BOUIE CREEK
SEPTEMBER 20, 1998
Mike Murphy put in a trip on Bouie Creek at the Bayou Haystackers trip planning meeting in August. Later Mike came up with a conflict and I was asked to lead the trip. I reluctantly agreed.
Seemingly not much interest in the trip until about five days before when I started to get a few calls. Then several more people signed up at the BHPC meeting on the 16th--nineteen in all.
The weekend was looming big. I had paid money and signed up for the "Tour de Tangipahoa", a 60 mile bicycle ride Saturday. There were 19 people looking forward to an enjoyable day of paddling Sunday.
Friday it was raining. Three days of solid rain was predicted. Hermine was churning in the gulf trying to become a hurricane and threatening our shores. Predictions have been wrong in the past. I held on to hope.
Friday afternoon I decided that if it were raining Saturday Morning I would blow off the bike ride and join the Bogue Chitto River cleanup trip at the Canoe and Trial Outpost near Tylertown and camp there that night. Got packed for camping.
Saturday morning--no rain--did the bike ride.(Since I was familiar with the route and the area I took a little short cut and only rode 45 miles). Since I was all packed for camping, Saturday afternoon I took off for the Canoe and Trail Outpost. That would put me half way to the Bouie.
Sunday morning. Rain during breakfast. Raced to the Bouie at Hwy 49, the take out and meeting place, through a rain. Arrived at 9:10. No one there. Mimi Clifton pulled up behind me. We looked at the water. Decided to canoe it. Turned around and Martina Ellis pulled up. We loaded all three boats on my car. Made room inside--waited until 9:35--no one else showed up--we took off for the put in.
Terrible put in. Over a levee and then a 200 foot carry. Raining all the while. Finally we started paddling at 10:45.
The creek was beautiful. The rain was light, the air a little misty. Tall trees and verdure along the high banks. Logs and trees in the water required precise maneuvering to get through. A few places required getting out of the canoes and kayak. One big portage through wet clay that stuck to everything like glue.
We stopped for lunch on a very small beach. The rain was very light but still I took out my little Quest Excel awning. We put it up and settled comfortably under it for lunch. Shortly the rain picked up and really poured. Lunch was leisurely. We talked a while then took a nap. The rain stopped completely and we resumed paddling.
The creek had widened and deepened. No logs or trees in the water. Martina examined every flower and spotted a little clump of Indian Pipe. The sun came out for a while. Eagle eye Mimi spotted a water snake on a log.
We reached the big drop at 5:55. When we got to the take out an hour later it started raining again. We loaded canoes and kayak in a downpour then headed for the put in to pick up my car.
Canoe and gear was all transferred to the proper cars. The rain had stopped but we were soaked. We changed into dry clothes and headed for Mack's Seafood restaurant. Big disappointment. When we got there it was closed. We were so hungry that we stopped at the first fast food place we saw, Arby's. We practically inhaled our sandwiches and fries and then headed for home.
The people who didn't show up missed a wonderful trip.
Hulin Robert