60 Beach L i fe Experiences Choctawatchee River a nature lover ’ s delight , an angler ’ s dream
The River Reveals its Jewels by Susan Vallee
Kingfishers dive and swoop , skimming the surface of the water , encircling each other in a dance before alighting on a lowhanging branch . Osprey nests top bare , skinny trees , framing the horizon like a child ’ s drawing — the nests far too wide and heavy to rest safely among the treetops . Two bald eagles sound a cry above us , perhaps startled by the sound of the engine amid these tranquil backwaters of the Choctawhatchee Bay .
We ’ re entering the Choctawhatchee River on Backwater Tours ’ small boat , weaving through a snake-shaped waterway bordered by high marsh grass . It ’ s a dizzying approach to a river that winds its way all the way up into Alabama . A river steeped in history , lore , and natural wonders .
After a thrilling toggle back and forth among the winding mouth of the river , we enter a wide , calm channel that feels a million miles away from the white-sand beach and emerald-green and azure waters of the Gulf .
The boat slows , and a wide , natural grin spreads across the face of Captain Andy Coleman , our guide for the day . The stiff formalities of earlier are gone , and as the boat rests in the river ’ s swift-moving waters , it ’ s easy to see why he ’ s passionate about sharing this still-relatively unknown place with people — he loves it . He loves every inch of it .