Juniper Creek

Kayaked Juniper Creek Sunday, January 13, 2008. My first visit since early October, 2007.

http://davesyaktales.blogspot.com/2007/10/juniper-creek-and-springs.html

One car was in the parking lot at Juniper Wayside on U.S. 19 when I arrived. I prepared to embark, gathering my gear; cooler, camera, PFD, paddle, aqua sox, wait, where are they ? Not to mention snorkel gear. Must have taken them out of the car Saturday, and I bet they are on the garage floor. The landing/launch at Juniper Wayside is the perfect place to put in if you don't want to get your feet wet. A slot, wide enough for a canoe or kayak, allows access from the deck with less risk of rolling over. There also is a muddy bank where I usually put in.

It was 68 degrees at 9:15 The Creek was shallow, current fast. The top photo, from the downstream paddle, shows how fast. The Creek here is running over classic Florida spring run limestone, which made riffles on the surface. Other parts of the bottom are light colored sand, other areas muck, others eel grass flowing Medusa-like with the flow.

It took three hours to get to the Juniper Springs Recreation Area, paddling through the Juniper Prairie Wilderness. I am not sure if the raptor in the treetop is an immature bald eagle or a hawk. Sorry I couldn't get a better picture. I did not see any other paddlers until I passed the rickety dock that marks the half way point. The dock is the only man made object from the Highway 19 bridge to the Recreation area, a distance of about six miles. The total trip, one way, is seven miles . Paddlers encountered numbered 20 or so.

I arrived at the Recreation Area, waited for a large group of yakers to put in, then stepped out of the yak- shoes off now- and pulled the kayak up the wood ramp. Chatted with some other folks waiting to go out, then walked over to the Spring. Bought a mask at the concession. $13.33 "Tourist prices". Good thing I had a spare snorkel in the trunk of the car. Now, I'll have an extra mask for visitors.

Less than 10 people were in and around the Spring. It was sprinkling, but no thunder. I got in, and had the Spring to myself for a brief time. Using fins really makes a difference. With just my feet, I could not reach the bottom at this flow point,

Got a bit closer to the second main vent

A father and son, in wet suits, joined me in the water. I, as always, just had swim trunks on. I swam over the weedy part of the Spring pool, looking for eels, did not see any. Got out, ate at an empty picnic shelter, as this guy scurried about.

Earlier, a raccoon was even more bold. I asked it if it could rip the plastic casing off my new mask, but seeing no food, it left.

The rain, which had stopped, started again. Not having rain gear, I decided to forgo the usual walk to Fern Hammock Springs and began the downstream trip. If not for the water spots on the lens, this would be a nice picture.

I slowly drifted, a correcting stroke, here and there, scanning the wooded banks for wildlife. Saw a few more birds,

In addition to the birds pictured, Great Blue Heron, Great egret, eagle/hawk ?, limpkin, blue heron, I saw pileated woodpeckers, wood ducks, belted kingfishers, assorted songbirds, red shouldered hawks, vultures, and heard barred owls. Here is another, large hawk. Red tailed hawk, I think.

This could be the same raptor I saw on the upstream paddle. It was downstream, and perched on the opposite bank. I was closer, and could see its yellow gold breast.

It took four relaxing hours to complete the paddle. To my surprise, I did not see any deer.

When I got home, the aqua sox were, as expected,on the garage floor. Mask, snorkel and fins, no where. Did I leave them at Wekiva Springs Saturday ? Called the Park this morning, nothing at the lost and found. Guess I'll be shopping.

For those of you with DSL, or patience, here is a 5 second video of a "boil" in Juniper Spring.