After camping in my own bed, I returned to the Seminole State Forest this morning, Easter Sunday, April 4, 2010. A permit is required to use the Forest roads. My camping permit was good for the 3rd and 4th, and even though I did not stay overnight, due to a flooded campsite, I made good use of the permit by returning today to kayak. Forgot to mention in yesterday's Tale, the first animal I saw, on the road to the launch site, was a rabbit. Appropriate for the holiday. The launch area was crowded. Another kayaker was there. Nice guy, offered to help get the kayak. I was on the water at 9:15 and headed down the Creek. Lots of spider webs.
And alligators.
Most of Blackwater Creek flows through a thick forest, even when it leaves the State Forest and enters Wekiva Springs State Preserve. That can make it hard to see wildlife, as it can stay hidden. I saw limpkins, wood ducks, great blue herons, great egrets, red shouldered hawks, belted king fishers and ibis. Only bird photo are ibis
I first heard, movement in the forest, then saw, a deer. Too far off and moved away before I could even think of getting a picture
After being on the water over eight hours Saturday, I took it easy today. Told myself I'd turn back after turn hours, or when I reached the high ground where I took a break, actually 2, up and back, yesterday. Got there in about an hour forty, so I kept going. Now, I told myself, two hours, or until I get a good animal pic, whichever comes first. I missed the photo opp. The same breeding pair, I think, that I saw yesterday. This time, both rushed off the bank into the Creek. I looked at my watch, 11:14. I turned around.
Water moccasin. Could be a brown water snake, but I think its a moc.
No one on the Creek except for the gentleman I saw at the launch. Saw him again on the way up Creek. I landed at 1:10, a nice hour hour paddle.
2 comments:
Hi Dave! You must live close to many different paddling areas to get in "quick" one hour paddles! What is the most distance (miles) you have put in on a single paddling trip? I've paddled up to 6miles within an usual 2-3 hour time frame. Would like to work up my mileage and improve my overall workout. I know some yakers who do up to 20 miles at a time! :-O
Mike, when one lives in the center of peninsula dotted with lakes and crisscrossed by rivers and creeks, finding a nearby place to paddle is easy. I've done 20 milers, and perhaps more, plenty of times. I'm not interested in a workout, my theory is the longer you are out, the more you will see.
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