Weeki Wachee

Sprinkles fell as I drove from Winter Park to Rogers Park on the Weeki Wachee River, Saturday morning, November 22.  The forecast for the area was rain to end in the afternoon.

 No rain as I set out at 7:14.   One other car in the parking lot.  A boat, headed out to the Gulf of Mexico

I went down the short canal and began to paddle up the Weeki Wachee River.

 

 A short paddle up stream is a large sink hole. And deep.  I landed the kayak, and got in.

Lots of crevale jacks

Two manatees in the milky water

 Snapper

Jack

Got out of the water, toweled off, and began paddling up River again

 

 

 

It began to rain.  That, and paddling against the current produced by the 1st magnitude sprig meant very few photos. Saw a bald eagle.  Did not see the nest in the State Park waters.  A quick view of a deer, before it ran off.

Weeki Wachee State Park tour  boat.  After the boat going out to the Gulf at the start, I saw one other boat the entire trip up River.  Paddled over a manatee at the Park kayak launch.

 10:05 AM reached the turn back point

Manatee and calf across from the tour boat dock

 Still raining

 

 

Wekiwa Springs State Park could use one of these.

 A lift for kayaks at the Springs Coast Education Center.   There was a tobaaggon slide at Wekiwa 100 years ago, but visitors had to walk back up the hill.

 

 

 Still raining as I left the Park waters

 

 

 I think the undeveloped sections of the Weeki Wachee are the most beautiful I have kayaked.

I have not been west of the Waukala River, so I cannot speak to the streams in the Panhandle.

 

 

 

 

The rain stopped

 

 

 

 

Saw another eagle.  In flight.

 

 

 

 

 

 Back at Hospital Hole.

 

A couple saw manatees for the first time. It was neat to see their excitement.  They, and a solo paddler were the only people I saw who had launched from the concession.  Which had supplied them with ponchos.  Saw two other paddlers. Locals.

Landed at 1:00. Too wet and cool to paddle out to the Gulf, or on Mud Creek. Although the rain stopped, the sun failed to appear. 

 For a meal after a Weeki Wachee paddle, I have always gone to the Upper Deck, on the River, across from Rogers Park.

Did something different this time.  Went to Becky Jacks Food Shack.   East on 50 from Rogers Park

 Small, but like the Weeki Wachee this day, few people

Seafood gumbo

Reviews rave about the crunchy fish.  Not bad. Crunch comes from corn flakes an almonds.  Side of not 3, but 5 bean salad. 

 

Washed down with a Big Storm Brewing Co., Palm Bender Ale.  An appropriate choice on a windy afternoon.  The Shack as a nice beer selection.  I had never heard of the Big Storm Brewery.  Or of Odessa, FL, where it is brewed.

Lunch was 20 bucks.  And dinner.  I just ate the outer edges of the fish.  Brought a bun filled sandwich, home.

Dinner would come after a visit to the old Weeki Wachee tourist attraction.

Which became part of the State Park system a few years ago. So, with my Annual Pass, no $13.00 admission fee.

 The waterslides are close for the season

All the better to snorkel

 Slender needle fish

Plump manatee. The opening photo for this Tale came just after the needle fish.

 

It, or he, or she was very frisky.  My best manatee video ever!   Check out the bubbles emitting from the naughty bits.

A second manatee.

 

 Snook

 

Another video

 

I was the only human in the swim area.  There may have been mermaids rehearsing for their next show.  That is the music you may hear in the videos.

 Sheepshead

 Snapper and manatee

Mullet

 

 Diving bell

 

 

 

 

 A woman entered the swim area just before  I got out.  Followed by a gentleman.

 

 

 

 

 

I was hoping a manatee would come into the show area

No such luck.  But, a fine day.