Collier's Ferry Park
Night Paddle
July 19, 2008 |
 |
|
|
|
The space station flew across the sky just as the full moon was starting to slide from behind the trees. Kayaks and canoes surrounded the darkened lake at the end of winding Lake Bayou. Kayak lights were scattered throughout the lake like fireflies floating in the quiet backwoods July sky. It was the annual summer night paddle of the Southeast Texas Kayak and Canoe Group on July 25. |
|
|
Experienced and novice paddlers joined the group starting the paddle at Collier's Ferry Park. This park is a City of Beaumont public park providing two multi-boat rams for launching boats. It is no problem for kayaks or canoes, but the boat ramp is short and undercut by the river so larger boats need to be careful not to pull down too far into the water. Good parking and restrooms are available. |
 |
|
|
 |
This evening was a perfect night for the paddle. The group met at 7:00 PM just as the 98 degree temperature was starting to subside. In high water/flooding the river current can make it difficult to paddle in this area and the entire ramp area floods with high water. But that was not the case on this night. The current was slow moving. It was an easy paddle down to the bayou. |
|
|
| There were a variety of different boats in both the canoe and kayak variety. The majority of the boats held one paddler, but there was a canoe, an inflatable, and tandem kayak joining the group. The Southeast Texas paddling group is large so paddles often bring new faces to the water. Everyone was friendly and upbeat. Some travelers passing though Beaumont learned of the night paddle and stayed overnight in the city just to paddle the Bayou. |
 |
|
|
 |
Most of the people took advantage of the sandy beech to the south of the boat ramps to launch their kayaks. There were 24 boats that joined the group for the evening. Most people came ready to go and the boats started to make their way down the river. It is one mile down the Neches River to the mouth of the Lake Bayou. |
|
|
| There was a slight rising tide coming into Lake Bayou, but there was little recognizable current. The Bayou runs largely through a cypress/tupelo swamp with freshwater marsh surrounding much of the area. Most of the waterway is 50-75 yards wide. Several oxbows come off the make channel to the east. There is one dead end canal to the west. For the most part, it is easy to follow the main bayou, but it is possible for you to take a few wrong turns that will bring you eventually back to the main drag. |
 |
|
|
 |
We did have some delay because of the mechanical difficulties of one paddlers, but several folks were quick to try to be of help. The group still made it to the lake just after the sun disappeared from the sky. Many paddlers simply drifted in the quiet of the night enjoying the stars and space station passage. Some people ventured another three quarter mile to the end of the lake and down the narrow channel that leads to a dead end at the water canal. |
|
|
It was the second night of the full moon. About half an hour after moonrise you could seen the slightly orange orb rise about the tree line. As the moon traveled overhead, it cleared to a white light that lighted the entire bayou for the return trip. Many said the location was one of the best there has been for this summer night paddle.
More information regarding the Southeast Texas Kayak and Canoe Group can be found at:
outdoorstudies.com/kayak |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
|
 |
 |
 |
|
| |
 |
|
|
Return to Southeast Texas Kayak and Canoe Group
OutdoorStudies.com
Updated:
|
|