Rock Springs Run

See the dark shape in the above picture ? It's a Florida black bear. First one I've seen since last July on Alexander Creek, and so the first on Dave's Yak Tales. This is the fifth time I've seen a bear or bears, on Rock Springs Run. Which is one reason why Rock Springs Run is my favorite paddle. If you are a frequent visitor to Dave's Yak Tales, you already know that. This is my 11th Rock Springs Run post, plus a few Wekiva River paddles with a brief detour up the Run.





A line had already formed at the gate to Wekiwa Springs State Park this day after the 4th, Saturday, July 5, 2008, anticipating the 8:00 am opening. After dragging the yak down the long sandy hill, I was in the water at 8:20. A small alligator swam just off the launch area, a green heron clucked, and flew off for a better perch. I saw two more green herons on Wekiva as I paddled towards Rock Springs Run. No pictures. Here are pictures of a few birds on the Run.

Apparently the limpkin has a hard time making friends. I could not make friends, because other than two canoes returning from a campsite, I saw no one for two hours, more than halfway. Just the way I like it. Paddlers began coming down from King's Landing. I paused to let a train of six or seven canoes pass. A few were looking to their left. One guy said "alligator". A gentleman passing me said there was a bear. Where ? His left. I paddled up stream, and asked a canoer, ground or tree ? Seemed like an obvious question but the paddler looked perplexed. The bear, I began to explain, then I saw it, lying on the ground about 10 yards into the forest.

I maneuvered to get a better view. The thick vegetation, saw palmetto and other foliage obscured the view, so you'll have to trust me. The black lump is the bear. You can see an ear in this shot.

I missed the picture when the bear got up, and looked toward me, lighter color fur on the nose. It then walked parellel to the run for a few steps, turned and ambled deep into the woods.

I ambled on myself, continuing upstream. Passed King's Landing, going up the beautiful. clear upper Run where few people venture, until I saw this.

The plastic chain extended across the narrow Run. I ducked below and continued. Who, or what, thinks they have the right to block a navigable waterway ? It could be Orange County. A site called "Third landing" is a short paddle up from the sign. It's a picnic area for County employees, a non- public part of Kelly Park. It is already posted. But the waterway ? I need to investigate further. I planned to turn around at third landing anyway, and I did. As I drifted, I thought of several places that, I'm glad I visited before they were posted. Fern Hammock, Rainbow Swamp Springs Run, the landing area on the Hontoon Dead River, Juniper Wayside, now this. The moral is, get out and paddle now, you may be denied access later.

Here's the photo that would have led off this Tale if not for the bear.

Or maybe this one.

After the hard, almost 4 hour trip upstream, I planned to take it easy downstream. That changed when I heard voices and the clang of canoe paddle on aluminum behind me. I had two choices, let the pass me, or paddle hard to put some distance between us. I chose the later. It paid off.

Thats an otter's head at the bottom of the log. One of three. Next, three views of an alligator

Approaching.

Passing.

Looking back.

Gotta have a turtle shot,

and a great blue heron.

Bear, otters, alligators, would I see a deer ? No. But 1 bear and three otters is a fair trade. The last half mile or so of Rock Springs Run and the Wekiva up to the Park was packed with paddlers. I'm glad I got the early start and did the upstream paddle. I landed a bit past 4, almost eight hours on the water. I dragged the yak up the mountain and decided I would only take a dip in the crowded Spring if I was able to snag a parking space. There was a space. The swim was very refreshing, and I only bumped into one other person.

After my swim, I took a short walk on the "Wet to Dry" boardwalk and headed home from my favorite place to paddle.

Blackwater Creek

I kayaked Blackwater Creek this Independence Day, July 4, 2008, launching from the Seminole State Forest. I last did this trip in May, 2005, and have longed to do it ever since. The Forest is not far away, just across the Wekiva River. However, a permit is required to paddle, and I had been unable to obtain one. Until today.



The permit has the combination to a locked gate. The launch site is two miles down a dirt road. An alligator floated on the surface and a hawk screeched as I put in at 7 am. I would have been there earlier, but missed the freeway exit, engrossed in NRR's annual reading of the Declaration of Independence. http://www.npr.org/templates/player/mediaPlayer.html?action=1&t=1&islist=false&id=92108861&m=92236752




I paddled upstream, in search of Moccasin Spring, which I knew was near a campsite. After 15-20 minutes, passing ibis and limpkins, I saw a metal pole. Why is that there ? To mark the campsite.

