Weeki Wachee River

Friday, July 3, 2009, I started Independence Day weekend with a visit to the Weeki Wachee River. The kayak very secure on the new roof rack. Strapped to front and back cross bars and tied down bow and stern. Got tested hitting the brakes hard at a yellow light about to turn red. In the past, I may have gone through the ripe yellow, as sudden stops made the yak shift considerably on the old foam block and towel set up. This morning, no noticeable movement.

I arrived at Rogers Park early enough to get in free, and was in the water before 7, paddling up the Weeki Wachee River.





Perfect for wildlife viewing.

One of two manatees I saw on the upstream paddle.

This snapping turtle is so large, I thought it was an alligator at first.

The snapper was larger then the one alligator I did see. Just the second time I've seen a gator on the Weeki Wachee.

This pic would really be good but for the lens smudge.

I did get the light streaming through the trees.

Spider webs were everywhere. Some spanning the River. I've never seen so many, anywhere. I aimed the camera at one, but not seeing it in the view finder, thought I'd capture it, or another , on the way back. Spider webs are temporary, transitory things. I saw none on the downstream paddle.

The greatest bird concentration is on the upper part of the Weeki Wachee, just before the Spring area.

Saw a couple otters in this area.

An armada of canoes and kayaks was lined up at the launch site at Weeki Wachee State Park. I thought I could sneak past the "No Vessels Beyond This Point" sign, as it was not yet 9:15 am, but a ranger was working nearby on a tour boat, so I turned around.

Past the launch area, where a large group was going out. I got out in front of them, the first downstream group of the day. This meant I continued to share the water with wildlife, not people.

About 10:15, I saw the first people on the River in over three hours. After that, it got busy. Its a holiday, after all.

I did not make my usual stops to snorkel and have lunch. Opting to keep going, taking advantage of the early start. Saw three more manatees.

I returned to Rogers Park around 11:30, had lunch, then headed back out. To the creek linking the Weeki Wachee and Mud Rivers.

Mud River.

Gulf of Mexico.

Bayport Pier.

I was looking for dolphins, a bald eagle, maybe more manatees, but saw only one duck on the Rogers to Bayport, and back, up the Weeki Wachee this time. Landed a tad before two, a nice seven hour day on the water.

Lake Maitland, Lake Minnehaha, and more

More includes Howell Branch Creek,








Lake Nina,

A new rack for the yak,


The usual wading, swimming, and flying creatures.

After five plus years of owning a kayak, I finally bought a roof rack. They are expensive, but it should pay off when I sell my new car, which was getting scratched already. The roof on my old ride was totally shot. It will also provide piece of mind when driving. I need to figure the best spot to center the yak. Last night the top scrapped the garage door as I tested it. So I took it off the saddles, resting it on the rack. This morning, I backed out of the garage, then placed the kayak on the saddles. Also, last night, the center stap was too short to go around one end of the rack, over the kayak, around the other end of the rack, and meet again. This morning I figured it out. Only to forget what I did on my way home when I only had the strap around one end of the rack. I'll figure out tommorrow for the weekend. I should get a second strap, one for each rack, but may just go with the strap one one rack and rope on the other. On the other hand, then I won't have a back up rope. I do have front and rear tie downs.

Lake Maitland Park is 1.3 miles away, so no worries this morning. In the water at 8:15. These ducks are in a little rentention pond, usually dry, just behind the launch.

I paddled east across Lake Maitland, past the north end of Dog Island, towards the Isle of Sicily, looking for the entrance to Howell Branch Creek.

It took me awhile to find it, as my angle across the Lake took me past the entrance. When I saw the bridge connecting Sicily to Italy, I mean, Winter Park, I knew I went to far. I came about, followed the north shore until I came to the opening.

This lovely bridge, replaced a basic metal span some years ago. Seven years, as I go into the way back machine, August 2002:
had a good long run this morning, with a twist. At the 16 mile point is a canal. It has/ had a narrow metal bridge that bikers, walkers and runners use to get across. I got there this morning and it was gone. I thought of turning around, but that was uphill. I couldn't jump 20 feet, and did not think swimming was a good idea. But, I looked up, and there, like a vision, a metal pole spanned the canal. I tested it, it held my weight, and hand over hand I crossed the canal. My upper body needs work. 2/3 of the way across I couldn't keep my feet out of the water. But I made it, just as the gators began sliding down the bank. (Just kidding). I then squished along in my wet shoes for another 5 miles


Boy, a 21 mile run. Those days are long gone. Back to the present. I turned back at Howell Branch Road, there is a drop off here.

