Rollin’ Down the River with Dick Hinson Part 2

We continue our journey this week with Dick Hinson who, along with Sonny Anderson, paddled the entire Chipola River on a 5 day trip in 1986. Last week we covered the first two days of the trip. After camping the second night where Dry Creek hooks up with the Chipola the pair continued their southern trek, crossing under Peacock’s Bridge and into Calhoun County where the river is made up of frequent shoals. Many of these shoals have colorful names such as Tater Hill, Federal Shoals and Rain Jaw Shoals. It was along this portion of the river in which one of the more strange occurrences of the trip took place, and that was when a Jack Fish jumped into Hinson’s canoe.

Next up was Johnny Boy’s Landing, just west of Altha and it is in this area if you are quiet enough that you can begin to hear a roar in the background. After crossing under Shelton’s Bridge you encounter the source of that roar, Big Looking Tremble. The largest shoal on the Chipola, Big Looking Tremble is well known to those that frequent that portion of the river and drops approximately 6-7 feet over a 60 foot span. It offers one of the rare white water opportunities in North Florida, especially during low water levels. Hinson noted that if you are traversing these rapids during low water levels, make sure to stay to the left or the East side of the river.

Night three of the trip was spent on the river just south of the Clarksville Bridge. Once again they made good use of a slough in the area for their evening meal of fresh fish. The next morning his partner called Hinson to come look at a most unusual plant. The both agreed it must be a rare growth of some sort. However on closer examination they both chuckled when they realized it was the gills and gut tube of a warmouth that they had cleaned the night before and thrown into the brush.

They began day four of the trip by pushing on southward and approached an area called Ward’s Lake, which is a swampy area with thick brush. After passing through this area they came to Scott’s Ferry, which includes the Highway 71 Bridge. South of Highway 71 they spent the fourth night at Frozen Bluff, a popular boat landing area. Day five of the trip saw the river begin to widen significantly as it approaches the area known as Dead Lakes. They got some directions from one of the locals and made their way to the Dead Lakes Dam. With the shallow draft of the canoes they were just barely able to slide under the bridge and over the dam. Hinson noted that he didn’t shed a tear when this dam was removed a few years ago. “This dam was very injurious to the river and surrounding environment and I’m glad they removed it,” said Hinson. Just south of this they reached the point where the Chipola River and the Apalachicola River join forces for the final trek to the Apalachicola Bay. Needing a suitable place for their final camp site, they paddled a few miles down the Apalachicola River to Owl Creek. There they set up camp, talked over their five day journey and awaited their pick up man, Ed Hebb, who arrived the next morning.

In recalling the trip Hinson indicated that the pair was blessed with good weather most of the trip. “We camped the first night just below The Ovens and we got a hard rain that night. But fortunately after that we didn’t get much rain,” said Hinson. He also recalled that the trip made a big impression on his lifelong friend Anderson. “He was so impressed with that Old Towne 15’ Trapper Canoe (made of cedar) that he built one just like it after the trip. He was an excellent craftsman and that canoe won several awards at some craft shows in the area,” recalled Hinson. He was also pleased to have accomplished one of their longtime goals. “It was a trip of a lifetime. We paddled from beginning to end, the Alpha to the Omega if you will,” said Hinson. Anderson and Hebb are both now deceased, a point that Hinson sadly pointed out. “Of the three of us two are now gone. They were both fine men and are missed dearly,” Hinson said as we concluded our discussions about that long ago trip down the Ole Chipola.

Rollin’ Down the River is a weekly summertime feature of the Jackson County Times that highlights the Chipola River through pictures, stories and articles.