No one was camping, so I landed, and found the spring, adjacent to the campsite.

The series of posts are the remnants of a logging road, or "tram". I dipped by feet in- to drown the biting ants on my left ankle.

The campsite has a picnic table, fire ring and grill.

More amenities than the primitive sites along the Wekiva and Rock Springs Run, which only have a bench and a fire ring.

I turned around, headed downstream, past the put in.

Blackwater Creek is a beautiful, tree lined water way.

The trees tend to topple, so I was unable to reach the Wekiva, which was my plan. 90 minutes from the launch site, I was forced to retreat. After lunch at the launch, I continued past the campsite, until another tree blocked the way upstream. Back at the campsite, now occupied, I chatted with the campers, asking how far it was from the parking area to the site. 200-300 yards. Not to bad- I think I may be camping here someday. For me, this site is better than the primitive sites on Rock Springs Run and Wekiva. More amenities, I can drive to it, a major plus with my leaky yak, less traffic on the water. I saw ten people all day, none were on the Creek.

I could leave all my food in a cooler in the car, reducing bear worries. If/when I do camp, you'll read about it here.

A few more Blackwater photos.

I was on the Creek, including lunch, for about 5.5 hours. After, I drove on the Forest Roads to the parking area for the Moccasin Springs campsite. I found it. Next step- contact the Division for the next available Saturday.

I finished my visit taking a stroll around Bear Pond. A "borrow pit" which has been stocked and has a nice metal fishing pier.

Another version of this Tale with additional pictures, is on the Green Wave Forum.

http://www.clubkayak.com/greenwave/trips.asp?op=showtrip&trip=229

Turkey Creek

I went to Palm Bay today, Sunday June 29, 2008 and kayaked Turkey Creek. I changed up my usual routine, paddling east from the Goode Park launch into the Indian River before heading upstream to the Turkey Creek Sanctuary. I did this to avoid the boat traffic and weather that were sure to worsen later in the day. And to look for dolphins. In Palm Bay, two small dorsal fins broke the surface. Dolphins ? I paddled to the area, they did not resurface. I continued through the Bay and into the Indian River.

I am looking north towards Melbourne and the 192 causeway in this picture. No dolphins. Back in Palm Bay, I again saw dorsal fins. Definitely fish. Red fish, I thought. Later, a kayaker said they were more likely tarpon. Which makes more sense. Redfish feed in shallow sea grass beds, Palm Bay is relatively deep. That kayaker was one of 4 I saw on the way upstream.

No dolphins, and no manatees or alligators on the upstream trip. As usual, I got out and walked around at the Turkey Creek Sanctuary. Shorter than normal, due to my bad wheel.





As always, Turkey Creek was full of turtles. Birds I saw were blue, green, great blue herons, great egrets, anhingas, pileated woodpeckers, osprey, vultures and ibis.










Pictured are a blue heron, great egret and ibis.





I did see manatees. Three, on the downstream paddle, just upstream of the Port Malabar Rd bridge. A small round object briefly broke the surface. It seemed small for a manatee, was it an otter ? I drifted, eyeing the surface. Two fishermen on the bank said, "See the manatee ? Mother and baby." A-ha ! I'd seen the calf. Then I saw it again, headed upstream. I followed at a respectful distance, and lost it. I turned back, and as I did a fluke rose out of the Creek on the right bank. I then saw another manatee going back downstream, two white scars on its back making it easier to see in the dark water. Including the calf, there were three manatees in the area. No good pictures, here is a poor one.






I did not see any alligators, nor back into Palm Bay, any dolphins.


For some reason, the Goode Park boat ramp area is a major manatee hangout. One or more are almost always present. The reason may be dumb people feeding and petting them. As I approached the ramp, one woman was waving a piece of lettuce in the water, as another guy was tossing pieces of bread in the water. No manatees were present. There has been a sign outlining manatee rules at the Park for the 4 plus years I've been coming here. It is near the beginning of a finger pier, and not the dock where manatee meddlers congregate. Now, if I see a big sign, I'll read it, but I have never seen anyone go over and read the sign. Now, there is an additional sign, at the entrance to the main dock. Two smaller signs are on the dock itself.