A return view of the pedestrain bridge. Now all of the bridges across the many canals and creeks on the Winter Park Chain can be viewed on Dave's Yak Tales.

I paddled back across Lake Maitland, to the canal leading to Lake Minnehaha.

There was a female wooduck here.

Not all birds on Lake Minnehaha flew away.

Back through the canal, beneath the covered bridge.

Birds of Lake Nina. Lake Nina is a wide spot in the 1/2 mile waterway linking Lake Maitland to Lake Minnehaha. A microcosm of the Howell Branch Creek wathershed. The Winter Park Chain, is a set of wide spots on Howell Branch Creek.

Back to Lake Maitland. A bolt of lightiining flashed just before this photo.

I landed about 10 minutes later. A photo of a train of baby woodducklings following mom turned out to blurry for the Yak Tales. I am always impressed by how many nice pics I get on this urban paddle.

No other paddlers were out, perhaps 3-4 other boats. Including the wakeboarder. The photo of him jumoing was taken from shore just after I landed.

A close up of the yak on the rack in the garage.


Regular readers know I bought a new PFD a few weeks ago. Turned out to be a bad buy, It's like a winter coat, complete with thick collar. Last week, in time for last weekend's, Silver River and Wekiva jaunts, I got a new, new life jacket at Bass Pro Shop. The upper half is mesh. Much more comfortable.

Wekiva River

I did something today, Sunday, June 28, 2009, that I had not done for almost a year. Kayaked the Wekiva River, north, upstream of Highway 46. Katies Landing is still closed. Undergoing "improvements" that were not needed. It's been closed since last July. Looking at the Yak Tales archives, last July I was told it would reopen in March. As of now, the Lower Wekiva River home page states it will reopen in the summer of 2009. From what I can see from the water, they must be talking late summer, like September 21.

The old concrete dock is gone. Heavy machinery is visible (not here) on shore. A few months back, I saw concrete slabs and pvc pipes from the road. Future restrooms. The old launch dirt launch ramp is overgrown. What a waste of time and my money as a taxpayer and State Park pass holder. Katies was fine at it was. Access to the Wekiva, and a Port-0-Let. What more do you need?

Back to the beginning. Of my paddle, not time. A large group was at Wilson's Landing, my launch site since the demise of Katies. Great, the bank will be packed. It was, but with empty yaks, as two folks stood guard as the rest shuttled cars to Highbanks Marina on the St Johns. I was off at 9:30. The last time I launched from Wilson's, the wide section of River in the vicinity was covered with algae. Not so today. The rain has cleared the Wekiva. That's my guess.

My float plan was to go up River to check out Katies, then come back, upstream beyond Wilson's for an hour or so, then downstream back to Wilson. After Saturday's Silver/Ocklawaha adventure, I needed to take it easy. My plan was tossed overboard as I saw how beautiful and full of life this section of the Wekiva is.

I found out how much I missed it.

Very few folks on the River. A father and son fishing. Three kayakers, coming upstream. They had launched from Highbanks Marina, on the St Johns. Used the yakdave upstream/downstream method, as I saw them again, on their return. I need to check out Highbanks, as what I did today, downstream, then up, with tired arms after 16 miles the day before, was a challenge. Made it Blackwater Creek, and a bit beyond.

Saw a large boat, 50 hph, decided it was time to turn back. An hour fifty minutes up River. Saw the group that had shuttled from Wilson's to Higbanks at noon. One other boat. One of the Wekiva Haven rentals. No longer a rental, the guy bought it when that launch site closed.

I took a break on the return, returning to Wilson's Landing at 1:45. 4 hours, fifteen minutes after I began. The return trip was made even more difficult by a south wind, Especially tough in the open section form Katies, past the 46 bridge, back to Wilson's. Fortunately, it did die down somewhat just as my paddle was ending.

I also posted a report on the Green Wave Forum.

http://www.clubkayak.com/greenwave/treports.asp?trip=374 If, like me, you wondered what the heck the orange billed ducks are, look at the comments section.

Silver and Ocklawaha Rivers

The bridge carries State Road 314 across the Ocklawha River, about 3 miles upstream from the Silver River. I paddled both today, Saturday, June 27, 2009. Got a very early start. 6:00 am.



I couldn't sleep, so when I woke at 3:45, I said, what the hell, may as well get going.


