Blind River, Maurepas Swamp WMA, St. James Boat Club C
Kayak paddle map route starting at the St. James Boat Club along Highway 61 just south of Interstate 10 and just west of New Orleans. This is a third trip (C) from this launch because the area has so much to see and explore. The route in the map goes up past I-10 to the little chapel called ‘Our Lady of the Blind River’. This served as the northern turnaround point this trip. Further upstream, according to Google maps, is the ‘Blind River Bar’, which might be preferable. The route also explores some of the side channels, including Fusil Bayou. Great trip, lots of alligators and good swamp paddling. The Airline Canal gage was at about 0.0 which, like trip B, is a bit low and so a lot of silty paddling and high centering on submerged stumps and limbs; a higher level would allow more exploration of the swamp. Still, all good. And with effort it was possible to push through the hyacinth blockages, they were mostly small this time. The Airline Canal gage not only goes up and down with rainfall, as expected, but there is a 24 hour oscillation as well. Why? I thought tidal oscillations would have a 12 hour period? In any event, this was one excellent paddle…want more.
Above: ‘Scenic Blind River’ sign hung along the river.
Above: The northern-most turnaround for this trip, “Our Lady of the Blind River”, accessible only by boat.
Above: The king is dead. Long live the king.
Above: Find the alligator.
Above: Up and over somewhere along Fusil Bayou.
Above: Railroad gear left over from logging probably. Could be decades ago.
Above: An abandoned Louisiana pirogue. Turns out stitch and glue kit kayaks like mine, although branded as sea or touring kayaks, are in fact much like pirogues–flat bottomed hulls with steep sides, aka hard chine.
Above: Great trip, full-on mud.
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