I haven’t been hiking much in the July heat, but I have been kayaking around in the shady creeks, swimming here and there, and even trying out my hammock chair in the water.
In the photo on the right, I hung the “chair” on a fallen cedar tree. The water under me is actually pretty deep. Sitting in the water; especially after going for a swim in all my clothes, was a great way to cool down. I was quite comfortable with my feet up on my kayak.
I’m always taken by the ancient cypress trees. There would be a lot more of them, if they hadn’t been decimated in the early 20th century. They are a source of very valuable lumber. It’s just too bad we didn’t have a better grasp of conservation back then. At least there are still a few large ones left, and they will probably make a comeback, since they are very well adapted to growing in swampy areas.