Sopchoppy

July 01, 2014  •  16 Comments

Sopchoppy_Knees_PanoSopchoppy_Knees_Pano

The name rolls off your tongue so sweetly, doesn't it? Go ahead, say it aloud: Sop-chop-py.  This river is as sweet and soulful as its name, as you will soon see... and it is right in our "Wakulla County backyard"!  

Self_PortraitSelf_Portrait Sopchoppy_Red_Waters_3229-lgSopchoppy_Red_Waters_3229-lg

A "blackwater" stream, more the color of tea when sweeping over a shallow white-sand bottom, the Sopchoppy flow is highly dependent on rainfall. You go paddling when the water's too low and you'll get plenty of exercise dragging your boat.  Or too high, and you're in for a wild and dangerous ride. So when Sue and Jeff called Crystal and me a month ago to paddle with them, the caveat was that the water was just barely high enough, maybe -- which, to me, meant PERFECT! 

Knee_WavesKnee_Waves

Here's the other thing about this river. When the water is low (as in, PERFECT), all of its craziest cypress knees and roots are above water and visible... and there isn't a place with gnarlier, artier, crazier nature-made cypress sculpture.  Seeing this kind of stuff feeds something deep inside me.

Cypress GargoyleCypress GargoyleDetail of a convoluted cypress knee. Sopchoppy River, FL

We set off into the maze of dusty bumpy sand roads in the Apalachicola National Forest, dropping a vehicle at our take-out before launching some miles upstream. It was a glorious late spring day full of promise and sunshine... and deer flies. Yeow, so many deer flies. (Wear a hat and long sleeves and long pants... no problem.)  The Florida Trail meanders roughly along the high bank, but we saw no hikers.

Lolling_on_the_RiverLolling_on_the_River Sopchoppy SerenitySopchoppy Serenity   Tight_SpotTight_Spot

While there are stretches for lolling along, there are at least equal-distance sections of fast technical paddling to pass through slots, over snags, and around tight bends... often where the coolest sights are passing by too quickly.  I clung to cypress knees to grab shots,  and hopped out when I could stop and set up my tripod, but we were out for fun, a picnic, swimming, and exercise...  so I tried to keep up, telling myself, "the light's not so good now anyway," "this is a scouting trip," and "I must return early morning soon, before the water drops any further."  We were all awestruck by the beauty, and had a great time despite the biting flies.  And a good workout too.

Sopchoppy Knee Multitude 2Sopchoppy Knee Multitude 2 Hollow and HollyHollow and HollySopchoppy River, FL Taffy Knee PanoramaTaffy Knee Panorama Eye of KneeEye of Knee Sopchoppy_SueSopchoppy_Sue Sopchoppy Knee Multitude 1Sopchoppy Knee Multitude 1 Fern_Fiddleheads_3179-lgFern_Fiddleheads_3179-lg Sopchoppy_River_B&W_3296-lgSopchoppy_River_B&W_3296-lg

Over the next several days, I watched the river levels very slowly fall (via the USGS monitoring website) from gauge-height 9.1 to 8.7 ft, a critical difference.  I called my friend Mike Chasar to see if he'd like to spend a day on the river.  Even with full disclosure - the deer flies, waiting while I make photos, the low water and arduous course - Mike said YES.  

MikeMike

Mike is my neighbor, go-to-building-project partner, and occasional co-adventurer... and he proved to be a great companion on this long day. Like me, he largely ignored the flies (and had thought to wear socks, which I forgot). When I was focused on a shoot, Mike scouted for a way to get up the bank and hike a bit on the Trail, or combed for cool pieces of driftwood, or just hung out. He's the one who spotted the green tree frog, the spider lilies that were not past their peaks, and the tadpoles.  

Napping_in_the_KneesNapping_in_the_Knees Tadpoless_IslandTadpoless_Island Spider_LiliesSpider_Lilies

With the water inches lower than it had been a few days earlier, we had quite a few more pull-overs, but we also managed to squeeze beneath one huge downed tree that Crystal, Sue, Jeff, and I had to haul our boats around.  We were beat two-thirds of the way through the trip, but the soft light from thin cloud cover and spectacular photo-ops never let up.  I had to pass some of them by.  But enough words... check out this breathtaking river.

Canopy_LightCanopy_Light On_the_Knees_of_the_SageOn_the_Knees_of_the_Sage Sopchoppy_Knees_2Sopchoppy_Knees_2 Knee FormKnee Form Bank_StrataBank_Strata Crazy_KneeCrazy_Knee Grain_of_GraceGrain_of_Grace Napping_in_the_Knees_2Napping_in_the_Knees_2 Knee_RidgeKnee_Ridge Anatomy_of_a_CypressAnatomy_of_a_Cypress Gnarly_DetailsGnarly_Details Sopchoppy_CanopySopchoppy_Canopy

At the end of the day, the take-out bridge was a welcome sight (although one has to drag the boats and gear up a high steep bank with weary muscles). But I knew I'd done my best and made some nice shots.

Sopchoppy_TakeoutSopchoppy_Takeout

Much further downstream, the river opens up to coastal marsh and big sky, flowing through Ochlockonee River State Park and into the Bay.  This is one of Crystal's and my favorite places to spend the night on our jon boat.  So here are a couple bonus shots from the lower Sopchoppy... which may entice you to see a few more.  This link will take you on one of Crystal and David's overnight trips there several years ago:  "A Taste of Heaven"    (FYI- This is one from my blog archives (2006-early 2013), a different format than now.)

Exquisite_LightExquisite_Light Sopchoppy_Reflection_2332-lgSopchoppy_Reflection_2332-lg

Enough of this computer already... let's get outside ... take a deep breath and a soul-nourishing look at our good Earth.    


Comments

Loretta Byrum(non-registered)
My family has lived in this beautiful part of Florida for many decades and has always been a treasure to us all. It is a peaceful yet wild area and has many amazing sites.
tom morris(non-registered)
good ol sopchoppy. when i first saw those croziers i thought what the he.. . then my eye got right and i saw them for what they were. tricked me for a moment you did. great cypress.
Jabe Breland(non-registered)
For many years-- my favorite river trip. But you are right watching the USGS water gauge level is critical.
Dell Cates(non-registered)
So satisfying on such a deep level. Beautiful, different, beautiful.
Maria Balingit(non-registered)
BEAUTIFUL!
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