Me and the Coosa River
The Little Minnow and the Coosa River
The Little Minnow and I and the Coosa River
The Little Minnow throwing stuff into the Coosa River
Weird Things my Dad makes to throw into the Coosa River (To attract fish)
The Coosa River has always, always, for as long as I can remember, been a part of my life. From a very early age, my Dad took me and my sister to swimming holes all over Etowah County. We loved it.
These days, it seems that there aren't as many river rats in Etowah County. People are afraid of the river. Oh don't get me wrong the river is a dangerous place. I think the my little Minnow will be 18 before I let her go in without a life jacket. If a person who isn't a good swimmer goes under, it is likely they won't be found before it's too late. The water is too murky. But it isn't drowning that people seem to fear. It's the possibility of what lies beneath that murky surface.
Snakes: As a kid I was more concerned with stepping on the back of a snapping turtle than into a nest of snakes. My Dad always told us, "They are more scared of you, than you are of them." And I trusted in that. Still do.
Pollution: Just try not to swallow a mouth full and you'll be alright. Oh and wear shoes. I've never gotten sick from swimming in river water but I did cut my foot open once. My Dad was never afraid of dirty water. In fact, I could never, EVER, forget the time that my Dad, much to my mortification, brought a bar of soap down to the river with him. He bathed the dog, then himself. Yep. He did that.
Catfish as big as Volkswagens: Not sure about this one. I have never seen one. Catfish are bottom feeders and for one to be that big, they'd have to hide out down deep, so, don't worry about it.
Gars: They won't bother you. Though I could show you a picture that is really disturbing. But I won't. The worst they could do is take a finger off. But they won't. Seriously. They won't. This isn't helping is it?
9 Comments
Love the pics and post - Hayley, you can perk anybody up (even on a down day) with your writings! Don't ya just love waterfront property though?
ReplyDeleteConnie in PA
I'd probably be too scared to go into the river. Too many creatures I can't see. But it does look so beautiful!
ReplyDelete"They won't bother you. Though I could show you a picture that is really disturbing. But I won't. The worst they could do is take a finger off. But they won't. Seriously. They won't. This isn't helping is it?"
Yeah...totallyyyyy not helping. ;)
Thanks Connie. You are sweet. And YES, I love waterfront property. We were at my Dad's in these photos. I think he's got the best lot on the river. He lives on a peninsula.
ReplyDeleteYeah, Katie, I set out trying to post about how it's no big deal, but ended up freaking myself out.
Those Gar eyes are SO a big deal. ;) *shudder* I didn't even know what a Gar was until a couple of days ago. ~The more you know~
ReplyDelete-The more freaked out you get-
ReplyDeleteHey there, by the way, um.. maybe I shouldn't say this, but the bathe in the Coosa thing is kind of a regular summertime occurrence for Dad, soooooo... Yeah. I said that.
ReplyDeleteI always loved swimmin' in the Coosa, too, but I saw something last time I was home that made me not wanna do that quite AS much anymore. I was sitting up on Ma's back porch looking down at the water and saw a full-sized RED and BLACK snake swimming about 20 feet out from the bank right near the end of the pier.. He just slithery-swam from my far right way over to the left until I couldn't see him anymore. He was probably going to get groceries (i.e. a RACCOON). That was disturbing and something that will haunt me for a long time. RED... And BLACK.
Red on black, pet its back. Red on yellow, kill a fellow.
ReplyDeleteWe're good.
Oh, I see so I should have invited him up for some Special K cereal and coffee. Dang! I'll just have to put a post on craigslist under "missed connections".
ReplyDeleteWell. That'd be a good place to start.
ReplyDelete