3-6 – Paddled today on the Black Water Creek out to Lake Norris at the Lake Norris Conservation Area. The creek is aptly named because the water was very black. Nice narrow creek with shores lined with cypress knees. On the lake we saw Osprey and a large white egret rookery. This was a short paddle because we spent time early in the day looking for internet service so everyone could get some business done.3-7 – Moving day. Went from Alexander Springs campground to Hog Island in Florida State Forest. On the way resupplied and stopped at the Villages to visit a friend who has relocated from PA to FL. If you are not familiar with the Villages it is a super, I mean SUPER big over 55 community. It is really crazy with golf carts zipping all around and over 55ers staying active.
3-8 – We were joined today with fellow PA’ers Dave and Maria Walborn who are on their first FL canoeing adventure. I have been coming down in the spring to paddle for about 12 years. We paddled the Weeki Wachee spring and river. We saw about 8 manatees. They look so funny when they surface to breath. Manatee can remain under water for up to 20 minutes but seem to surface every 4 or 5. Sometimes they come up under a canoe and spill the paddlers. They look so funny when they surface; just their nostrils surface and they blow out and inhale. It is hard to believe that the legend of the mermaid came from sailors who saw manatee. Really too long at sea.
3-9 – Hiking day on the Florida Trail. Started at Rt 581 near Inverness to Rt 580 – 15+ miles. I wanted to hike this section in the Withlacoochee SF, because it is known for its abundant wildlife and challenging hikes. According to the write up this is where Floridians train for the AT. Well there was not much wild life excluding Freckles and me but there were some hills. Actual hills, I think Freckles said her Fit Bit gave her 50 flights of steps. I am not really sure how much training you would get from that for, say, the White Mts in NH, but I guess the flatlanders have to take what they can. I saw a lot of trees banded with white, which I understand marks the nesting spots of the Red–cockaded woodpeckers. The Sibley field guide says they are rare and local. Only found in mature longleaf pine savannas which exist in managed forest. We did not see or hear any. In fact I have not been seeing many birds at all. Maybe it has been to cold. The night temps are down in the 30’s and 40’s so maybe that has something to do with it.
3-10 – Paddled the Withlacoochee River. Had dinner at River Ratz Café and Grill which we had paddled by on the river.
3-11 – Moved to O’Leno SP today. Usual laundry and shopping along the way. Pete O visited the Don Garlits Museum of Drag Racing while I did the shopping. Nice camp ground but I liked Hog Island better due to more remote and bigger sites.
3-12 – O’Leno is on the Santa Fe River and is one of Florida’s first state parks. The distinctive geological feature of the park is the River Sink where the Santa Fe River disappears underground and re-emerges three miles south. The natural bridge between the sink and the rise provided easy passage over the Santa Fe River and the first federally funded road connecting St Augustine and Pensacola used the crossing. Leno was once a town but in 1896 the railroad by passed the town, causing the town to disappear like the river, but Leno did not rise again. We hiked the 9 miles from the campground along the river past the sink and the rise.
3-13 – Hiked the final miles needed for my 50 miles of Florida Trail from Rt 90, Olustee Battlefield, to Rt 250 Turkey Run Trail head, which is a little over 10 miles. Once again the hiking was easy. The trail well maintained and blazed. Saw no other hikers and no wild life and few birds. This section was in the Osceola NF and had some swampy areas near Big Gum Swamp and areas with more diverse trees. There was a shelter on this section of trail. The first I saw on the Florida Trail but not much water that I would have liked to consume. I only saw one spring along the trail sections that I hiked and one area where bottles of water had been put out for the hikers. I wonder how much of a problem fresh drinking water is for thru hikers. There is plenty of water but it really does not look appetizing.
3-14 – Really cold last night and only got up into the 60’s today. Did a short section of the Ichetucknee River. Great clear spring with nice vegetation and lots of fish visible in the clear water. Saw four manatees but once again not many birds. Where have all the birds gone?
No comments:
Post a Comment