I had been looking forward to this day since mid-winter. The weather was warm, the sun was shining and I was going kayaking. Not just any kayaking, but an eco tour with a guide. How much closer to nature can you get than in a long, narrow fiberglass boat literally inches above the water? I loved it.
I never have tried to kayak before and neither had my co-worker, Jill. I knew Captain Chris and Laurel of Alabama Kayak Adventures would take care of us.
We met our two guides at Pirate’s Cove at 1 p.m. The temperature was hovering just below 70 degrees and there was a bit of a breeze so I kept my light jacket on. When all the kayaks were off the truck and in the water we picked one and climbed in. I chose a yellow one and Jill sat down in the shorter mango-colored one. Chris and Laurel went over the basics and safety information and gave each of us an orange whistle to blow in case of emergency.
Chris gave us a little shove off of the beach and we were floating. It only took a couple of minutes to get the hang of paddling the craft around. The kayak was comfortable and light-weight and pretty easy to maneuver. We started our five-mile adventure heading west across Stone Quarry Bayou. While everyone was perfecting their paddling skills, Chris told us a little folklore about the channel markers being in stone under all that sand. And, speaking of sand, he explained the reason our sand is so white is because it is quartz that washes down the rivers from the Appalachian Mountains.
We headed across the cove and into the Intercoastal Waterway, hugging the shoreline as we rounded a point. I looked up at the trees and saw two osprey cruising the sky above a nest. One had a fish in its talons. Soon we glided into the smooth waters of Ingrams Bayou. A little ways in, it was time for a break. We found a sandy beach and slid the kayaks in so we could stretch our legs. The cool water and soft sand felt good under my feet as I walked around the edge of the shoreline. When I walked back to my kayak, I noticed a hermit crab scavenging for food. Chris and Laurel talked about some of their adventures while kayaking the area and how the land on each side of the bayou is privately owned, so it is undisturbed.
When we were moving again, Laurel called out that she heard a dolphin. I looked ahead and saw a dolphin splash the water near the shoreline. We all sat still and watched for a few minutes hoping they would come back, but they were moving away from us.
We crossed the stream and entered a tributary surrounded by tall saltwater grass. In places, the grass was bent over where deer, raccoons, fox, wild boar and even bears make their way to the water. A little ways in, we reached the estuary (where fresh water meets salt water) and the grasses were a mixture of salt water and fresh water and then only fresh water. Laurel pointed out an alligator nest and we looked at the different plant life surrounding us. The trees were budding and wild flowers were pushing their way up through the damp ground. I knew the place would be even more beautiful in the coming weeks.
As we weaved our way back towards the mouth of Ingrams Bayou, we spotted the dolphin again. This time we could see three of them and they weren’t too far away. They crossed in front of me and headed toward Chris. He said they came beside him just under the surface. One was swimming on its side and he said it looked like a white ghost passing him. Watching the dolphin swim and play at their level was magical.
It was a great trip. No one had to blow the little orange whistle. I loved the kayaking and the guides were fabulous and informative. I am ready to go back when the weather is a little warmer and more sea and land creatures are swimming and roaming the shorelines.
Brett/Robinson offers packages with Alabama Kayak Adventures. The price is only $35 per person (minimum age 10) for approximately three hours of fun and learning about our coastal habitat and the creatures that inhabit it.