Put my five dollars in the honor box at Ray's Wayside, another car behind me. Father and sons, there to fish from the bank. Took awhile to get photos I can show here. Had to let the sun get over the trees.

Mama wood duck watching her brood, 7:30.

Silver River State Park is getting serious about "No Docking".

The gate has replaced a chain. A few years ago, I landed next to the overlook, put on the snorkel gear and headed down to the State Park launch. I think I snorkeled the Silver one other time. That's enough. The river has a lot of alligators.

This one just off the glass bottom boat dock at the Silver Springs theme park. I was there at 8, it does not open until 10. I did not have to dodge the tour boats. The Yak Dave Tour is better.

Nobody on the River until I was almost back to the State Park launch. Which is about half way.

I rarely see one baby duck following mom. That's nature; nasty, brutish and short.

Surely a gator munched on a wood duck or two.

Usually, I stop at the State Park launch for a break. Today, I decided to press on, take advantage of my early start and stay on the quiet River.

I saw one monkey.

On my left, between the State Park overlook and launch. I told folks coming upstream about it. But, when one boater,
who only slowed downed when he saw me (all of Silver River is Idle Speed, No Wake) asked if I saw any monkeys, I lied. I don't disclose vital information to criminals.

The afternoon storms arrived early. It was raining at 10:30, with distant thunder. Only for a brief time.

I stopped on the bank, had some cookies and half a sandwich. Passed the canal leading to the launch and kept going.

To the confluence with the Ocklawaha River. I made my way up the River. The Ock is usually good for gators, birds, and one time, a rhesus troop. This trip, few critters.

Anhingas, turtles, and great blue herons. The lack of wildlife is what kept me going, I wanted to get some photos. I began to hear traffic on the bridge.

I paddled beneath, on the banks nearby, two guys were fishing, the first people I had seen since anglers back at the Silver-Ock confluence. I turned around after a few minutes.

Bridge photos. If you have a tall ship, the Ock requires preplanning. The sign states, "To have bridge open call 3 hours in advance"

That will get the gears turning to swing the bridge.

My curiosity piqued, I did a web search to learn about the bridge. Built in 1928, this is the last Warren pony truss swing span in Florida. It is structurally deficient, and set to be replaced.

Shortly after I went under the bridge again, 2 jetskiers passed. They slowed down, which I appreciated. Other than the anglers, the only people on the Ocklawaha.

Wildlife highlight was a turkey flying across the Ock. If you have never seen a turkey fly, it is quite as sight. A round mound of feathers, lacking any aerodynamics. Yet, somehow, someway, in a comical fashion, it made it across.

Back to the Silver, I paddled past the canal again, upstream for a few minutes, hoping to add to the monkey count. Unsuccessful.

I returned to Ray's Wayside at 1:15. Nothing like completing 7 plus hours, about 16 miles on the water, early in the afternoon.

Plenty of time to head to Silver Glen Springs. Which was packed. So packed, the parking lot was full. so I left. Only to discover there is additional parking, which I had never seen. A park worker said it was so crowded because both Salt Springs and Juniper Springs are closed. I had forgot about Juniper being closed. Salt Springs has been under going renovations for over a year now. Staring the repairs at Juniper, while Salt Springs is still shut down is the height of idiocy. On top of that, local lakes are closed to swimming because summer heat leads to amoebas which can cause illness. They aren't an issue in cool springs.

Despite the masses, who stirred up the water so much I could not see the bottom of the spring from the surface, I got a few photos.

Not only were the grounds and swimiing area jammed, but dozens of boats were berthed just outside the spring. Not my scene. I did not do my usual Lake George Trial hike. Instead, I left, crossed Highway 19 to the empty parking area at the Yearling Trail trailhead. No noise but a scrub jay's call.

Saw other small birds, and a gopher tortise. I took an extended hike, on what I thought was "Jody's Trace" It seemed wider than I recalled, I thought perhaps it, like the trail from the parking area, had been used as a firebreak when a huge fire burned in the spring.
Season, not water.

Turned out I was not on the trail, but on "Line Road". But had I not been on the "road" I would not have seen the deer I saw when I sat on a log to get the sand out of my shoes. A flash of white tail. It ran across the path, then into the scrub, bounding, tail flashing. The trail I was on intersected with a wider path, a hard clay track. Now I know I was on Forest Road 10. When I stepped on the road, something big charged through the thicket on my right. I walked up the road a bit, then came back to retrace my steps. I thought the noise was to clumsy for a deer, which tend to bound gracefully. Also, I did not see a flash of tail. Bear, I thought. Confirmed by fresh looking prints.

