Rock Springs Run

Management at work asked for volunteers to work on Saturday. As I plan to ask for a raise soon, I said yes. Gotta have some arrows in the quiver. Also, it let me go for a fairly long paddle today, as I left the office at noon in exchange for coming in four hours Saturday. I launched from Wekiwa Springs State Park at 1:25. A canoeing couple was exiting the open "lagoon",entering the narrow Wekiva River as I put in. I could hear another paddler or two launching behind me.
An alligator often occupies this log, on the left, soon after the River narrows.





Slowly paddled down River, trying to keep a happy medium behind the couple in front, ahead of those behind. That ended, as the canoers progressed very slowly, so I passed them.

Soon, I was headed up Rock Springs Run.
Passed a trio of beer drinking pot smokers at the sandbar. Not the following trio. Great egret.
Green heron


Tri colored heron

I passed the "2 Miles to King's Landing Takeout Sign" and thought, I bet no one has been here since Sunday afternoon. King's Landing is closed Monday and Tuesday. Of course, as soon as I think that here comes a family in a canoe, dad standing. "Joe Venice" "Huh" "Gondola" "Oh". He told me there was a "huge gator on the left" I thanked him. They were in a Park rental, so I figured they had not gone up Run much farther than from where I met them. I have seen big gators in this area, but not today.

Up Run I continued, entering a tree lined twisty section. A big wake, a gator's head, slowly submerging. A ha! Perhaps this is what the guy was talking about. In the area where I, and you dear reader, have seen a good-sized alligator. Not a bad paddle for a family of three.










I paddled past the three empty campsites, the photo above time stamped 3:45, looking up Rock Springs Run before coming about. If you are a frequent Rock Springs Run paddler, you may recognize this scene.
When the Run is high, my upward blade goes right through the slingshot branch in the middle of the Run. It is low now. Noticeably lower, and subsequently clearer, than my last visit two weeks ago. It will only get lower through the dry season which lasts until April. Back in May, when the Run was swollen with rain, a canoer asked "when does it get clear?" I may have replied, "A long way upstream". I should have said, "October". The opening photo of this Tale, taken more than three miles up Run (heading down) gives an indication of the water's clarity.







I stopped at Big Buck to refill my water bottle, have some cookies, and strewth my legs. Walking to the campsite, a young couple walked towards me. Canoeing ? I was not quick enough to say, "Nope, expecting a big storm, so I'm wearing a life jacket". I got to the camp site, no tents. It's a several mile hike to Big Buck. These kids were in sandals, swim trunks for him. bikini for her. I hope they had something sensible stashed somewhere. I took care of hydration issues, if you know what I mean, and strolled back to the bank. Did not see the couple. Had they turned around just behind me, when I veered left, they went right? Which is the only option. Other than the water, and I had not seen a canoe or kayak. Back into my yak, I paddled down Run a few minutes, and there they were, in the water. They must have waded, swam down the Run. Crazy kids. I told them I thought I was losing it, as they had disappeared.





I went to Wekiwa Springs State Park and Rock Springs Run figuring I'd see deer as the afternoon turned towards evening.

Two deer just down Run of the adventurous couple. The photo below is the only one with both deer. See the third ear?

Ten minutes downstream, on the other, left, bank, another.

Fall is butterfly season.
I arrived at the twisty section where the big gator lurks, camera ready.
A second, smaller one, downstream of the big one. quickly got in the water. Not this fella. King of the Run. Out of the tree canopy, back into open marsh conditions, more deer. Three, two visible here.
There were two young alligators sharing this bank, but when the current is taking the yak around a bend, all you can do is point the camera and hope.
Tri colored heron. Chances are, the same one I saw paddling up Rock Springs Run.
Coming to the sandbar, people again. Two guys in camp chairs, their own canoe. Must have launched from Wekiva Marina, which closes later than the State Park. I have after hours access to the Park, so I was not concerned about the time. Other then getting off the water before sunset. Speaking of getting off, no I'm not referring to the beer drinking pot smokers, remember, the line of turtles on the log, the second photo? I'll wait for you to scroll up to it.

Welcome back. "An alligator often occupies this log"
I should be a guide.

Herons in the "lagoon" and near the landing.

Landed at 6:45. 5 plus hours of unexpected kayaking.

I saw about a dozen more deer before I left Wekiwa Springs State Park. Drove the short Park Road, past the campground to Sand Lake. Two on the way to Sand Lake. I parked, walked to the Lake, saw another three than two, than three on the way back to the car. Three more along the road. Darkness means no pictures.
No bears today, I think that streak is broken. It reached four straight times on Rock Springs Run, but none my last two visits.