The many moods of the Chipola River can change from a sleepy little river meandering around the bend to an angry flood after a heavy rain, rushing to the Gulf of Mexico, trying to take everything in her path.

This tree house was swept away by one of those many floods.  The photo was taken in the autumn of November 2005.  Who ever built this tree house I’m sure spent many hours of fun fishing and jumping into the river for a cool swim. Or maybe just daydreaming.

An enjoyable pasttime is sitting on the Chipola riverbank watching the river as it flows softly over rocks and logs listening to the ripple of water. In the clear cold water, you can watch the fish playing tag on the bottom stirring up the sand.  And then a school of trout appears swimming through the river grass swaying in the current as the Chipola heads toward the Dead Lakes eventully flowing into the Apalachicola River. A river turtle paddles his way slowly across the water looking for that perfect log to sun himself and to dry his shell. The crayfish are scurrying from rock to rock looking for an easy catch for their afternoon meal

The dragonflies, their wings shimmering in the sun, dart back and forth without a sound, skimming the top of the water for an unsuspecting insect, their wings almost touching the surface.