Not only can't people read, they can't comprehend a picture with a slash through it.

Or they are blind. As I was taking the picture, a woman came on the dock with her son and grandchildren to look at the manatees. "People feed them" "It's illegal" I told her, "Look at the signs" "What signs?"

(sigh)

The kids did not see any manatees, but they, and I were thrilled to see a dolphin.

I had never seen one near the dock- which is why I had paddled into the Bay and Indian River searching for one. Which is why I love kayaking. you never know what you'll see but its always interesting.

A sneak preview of my July 4 weekend plans. I have a "State Forest Use Permit" to paddle Blackwater Creek. It's good the 4th thorough 9th. Very nice thing to have on one of the busiest boating days of the year. Not only is a permit required, but the combination to a locked gate is required.

So, I'm paddling (R)ock Springs Run

(W)ekiva River

and (B)lackwater Creek this upcoming holiday weekend.

Silver River

I went to bed Friday evening, not having made up my mind where to paddle. Wekiva, Rainbow, Weeki Wachee and Silver Rivers were all possibilities. I woke up about 6 and decided, what the heck, I'll go to the Silver River. I was in the water at 8:30, launching from Ray's Wayside Park just west of the State Road 40 bridge over the Ocklawaha River.

I paddled upstream, putting effort into my strokes. I wanted to beat the Saturday crowds, and the afternoon thunderstorms. I saw two other boats, a family in a power boat, and one kayaker up to the halfway point. There, two canoes launched from Silver River State Park Four craft to share the Silver during the hour forty five minutes it took to reach the head spring/theme park area.







Those are female wood ducks with the turtle. I wonder if the nick on the shell is a gator tooth mark. Yakdave's theory is young alligators will try a bite, learn the hard way (pun intended) this is not an easy meal, and end up sharing the same sunning logs.
The glassbottom boats tours were just beginning when I arrived. You can see the two boats I saw, before I moved downstream to avoid the entire fleet.
















After working hard going up, I took it easy coming down.







These are moorhen chicks. First time I've seen young ones.







Kayaks and canoes out numbered powerboats coming upstream. I like that. The entire Silver River is idle speed no wake, so yaks and canoes are perfect for enjoying the broad clear River,



























and wildlife.








My readers are thinking, yeah, yeah, cormorants, turtles, gators and butterflies are nice, but this is the Silver River, show us the monkeys !


















I saw one small troop, on the way downstream. I went past the canal leading to Ray's Wayside, floating to the confluence with the Oklawaha River, then went up the Ock. Not for long, a large tree blocked the River a short way up. Here is a picture where the spring fed Silver and rain fed Ocklawaha meet.




I landed at 1:20, just short of five hours on the Silver River. My usual routine after yaking the Silver is going the Salt Springs. But it has been closed, and still may be for renovations, so I went to Silver Glen Springs instead.





































My bum knee precluded a hike on the Lake George Trail. Instead, I took a short walk on the Boils Trail.










"Boils" are mini-springs, percolating out of the sandy creek bed.


The Yearling Trail is across Highway 19 from Silver Glen Springs. After getting by this fierce gopher tortoise,





it was a short stroll to see several scrub jays.


















As you can see, the sky grew dark. I drove through two nasty storms on the drive home. A wind gust during the second storm pushed the yak off center. Banks make excellent places to resecure a kayk in the rain. Covered drive through. The storm littered Highway 17 through Deland with twigs and small branches. Knocked out traffic lights. Which is an opportunity to see how stupid most drivers are. Traffic lights down, its a four way stop.

D'oh !

Winter Park Chain

I did a two hour paddle on the Winter Park Chain of Lakes this morning. Unlike last time,


http://davesyaktales.blogspot.com/2008/04/winter-park-chain-of-lakes.html


when I did the Winter Park part of the Chain, today I did the City of Maitland portion. Lake Maitland and Lake Minnehaha.


I launched from Fort Maitland Park, paddling along the north side of the narrow bay. I saw one other boat on the water. Power boat towing a wake boarder. The kid was good. Did a couple flips. Good stuff.


