Update 2020-12-27: Same pictures on facebook.
During the Suwannee River camping at Dowling Park River Camp last summer, two intrepid paddlers joined me to paddle up Bethel Creek to the quarry in Lafayette County, Florida, and up to the other quarry, and again, and over.
Bethel Creek rapids, boats, downstream
Megan Parker has had the full experience, and Jose helped.
Paddlers entering Bethel Creek, 2020:07:18 15:27:24, 30.2538000, -83.2530000
Click on any small picture to see a larger one.
Paddlers in the creek, 2020:07:18 15:27:29, 30.2538800, -83.2532000
Lower Quarry
Pretty full, 2020:07:18 15:30:02, 30.2545205, -83.2543819
Second Quarry
Easy boating, 2020:07:18 15:32:08, 30.2547229, -83.2548797
Third Quarry
20200718 153346, 2020:07:18 15:33:46, 30.2550496, -83.2562762
Dock below house
Dock, 2020:07:18 15:34:40, 30.2550496, -83.2562800
Flowing creek
Looks like a creek, 2020:07:18 15:41:25, 30.2535522, -83.2595257
Meanwhile behind, 2020:07:18 15:42:16, 30.2535522, -83.2595257
Heading on up, 2020:07:18 15:42:49, 30.2535883, -83.2601441
Rapids
This is different, 2020:07:18 15:50:11, 30.2531453, -83.2621805
Movie: Narrow white water, 2020:07:18 15:51:57, (9.4M) 30.2530695, -83.2620451
View of the rapids, 2020:07:18 16:03:10, 30.2530212, -83.2620241
Movie: Hard to paddle up, 2020:07:18 16:03:21, (19M) 30.2530212, -83.2620241
Drying out
I didn’t take any pictures of the actual capsize. Suffice it to say this is why you should always wear your personal flotation device, and never paddle alone unless you really know what you are doing.
Hauled out and drained, 2020:07:18 16:02:51, 30.2530212, -83.2620241
Everybody OK, 2020:07:18 16:02:54, 30.2530212, -83.2620241
A little more draining, 2020:07:18 16:03:15, 30.2530212, -83.2620241
What is this
Bug?, 2020:07:18 16:07:38, 30.2530212, -83.2620230
Heading back down
Downstream, 2020:07:18 16:17:47, 30.2527035, -83.2612728
Closeup downstream, 2020:07:18 16:17:50, 30.2527030, -83.2612728
Around the sandbar, 2020:07:18 16:17:59, 30.2527030, -83.2612728
Third Quarry again
By the house dock, 2020:07:18 16:24:00, 30.2527040, -83.2612728
Second Quarry again
By the boom, 2020:07:18 16:29:21, 30.2549803, -83.2550506
First Quarry again
20200718 162923, 2020:07:18 16:29:23, 30.2549803, -83.2550506
Bethel Creek out
A calm creek, 2020:07:18 16:31:36, 30.2527040, -83.2612728
Out to the river, 2020:07:18 16:31:40, 30.2542089, -83.2536671
Suwannee River from Bethel Creek, 2020:07:18 16:32:03, 30.2542089, -83.2536671
For more WWALS outings and events as they are posted, see the WWALS calendar or the WWALS outings and events web page. WWALS members also get an upcoming list in the Tannin Times newsletter.
Google Map
Here is a google map of approximate locations of each of these pictures.
-jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®
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