By Clint Cox, alias “The Panhandle Paddler”
Picking up at Johnny Boy’s Landing, which is where we left off last week, grab your paddle as we, Chris Matthews and I, journey southward down the river. Just a few minutes south of Johnny Boy’s is a clear spring that enters the river from the east bank. Several large lime stone boulders surround the spring, as if to serve as guards to the pristine waters flowing out of the banks. Several sinkhole type springs can be found close by on land. Around the bend is another spring entering from the east and also has some large limestone formations guarding the entrance. We made our way up this spring run a little ways but never found the spring head. With the water levels near normal, we also spotted a small cavern in the lime rock bank on the east side that you could park your canoe in and almost completely be hidden. I also noted that this section of the river features some high banks, especially on the eastern side. About a mile and a half below Johnny Boy’s we passed under Willis Bridge. This bridge is on county road 274 that connects Altha to Shelton’s Corner.
After paddling about 20 minutes below Willis Bridge we encountered one of the more famous landmarks on the Chipola River. Known as Big Lookin’ Tremble, this rapid section of the river has spilled many a canoe into the cool waters of the Chipola. Big Lookin’ Tremble takes on different looks depending on the water levels. During high water levels travelers can pass over the area and barely notice the change in currents. During low water levels this can be a Class II type rapid, especially if you are brave enough, or crazy enough, to take it head on in the middle of the river. The water levels were about normal on our trip and after a brief stop to scout the situation, we made our way toward the eastern side of the river for a non-eventful ride down the little rapid. Given that our canoes were full of our camping gear for the night, a non-eventual ride down the little rapid was just fine with me.
Join us next week we’ll journey from Big Lookin’ Tremble to Lamb Eddy.
Rollin’ Down the River is a weekly summertime feature of the Jackson County Times that highlights the Chipola River through pictures, stories and articles.
Picking up at Johnny Boy’s Landing, which is where we left off last week, grab your paddle as we, Chris Matthews and I, journey southward down the river. Just a few minutes south of Johnny Boy’s is a clear spring that enters the river from the east bank. Several large lime stone boulders surround the spring, as if to serve as guards to the pristine waters flowing out of the banks. Several sinkhole type springs can be found close by on land. Around the bend is another spring entering from the east and also has some large limestone formations guarding the entrance. We made our way up this spring run a little ways but never found the spring head. With the water levels near normal, we also spotted a small cavern in the lime rock bank on the east side that you could park your canoe in and almost completely be hidden. I also noted that this section of the river features some high banks, especially on the eastern side. About a mile and a half below Johnny Boy’s we passed under Willis Bridge. This bridge is on county road 274 that connects Altha to Shelton’s Corner.
After paddling about 20 minutes below Willis Bridge we encountered one of the more famous landmarks on the Chipola River. Known as Big Lookin’ Tremble, this rapid section of the river has spilled many a canoe into the cool waters of the Chipola. Big Lookin’ Tremble takes on different looks depending on the water levels. During high water levels travelers can pass over the area and barely notice the change in currents. During low water levels this can be a Class II type rapid, especially if you are brave enough, or crazy enough, to take it head on in the middle of the river. The water levels were about normal on our trip and after a brief stop to scout the situation, we made our way toward the eastern side of the river for a non-eventful ride down the little rapid. Given that our canoes were full of our camping gear for the night, a non-eventual ride down the little rapid was just fine with me.
Join us next week we’ll journey from Big Lookin’ Tremble to Lamb Eddy.
Rollin’ Down the River is a weekly summertime feature of the Jackson County Times that highlights the Chipola River through pictures, stories and articles.
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