specific route, you pick your distance. My November trip was just under 7 miles. Also, because this is about exploring the back waterways, not the main river, almost any kayak or canoe 12' or longer should be fine, and in fact, longer boats will have to turn around sooner than shorter boats in some locations. BUT, if you do plan to paddle downriver (on the north side of Hwy 61), make sure you're comfortable with potential wakes from motorboats on the main river itself. Regarding wakes: Blind River between Hwy 61 and Lake Maurepas can get very busy with motorboats, depending on the time of year. So plan on wakes. The boaters are always very courteous out here, but you will deal with passing boats, some going very fast. This is not the case on the upriver trip, south of Hwy 61. When going upriver (crossing under Hwy 61), virtually any kayak or canoe you're comfortable paddling is probably fine. Just know your skills and limits.
Also, these waterways alternate between feeling like slow rivers/bayous and thick swamps. So be ready for "swamp" conditions. I actually don't see too many gators along Blind River, but my friends usually do. Be prepared for bugs and being exposed for a few hours to whatever the weather brings.
Finally, depending on water levels, finding places to stop and get out of the kayak or canoe can be tricky. On my November trip, I saw lots of dry ground, but in April, in some of the same places, the water was much higher, and I saw none. On various routes, it can be hard to distinguish between firm soil and foot-swallowing mud. So when you're wandering and meandering, taking your time taking it all in, you may want to take any chances you get to get out and answer nature's call or stretch your legs.
Okay, one more "finally": If you're paddling into isolated waterways like these, don't expect help to come along if you get in trouble. Make sure someone knows where you're going and has your timeline; make sure you have communication devices; go with others, stay together, and make sure everyone has a GPS and communication method. WEAR YOUR LIFE VEST. This is mostly very calm, safe paddling. But things happen. Plan for those things.
Here's one of the side bayous on the upriver side of Hwy 61. We didn't get very far down this bayou before having to turn around, but it was worth the 10 or 15 minute distraction:
On a trip like this, the biggest influence on your actual route will probably be very invasive water hyacinth, and its ability to completely block your path. It seems to flourish and fade in cycles, and because it floats, it moves. So the routes you see on a map may not be the routes you get to paddle on any particular day. The hyacinth can completely block a section of your path--sometimes for only a few feet and you can push through it, or sometimes for many yards, and you have to find an alternate route, or turn around. The thing about water hyacinth that makes it tricky is that its roots intertwine, creating a mesh. So even though you "see" a covering of individual plants on the surface, you end up pushing into, then pulling, a large net. Sometimes, you just have to back-paddle out. But, it's very common to push through a pretty thick blockage, and then find clear and easy paddling again for a few hundred yards or much more.
The photo below is on Andre David Bayou, near Tchackahou Bayou, and both times I've been at this spot, water hyacinth completely covered the bayou as far as I could see:
From one month to the next, I've seen waterways go from nearly impassable to completely clear. And on very windy days, clumps of hyacinth will move quickly enough that I've had to worry about my return path being blocked or changing enough that I loose my bearings (I get lost very easily). So on trips like this, I bring my handheld GPS so I can see where I've been and follow my "digital bread crumbs" back.
Bottom line:
Except for the section of the main river between Hwy 61 and Lake Maurepas, you should expect to encounter several spots where you just have to decide if you can push through one blockage or find a different route. That's the nature of the beast. And after all, this post is about wandering and discovering. Part of the trick here is that you have a "duck's-eye" view of the water and vegetation, so sometimes you can't tell exactly how thick that blockage is unless you actually push in a little and get a feel for it. Sometimes it's a true dam, and other times, you're surprised at how easy it is to get through. Be brave. But smart.
These backways intersect with other bayous and canals, and one intersection may look like another, so keep track of where you're going. I've had a few moments of feeling pretty lost, but I've always found my way back. Bring laminated maps along with your GPS, and enjoy yourself.
On my trip in November 2019, my plan was to cross under the Hwy 61
bridge and go upriver, but I was unable to pass under the bridge--the water hyacinth had created a virtual wall at the far edge of
the bridge that was simply impassable. So, I changed plans and headed
north, or downriver. This was my view from under the bridge: I simply could not get through the hyacinth on the other side of Hwy 61:
And, of course,in April 2020, the path under the bridge was clear again.
By the way, for a longer trip, I've had friends paddle past the Our Lady of Blind River chapel (see my other Blind River post) and follow the next canal to the west, which connected to Bayou Fusil, which then brought them back to Blind River. They said they saw "unbelievable amounts" of wildlife. My guess is their trip was 12 or more miles (it's 5 miles from the launch to the chapel).
Below is a snippet of the route I paddled in November 2019, and you'll see I did not get very far on a couple of my side routes, due entirely to the hyacinth. Also note that most of these bayous and canals have names:
I thought the manmade canals would feel less "natural", but nature is reclaiming them, and that's where I ended up spending a lot of my time in November, and it was completely enjoyable.
On my April, 2020 trip, I again went north, and again took the first bayou on the right, Tchackahou Bayou. It was vivid green and alive with birds in April, but once again, it was a dead end before too long. But, the bayou on the left, a little further north (down river), that I couldn't explore in November, was wide open in April, and that's where we spent the most time:
So far, I've done two of these "wandering trips", one in November and one in April, and I had unbelievably great weather both times. On that November trip where I spent most of my time on Williams Canal, I could have probably continued for quite some time. In April, the bayou we explored on the west side of the river did eventually dead-end (hyacinth). But these are slow, easy, extremely peaceful trips, and there's always more to explore. But eventually, you realize you probably should go home at some point.
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