But, deer prints also. So the mystery remains, but, I lean to bear.

Another scrub jay on the way out.

My Yearling Trail trek was nearly 90 minutes long. It was near 5 pm. I consdiered going back to Silver Glen, perhaps the crowds had thinned. But, I was beat, the car seat was comfy, so I made the trip home.

Rock Springs Run

I took advantage of one of the longest days of the year, daylight wise, by paddling the Wekiva River and Rock Springs Run tonight, June 23, 2009, after work. I got off at 4:30, came home, got the yak on the car, and launched at 6:00 PM. Rain on the Interstate, but it stopped before I got to Wekiwa Springs State Park. Cooled things off a bit. Mentioned that to a Park worker, who said, "but the mosquitoes are bad". No problem, as I had bug spray. So I thought. I left it at home.

These photos, and the alligator, were seen just after I began, in a three minute span.

Great blue, green, tri colored heron and great egret. Once on Rock Springs Run, wildlife was sparse. A cormorant, a couple cardinals. Unseen owls who-whooing. Plenty of mosquitoes. I paddled fast to create some wind with my paddle. My last RSR paddle, midday on a Sunday, I did not expect to see deer. Of course, I saw five. Today, dusk approaching, surely I'd see deer. None. Perhaps they sensed the oncoming storm.

I paddled past Otter Camp, going as far as an open area, where deer hang out, just down stream of Indian Mound Camp. I turned around at 7:15. The rain began shortly thereafter. Very hard for a while. I got thoroughly soaked. The worst was in a wooded section, so I had some protection. It let up in the open, marshy section, and eventually stopped. Even some blue sky, here back at the confluence of Rock Springs Run and the Wekiva River. Saw another alligator as I made the 15 minute paddle up the Wekiva.

The great blue heron was waiting for me when I returned to the launch area.

Still enough light to take a picture at 8:25. Maybe if it weren't cloudy I would not have needed a flash.

I left the Park at 9:00, 30 minutes past closing time. I can do this because I have an after hours pass. Which was free. I haven't mentioned the pass before, wanting to keep it something of a secret. But, starting July 1, the State is imposing a whooping fee increase. Annual passes go from

$40.00 to $60.00. I found out about it on June 16. At that time, I sent this message to the Department of Environmental Protection.

"a modest fee increase"With all due respect, did you fail math, English, or both?A fifty percent increase in the cost of an annual pass, from $40.00 to $60.00 is not "modest", mathematically or grammatically.Was any consideration given to a two tier fee system?. One price for Floridians, a higher price for visitors ?

I have not received a response.

It gets worse. A fellow paddler, the one who told me about the after hours option, sent me this link.

http://www.floridastateparks.org/information/docs/DayUseEntranceFees.pdf

The after hours pass will now be $25.00. So the price as more than doubled, $40 to $85.

My annual pass lasts through October. I need to crunch the numbers and see if I should get a new pass on June 30, at the old $40.00 price. I'm sure I'll write about it on Dave's Yak Tales.

Alexander Creek

Happy Father's Day from HOT Florida. So hot, I disregarded safety and took off my PFD. I need to get a new one. Actually this, is a new one. I've had a $20 Wal-mart gift card in my wallet since Christmas. I ripped my old PFD, so I figured I'd use the card. I wanted pockets, which this has, but it also has a collar like a parka. Not good for Florida.

Views from the 445 Bridge to the Recreation Area.

A heat wave is underway. Sunday's high in Astor, FL was 97, tying the day's record. It was a cool 88 at 10 am when I began, 95 at 1:00 pm, with a heat index of 107 when I finished before it really got hot. On the Spring fed Creek, in the Ocala National Forest, I'm sure it was a few degrees cooler.

The Spring sure felt good.

I decided to skip my usual walk on the Timucuan Trail, in order to beat the midday heat. Here's the view from the kayak as I left at 11:30.

There were very few people paddling Alexander Creek. Which was fine by me. I paddled past the Bridge for about half an hour, turned around, back to and past the bridge again to see if anyone was home at the bald eagle tree. No bald eagles this trip.

