Rock Springs Run

I went to Wekiwa Springs State Park this morning, Sunday, August 16, 2009. Launched at 8:30 as a green heron hopped along the canoe launch beach, a tri colored heron blended into the emergent vegetation across from the launch, and a great blue heron flew by with a 8 inch fish impaled on its beak. The green and tri colored flew off as well. Into the Wekiva River, I saw all three birds again, or perhaps, others of the same type.

I was unable to capture the green heron. Here, in its place, a blue heron.
I glided down the Wekiva, than paddled hard up Rock Springs Run, which seemed to be flowing a bit quicker than usual. The "official" rainfall total for August is a 1/2 inch below "normal". But, as George Carlin said, "no one lives at the airport". Perhaps more rain has fallen in the Wekiwa Springs Basin.

Two little gators, sunning.

Twenty minutes, I came upon the big gator in the first photo, and here.

This was a big gator, on a narrow section of the Run. I did not want to surprise it. If it leaped into the Run upon seeing me, it might accidentally hit me. So, I banged the flat of the paddle on the surface, shouted, clapped. No reaction. None as I paddled by, under its watchful eye.
The gator was downstream of Otter Camp, where I saw the first people since the gate attendant. (Who, as I fumbled with my wallet, said, "Oh, I know you have a pass" . Nice to be recognized.)
I paddled past the other two campsites, both unoccupied. I turned around here.

A few minutes into a section where trees again form a canopy over the Run, after the open area from Indian Mound to beyond Big Buck. Made the turn at 10:22, according to the photo time stamp.

A fellow paddler sent me a picture of this scene a few days ago.
Someone has built a shelter. My fellow paddler thinks it is a deer poacher blind. A person, or persons unknown, sawed branches, tied them together with string, and laid palm fronds on top.

I'm not sure if it is a poacher's lair, I'd think a hunter would build a stand in a tree. Maybe some kids built it. My fellow yaker said she though of tearing it down, and was told by the rangers it is illegal. I decided to leave it be. If it is a poacher's hideout, I would not want an armed redneck coming upon me as I was dismantling it.

Speaking of deer, I did not see any. The campers at Otter Camp had broke camp, the site now empty but for wisps of smoke rising from the campfire. No otters either. I had a good idea where the big alligator had been. I got near, and sure enough, a gator came off the bank, into the Run. Seemed a small splash for such a big gator. Because it was not the big one, who remained where I saw it 90 minutes earlier.

As I went past, it hissed at me. Loudly, breath emitting between sharp teeth. Something I have not heard before This is why I love kayaking. Since March, 2005, I've paddled, 2, 3 times a week, and each outing brings a new experience.

I was near the two mile mark before I saw anyone. A kayaker. Wonder if his was the car parked next to mine with an "I Love Kayaking" license plate frame and paddling.net sticker. Here are the final photos from Rock Springs Run.

As usual on a weekend, Rock Springs Run near the Wekiva, and the Wekiva back to the launch was packed with paddlers. Somehow, these turtles were not disturbed.

I landed at 12:15, go the yak on the car, cooled down by snorkeling the crowded Spring.

Then a walk on the Wet to Dry Boardwalk. Which I have always described as "a quarter mile". But today, I saw a pamphlet at the main hiking trail head that stated it is .40 miles. Been getting more exercise than I thought all these years.

Sunday at the Park with Dave