Following the shore, I headed towards a canal that leads to Lake Minehaha. Very impressive bird life on this suburban lake. Tricolored heron,

Anhinga,

Ibis

Great blue heron,

Great egret

I was surprised to see half a dozen limpkins. I have always considered them a river bird.

All the birds pictured (so far) were seen in an eleven minute span.

I entered the 1/2 mile canal connecting Lake Maitland to Lake Minnehaha. Unlike the canals in the Winter Park part of the chain, it does not have man made cypress planks along its length, just natural vegetation, or lawns, or the occasional dock at the canals edge. About halfway, it widens to a small lake, Lake Nina. I saw a green heron just before entering Lake Minehaha.

Above is the end of the canal, looking towards Lake Minnehana. The top photo is the other end of the canal, the view to Lake Maitland.

I traced the entire shoreline of Lake Minnehaha, which despite having single family homes on every lot other than a small park near the canal, is full of birds. Lots of anhingas perching on docks.

Tri colored, green and great blue herons, and great egrets.

Homeowners on the lake do a good job of keeping the shoreline natural, not manicured, which attracts and supports wildlife.

A three foot gator went below here, just before I got the picture. Two docks away kids netted minnows. That's a canoe on the dock. Over half the homes had kayaks to go with their powerboats. Too many had evil jetskis.

Minnehaha had quite a few wood ducks. I was able to get a picture of one of the colorful, but flighty fowl.

The lake has flora to go with the fauna.

I left Lake Minnehaha, passing beneath a covered bridge in the canal.

Passed sunning turtles in Lake Nina.

Back to Lake Maitland, ospreys searched for fish from on high. Another great egret photo.

More fowl, including a moorhen

Mallards and wood ducks.

A perfect paddling morning, best of all, with no motor, I don't need a Lake Pass.

July 1, 2008 postscript. I was surprised to see limpkins on this paddle, so I sent an email to the local Audubon Society.

Here is the response.

Date: Tuesday, July 1, 2008, 3:44 PM> Davi> Subject: RE: Lake Maitland limpkins>d, Thank you for the info. I will have to check them> out next time I pass the canal. That is a pleasant> surprise!> >

Nice to report something to the experts.

Rock Springs Run

Did a 12 mile, six hour paddle today up Rock Springs Run (and back) from Wekiwa Springs State Park. Did not go as far as usual, hoping to avoid the afternoon rain. I did get wet, but nothing bad. No lightning. The lead off picture was taken at the end of the paddle, in the lagoon/pond near Wekiwa Spring. I was trying to get the alligator's pillow in, along with the green heron.

I began at 9:30, paddled down the Wekiva to Rock Springs Run, then up the Run, turning back at noon. Shortly after reversing course, I saw a sign "6 miles to Kings Landing Takeout". This is for the benefit of those launching from Kings Landing and going downstream. The confluence is roughly half way between the State Park and King's Landing takeout adjacent to the Wekiva Marina. That's how I get the 12 mile distance.

Here are a few of the birds from the upstream paddle.











Limpkin, ibis and great egret, red shouldered hawk.

For a pleasant Sunday morning, blue sky, 80's the traffic coming downstream wasn't bad at all. Maybe 20 canoes and kayaks.





This gator came off the log after I took the picture at 11:43 am. He was back when I returned at 12:16 pm.


I stopped for lunch a short time later. Tested the ground with my paddle. Mucky, but not to bad. I stepped out. It wasn't bad. It sucked ! My leg up to the thigh. Ok, I'll get the other leg out, closer to shore, that has to be firmer. Not ! I sank to my waist. I pushed the kayak to firm ground and slowly slogged out.


I stood on the bank, covered in mud up to my waist and beyond in front where I had laid in the muck as I pulled one leg, then the other, out of the quagmire. The towel I use to mop up the water in my leaky yak served dual purpose as I wrung it out over my mick encrusted lower half. After a sandwich, I got back in the yak and continued the trip. I hung my right leg over the side to further clean it, then tried the left leg, and couldn't bend it enough to get it out. This is not a new development, it has hurt to bend my left knee for the last couple months. I'm starting to see the advantages of sit-on- top kayaks.

