You know its gonna
be a good day when you start it with an early morning paddle at Lake Martin.
It started a little chilly but that didn’t keep us away. With a mix of kayaks, canoes and one paddle board we made our way to the south end of the lake. We meandered through the bald cypress and water tupelo until we got to the rookery boundary. We stopped here to listen to the cormorants making their gurgling sounds that reminds me of a busy distant city. I imagine it’s like hovering above a city but you just can’t make out what the beings are saying, except we are floating below the cormorant city that are high in the tree tops unable to understand their language.
We talked about lots of things here and the need for visitors to inform the nature conservancy of any tour boats or other boats entering beyond the rookery boundary during wading bird nesting season. The cypress on the south end of the lake are by far my favorite and leaving these wonderful cypress where you feel almost part of them, you are presented with wide open water on the southwest side of the lake. This is a totally different experience, there is a sense of freedom paddling out in the open, and perhaps a little vulnerability.
We paddled to the north end of the lake before curving around to head back to the landing, which happened to be into the wind. Fortunately the cypress on the northeast side of the lake have a great boat path that keeps you out of the wind. We had a great early lunch and hung out and talked for a while.
Don’t forget to make your way to Lake Martin this spring to enjoy the wading birds. The roadway has the best views but by water you can just float, look and listen.
See more photos from this trip here!
-Stacey Scarce, Trip Leader