Paddling spring fed waterways is a great way to spend a hot day. The water is always 72 degrees, perhaps a bit warmer near the surface, and watching the fish, turtles, and alligators below you is a treat. I had one of my best ever underwater gator views. Coming down Creek, I saw some grasses just above the surface. Something seemed wrong about how the current was flowing through them. As I passed, I saw an alligator floating in the weeds, above the bottom, below the surface. Usually they will flee when I approach. This one did not, it remained, giving me a very clear close view of the five footer. I think it was acting like a bass, lying in ambush for lesser creatures to come downstream.

Hillsborough Rver

I kayaked the Hillsborough River today, Saturday, June 20, 2009. Happy B.D., Bill C.


After being up at 5 am last Saturday for the canceled Shuttle launch, then going to Cali, I slept in a bit for a Saturday, getting in the River at 9:30. I have never seen the Trout Creek Park launch so crowded. In fact, it was full, cars were parked on the grass near the dirt parking lot. Lucky for me, one car left, so I got a space close to the slope leading to the River.
The Hillsborough is dark and deep. Seems the May and June rain has hit Tampa, as well as Orlando. No problem getting past the Natures Classroom shallows.






I was well on my way before I encountered fellow paddlers. Perhaps, 10,12 before I arrived at Morris Bridge. 3 alligators, no photos. The osprey is the only photo I took for ninety minutes,until I was past Morris Bridge. Usually, I stop at an over look upstream of Morris Bridge Park. However, as I passed the Park, 3 chatty paddler came out. I passed them, and decided, if I stopped, I'd have to pass them again, so I kept going. Turtle, cormorant, blue hereon seen in a 3 minute span just after 11 o'clock.

Ten minutes later, the ibis and great egret in the first pic. A few alligators, no photos. Lots of people. All heading in the opposite direction, so it wasn't bad. Just past noon, a nice avian trio.

Limpkin, great blue, black crowned night heron. Just after these pics, I had a very close gator encounter. Paddling along the left bank, in shallow water, I startled an alligator that had been resting on the bottom. I think if my left blade were in the water, instead of in the air, I would have hit it as it arched its spiky back, hurriedly swimming away.

I reached the confluence of the Hillsborogh and Flint Rivers, at John Sargeant Park. I continued paddling up the Hillsborough, until a downed log blocked passage. On this portion of the Hillsborough, fallen trees are not removed. I missed a great gator photo, sunning on another log.

Landed at Sargeant Park, had lunch. Saw the Canoe Escape bus leave. Figured I'd make my escape before the next load came back. I did, but first went up the Flint until a log blocked my passage. Coming back past the canal leading to the landing, a group was coming out. Several of them headed up the Flint, first. I eventually passed the others. The herons were where I left them.

Saw more gators, but no photo opportunities. Turtle pic.

Bird pics. Great egrets, blue heron, anhinga, ibis.

For the first time in a while, I stopped at Morris Bridge Park. It has a nice boardwalk around an island. It was good the stretch my legs.

The boardwalk at Morris Bridge is the longest at the three parks I visit while yaking the Hillsborough, Trout Creek, Morris Bridge, and John Sargeant. As I've reported before, the parks are space about 4 miles apart. A perfect distance to take a break, walk, use the restroom. At the restroom, I saw a flyer. There is a proposal to close the parks two days a week, and shorten the hours on the remaining five days. I you live in Hillsborough County, hearings for the fiscal year budget, in effect October, 2009 will he held July 16, 2009, September 9, 2009, and September 17, 2009. Contact info. hcbudget@hillsboroughcounty.org Call: (813) 307-8337. Attend: BOCC BOARD ROOM, 601 Kennedy Boulevard, County Center at 6 pm.

Makes me question my "yes" vote on the property tax cut amendment last year. My rationale was lower rates would improve the real estate market. Shame on me for thinking like a Republican. Speaking of reptiles, I finally got my alligator pics after departing Morris Bridge.

I arrived at Trout Creek Park, after passing the vultures congregated at Natures Classroom.

Not sure if this was the same osprey I saw at the start of the day.

One bird I did not see, which I usually do on the Hillsborough, rosette spoonbill.

Upon arrival at Trout Creek Park, I headed up Trout Creek. A greenish film covers much of the Creek.

I passed the big turtle above, than saw a large gator, half submerged in the slime. Kinda neat when it sensed me, dove down, not cutting a path, as I was in the kayak.

Out of the Creek, I headed down River on a futile spoonbill search. Through the flood gates and to I-75 and beyond.

I landed at six a nine and a half hour day. The high in Thonotosassa, FL was 96. No wonder my shirt was soaked. I wonder if I the red skin on my tail bone was the result of 9 hours in the yak, or the drive home without changing.