I let a few people pass me so I could have the "illusion of seclusion" on Rock Springs Run. Then I saw something I never see, a paddler coming upstream 5 miles from the confluence. I thought it could be a reader of these Tales who has written she paddles up Rock Springs Run. "The only person I've ever seen paddling that way is me" "How far to the end?" she asked. "About two hours" "Oh......." We spoke again, at the end of the paddle. It was her first time heading up Rock Springs Run.

Spotted the usual sun basking turtles, bass, gar and other fish below the surface, the usual blue and great blue herons

Saw a deer, but too deep in the foliage to get a picture. Here's another alligator.

After I took the picture, it slid of the bank, and swam beside me for a while, visible in the clear water, before ducking back under some vegetation.

Here are two more great egrets.

Also seen but not pictured, tri colored herons, wood ducks, cardinals, and vultures.

I was out late enough in the afternoon to get rained on three separate times as I made my way downstream. Helped remove more muck. Also kept the crowd down when I reentered the Wekiva. 3 pm on a clear Sunday, it would have been packed. But, the sky was clearing, and several paddlers were coming downstream from the Park. Others came from the Marina.

I picked up items dropped by the novices, a flip flop, styrofoam cup, bud bottle, before landing at 3:30 pm. I dragged the yak up the hill, then had a cooling dip in the Spring.

The time was only 4:40 so I decided to hike the entire 5.3 mile Volksmarch Trail. Saw two deer, two cotton tails, butterflies, a large flock of varied water fowl on Lake Prevatt, several two inch sized, round headed, gray-blue birds, and Florida Scrub jays.

I can add Wekiwa Springs State Park to Pat's Island in the Ocala National Forest and the Scrub Jay Trail in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge to sites I have seen this endemic species.

The Trail, which I ran in a previous life, took over two hours to complete. My bad left knee began to bother me. Benches on the trail are nice for an old fart like me. I'm still hurting now, 9 pm Monday. I need to keep my walks to under 3 miles.

Fort DeSoto

A new post on Dave's Yak Tales, but not a first visit to this wonderful park at the entrance to Tampa Bay. Family and friends know about this trip, but I haven't visited May, 2007

Fort DeSoto Park lays like a chicken's foot off the southwestern corner of Pinellas County (St. Petersburg, FL). The Park consists of 6 or 7 keys. Two toll bridges lead to it, .85. No admission fee for the Park. The fort at Fort DeSoto was built to defend the approach to Tampa during the Spanish American War. The War ended in a few months, it took several years to complete the Fort. It remains to this day, makes an interesting tour. I did not visit it today, other than driving past. My plan was to get a close up view of another fort, Fort Dade, also built at the turn of the 19th century. Fort Dade is on Egmont Key, a mile across the Gulf from the northwestern chicken toe. It is accessible only by boat. Although only a mile from the tip of Fort DeSoto, getting to it requires crossing an 80 foot deep channel, frequented by very large ships. Something to do only when the weather is clear, the Gulf calm. Not the case today.

I picked out the only section of clear sky for this picture.







A kayak can be launched almost anywhere in the Park, I launched near the rental concession, pictured above. I was going to launch at the concession, but was told I had to go down the dirt road to the next opening. Just as well, to avoid the weekend renters, but a change from earlier visits:


The attendant said I could pull my car to the edge of the water. He also asked if I had a guidebook and map. I did from a prior visit, but appreciated the friendly help. The concession is at the start of a 2.25 mile marked trail in an inlet named "Soldier's Hole". Numbered posts correspond to sections in the guidebook describing the plants, animals and history of Fort Desoto. Mangrove lined, Soldier's Hole offers protection on windy days.






The paragraph above is from a June 23, 2005 trip, posted on Paddling.net. Click here if you want the full version. http://www.paddling.net/places/showReport.html?1105






Today's paddle was the same route I did three years ago. Began in the protected water near the rental concession. As I was putting in, a large, talkative gang of paddlers passed by. I prefer solitude and quiet when paddling, so I passed them. On my right, I saw what could have been a manatee swirl. I paused, saw no manatee, but a few fish and went on. Behind me, I heard "A manatee !" Perhaps there had been one when I passed. This was my sixth, maybe seventh trip to Fort DeSoto, and I had not yet had a confirmed manatee sighting. I paddled on, past a trio of small mangrove islets that mark the end of a marked paddling trail. The waterway broadens, I've seen dolphins in this area. Anglers waded in the shallow water, casting over the seagrass beds. I was in Mullet Bay, the majority of which is a combustion motor exclusion zone, with a minimum wake corridor. Perfect paddling. It had drizzled a bit, but now, the rain held off, suface glassy. I passed a few more wading fishermen, when a manatee breached the waterline, head and shoulders out of the water. I can now add the waters of Fort DeSoto to the locations where I've seen manatees. Here's the list, off the top of my head.



