A Tidewater Paddler: Nottoway River

This was my first kayaking trip of 2015. I had wanted to go earlier, but weekends were either booked, or the weather was foul. Knowing I wanted to see some "spring", I headed to the Old Bridge ramp on the Nottoway River near Courtland. I've been here before and knew there would be plenty of trees to be seen leafing out. As I mentioned in an earlier trip report for this spot, the ramp is unimproved and lies at the end of gravel road with just a few parking spaces, but there are no power boats to deal with on the ramp. Heading immediately right from the landing I paddled into the Cypress Bridge Natural Area, a flooded forest where I had hoped to finally find the remains of the legendary Big Mama bald cypress, which was estimated to be over 1000 years old when it died. On my previous visit I was unable to paddle into this swamp due to low water, but that was not the case on this trip. Though I did see several very large dead cypress trees, I am not sure either one was Big Mama.

While I was in the swamp I startled a rafter of turkeys resting in the cypress canopy. Hearing the flap of their large wings against the air, as well as their calls to each other made the whole trip worthwhile. I also came upon a beaver who did not see or hear me coming, and he/she played statue until I finally got too close for its comfort and it dashed into the water. Other beavers were not so surprised, and let me know their displeasure with the splash of their tails. Several deer ran through the shallow black water attempting to escape my intrusion into their world. One of the largest black snakes I have ever seen was sunning itself on a partially submerged log. Besides turkeys, other bird sightings included great blue herons, kingfishers, and lots of busy cardinals. I did not see them, but I also heard an owl, several woodpeckers, and many, many unseen birds who filled the entire trip with song. My last trip on this stretch of the river was as equally full of wildlife.

The water was much higher than I have ever paddled on the Nottoway, which made my foray into the swamp possible, but once out into the main channel, I had to work really hard to make it upriver. I paddled all the way to the US 58 bridge, and let the current do all the work on the return. The trees along the shoreline were putting out their new leaves for the year, and everything had a very fresh look. Carolina jessamine, possumhaw viburnum, willow, Pinxterbloom azaleas, hawthorn, bluets, and the occasional dogwood were blooming over my head as I paddled by. As I did it, this trip was about 7 miles round trip.