Blue Spring State Park, Snake Creek Loop

In contrast to the "Hontoon Loop", which starts at Blue Spring State Park, down the St. Johns River, around the northern tip of Hontoon Island at Hotoon Island State Park, then either Snake Creek or the northernmost of three canals back to the St. Johns.  The Snake Creek Loop goes up the St. Johns to Snake Creek, down Snake Creek to the Hontoon Dead River (HDR), down the HDR to the first canal  back to the St Johns.  Shorter and shadier than the Hontoon Loop. We launched at 9:38, according to this picture.

 We being Stephanie, and I.  She says the last time she was a Blue Spring was 1998.  Good thing she now has a  kayak.  We did not do the Loop right away, first paddling up Blue Spring Run.

 Cormorant at the entrance to the Run.  Come November, won't be allowed past here.  Manatee season.

 Anhinga

Symbol of some baseball team that will lose tonight and Monday. Oh well, it was a great year for the Brew Crew.

Next destination, the island across from the French Ave. boat launch.

As I have noted before, the area around the island is a prime wildlife spot.  In addition to the above anhinga, ibis, and great ergret, we saw a deer and a bald eagle.  Rather Stephanie saw the deer, and I saw the bald eagle.  Hopefully there will be a deer photo on this Tale soon, there will not be one of the eagle, which was in flight.

Deer photo courtesy Stephanie

 Great blue heron.   We did not go around the island, but turned back inside it,  Keep out of the wider St. Johns and see more wildlife.  The great blue heron below was back on the St. Johns.   On the other side of the River, Stephanie questioned what it was,  saying "that dosen't look like a great blue heron".  I said it was a young sand hill crane, not yet with the red head.   We were both wrong.

Past the mouth of Blue Spring Run, the launch area, towards Snake Creek.

 Red shouldered hawk

 Alligator at the mouth of Snake Creek

We entered.  The Creek, not the alligator.

The same great egret kept flying ahead, landing, taking off.

Water level is high, I kept  looking for the bank on the left side. Which is about half way down the Creek.  Never saw it.  Under water.  I did se two deer running through the woods on the left side of the Creek.

When I saw the above live oak, I thought, we're almost at the HDR.  This area has the highest ground on the paddle, we stopped for lunch. 12:45.

Back on the water, green heron.

First pied billed grebes I've seen since spring.

Into the Hontoon Dead River.

Not a lot of wildlife on the usually lively Hontoon Dead River.  Stephanie diid get a hawk photo. On the other side of the HDR when I was taking the great egret pic.   On the other hand, few people.  Two, maybe three boats.  One kayaker on Snake Creek.
Into the canal.

 Lots of duckweed and other plants in the canal.  Had to power paddle through a couple areas.  Found a spot to paddle through this downed tree.

 Where two baby alligators rested.  Stephanie may have a photo of both.

 This alligator was at the St Johns River end of the canal.

Landed at 3:30.  Got the kayaks on the car, and went for a swim.

Stephanie did not bring her snorkel gear.  Or swimsuit.  Made a valiant effort to get to the spring. 

She joins a list of friends who did not bring their facemask and flippers. This  March Tale with John H. refers to a September, 2010 paddle and swim with the Kealys.   Remember, when yakking with Dave, bring the snorkel gear.

Bring an underwater camera too, if you've got one.

Last photo of the day.  Great blue heron from the boardwalk along Blue Spring Run.

Here's a Map of the day's adventure.

And more pictures. Courtesy of Stephanie.

These pictures make this Tale look even better.