Weeki Wachee River



Hommosassa River



Halls River



Crystal River



Chassahowitzka River


St Johns River



Hontoon Dead River



Blue Spring



Wekiva River



Indian River



Mosquito Lagoon



Haulover Canal



Turkey Creek


Spring Garden Creek (not off the top of my head, added Sunday 6-22-08)




I waited for the seacow to resurface. It did, once that I saw. I moved on, paddling towards the tip of the chicken toe. I arrived at the tip, and entered the Gulf. The choppy Gulf. I took a look at the Egmont Key Lighthouse, a mile or so to the south, got soaked by a wave, watched lightining flash in the distance and decided to turn back.






But first, I crossed the narrow channel eastward, keeping an eye out for power boats leaving from and returning to the six lane ramp and landed on Shell Key. Shell Key is aptly named. I'm not much for shelling, but the only unbroken sand dollars I've ever picked up are here, including one today. Shell Key is usually a popular spot for weekend boaters, today a lone craft was anchored, the crew on the beach, under a tent as the rain was coming. I landed, turned the yak over, and headed to the interior. A lizard let me share its spot under a seagrape bush to get out of the rain.








The showers disapated, and I went back to the open beach. I doubt the tide left this line of shells.








Shell Key is a bird sancturay, 1/2 of the island is off limits to homo sapiens. Birds that nest on beaches have a lot of competiton from human devepopment and recreation. Setting aside areas like Shell Key increase the chances future generations can enjoy birds like these black skimmers.








These are very cool birds. They feed, flying low, skimming the water, bright orange beak wide open, lower half in the water. Very protective. I walked the beach, outside the roped off nesting area, until two skimmers convinced me to turn around, by flying very close, veering off at the last moment. My escort continued well past the start of the nesting area. Hers's a so so view of a black skimmer, sorry its not centered.

For some reason, I want a bowl of Fruit Loops.

I passed this bird walking to the yak.

No idea what it is. Young pelican ? Needs to grow the beak.

Shell Kay remained almost empty. Myself, the boat I saw when I arrived, and three guys fishing. They got out of their boat to wade and cast in the surf. Then one of the anglers began to run along the beach. I figured he was following a big one. No, the boat came loose, he was running to ask the other boater for help. He got it. What kills me, is, as the boat was drifting away, other powerboaters and jet skiers zoomed past, not one pausing to check on the appparently abanonded vessel. I applauded the guy who did help.

Before I left Shell Key, a dolphin passed by, headed the same way I was about to. I got back in the water, but did not see it again. The wind blew strong, from the northeast, at my back for a bit, but as the contour of the shore changed, more of a right angle. A somewhat difficult paddle particularialy where Tampa Bay flows into Mullet Bay under the bridge to the Park.

Few boats on the water. The rain scared them off. Anglers are hardier, several were still casting in waist deep water. Here is an avain angler.

Here's a cormorant. Perhaps the bird on the beach was one ? But it seemed bigger. I have another question. This cormorant has a white belly, instead of the usual all black. Any ideas why ?

Perhaps I'm misidentifying it. I did not not mis ID the manatee that sufaced near me in the general area where I thought I saw one earlier. I also saw great blue and black crowned night herons, ibis and great egrets. And a rosete spoonbill. Not in the Park, but in a golf course rentention pond at the Pinellas Bayway turn. Saw it both on the way in and way out.

The rental concession was shuutered when I landed. Not because of the hour, it was about 2:30, but he weather. A disapointed family saw me and and asked if I worked there. "But it stopped !" a litle girl said, "can we use yours ?" I should have said, "Sure, for fifty bucks and daddy's license". Just as well, as soon as I got the yak on the car, it began to rain, hard. So no Fort or cannon pictures. This time.

Fort DeSoto Park has lots to do, its a shame I have not been here for over a year. I'll be back.