With
deep water below and buzzards circling above,
we went for a ride after the hurricanes. |
In
1999 we had two hurricanes go
through within a few weeks of each other, dumping
huge amounts of rain. Judy and I took the boat
out to see how the marsh had weathered the storms.
Except for a couple of small Maples toppled and
some deadwood down, the only noticeable change
in the marsh was that the water level was up very,
very high.
Normally
we stay off the airboat trails - for a couple of
very good reasons. First of all, they are usually
only a couple of inches deep - some spots with
no water at all. This works very well for airboats,
but motorboats and even canoes require a bit more
water.
Splashing
through murky water infested with snakes and alligators
while dragging a fully loaded boat over shallow trails
is not my idea of fun.
Another
good reason to stay off airboat trails is, well,
airboats. A
lot of trails are pretty much just tunnels through
vegetation taller than the airboat. They are just
barely wide enough for an airboat to squeeze through,
with no room at all to turn around or even to pull
off the trail. An oncoming airboat cannot see or
hear a small boat in the trail, and, lacking brakes,
can't stop when the driver does see it. Having
a fast-moving airboat run me down is another thing
I do not consider fun. |
Hurricane! 
