Rock Springs Run

A poor picture, but when I see a rhesus monkey on Rock Springs Run,  it gets the coveted first photo slot.   Even though it is a butt shot.

I launched from Wekiwa Springs State Park at 7:55.

Tri colored heron

Great blue heron

 

 

Green heron

Belted kingfisher.

Alligator

Arrived at the confluence at 8:17. Paddled up Rock Springs Run

 

Blue heron, juvenile

Ibis

 

 

 

 

 

I heard people as I saw this gator.  How could that be?  No one was at the Park when I launched.  Then I realized they were on the hiking trail, near Big Buck.

Sunday. Posting a pic or to while I wait for AAA. I hope its just the battery.

The ol' stink eye.

Battery is being replaced

Anhinga

I was well past Big Buck, more than half way up the Run, before I encountered the first downstream paddlers.  Other than the hikers, I had it to myself more than two hours.

 

Eventually, 20 or so boats came downstream.  The first paddlers told me to keep an eye out for a pair of hunting dogs.   On my left.  The non hunting side.  I saw them, as did a large group of paddlers.  "It tried to get in my boat !"  No sign of the irrespnsible owners. Unless, they were the young men in a motor boat,  further up stream.  

 

Butterfly garden

 

 

 

 

 

I set out, not set on how far I'd go.  Thought of going to the State Park boundary, but when I got there, I figured I may as well keep going.  That would let the down Run paddlers get farther downstream.

Eastern phoebe on the State Park sign. I saw a lot of these migrants for the first time this season.

I paddled as far as I could.

Kelly Park.

The gentleman asked if I came from Jacksonville. "Yup, up the St. Johns, to the Wekiva, to Rock Springs Run, and here I am"  I did confess I only made the 8 mile paddle from Wekiwa Springs State Park.  Turned around to enjoy the current working with me.  It was 12:15.

 

 

 

Just when I was about to stop to pee and have a sandwich, at a tree in the middle of the Run with a dive platform. Or maybe a deer stand, a bit shallow.  A couple came canoeing up Run.  So, I continued, stopping in a better spot.  Able to get out of the water.  As others had before, as evidence by the beer cans.  Empty, unfortunately.  I put two in the hold, had my sandwich, and continued my trip.

The yellow canoe, behind the log, shows I am passing Kings Landing, where down Run paddlers start. 1:04 PM

Back to the State Park.  At the other end of Rock Springs Run, there is a No Motorboats sign.  Perhaps at this end, there are so few homes,  and no public launch, the State figure people won't abuse it.

Nine minutes later, on the left side of the Run, I saw a large brown object high in a tree.  First thought, what is a deer doing in a tree?  Second, and correct thought, that has to be a rhesus monkey.  It was.  First I've seen on the Wekiva and Rock Springs Run.  The Kings Landing website mentions them.  I just missed seeing one at the confluence, some time ago.   Frequent Wekiva and Rock Springs Run paddler Joanne saw one near Wekiva Falls.  And got a much better photo then me.  Outside of the Silver River, I saw one years ago on the northernmost canal linking the St. Johns and Hontoon Dead Rivers.  The St. Johns River is the likely route monkeys take from the Silver River, through the Ocala National Forest, up the St. Johns, to the Wekiva system.

 

 

Beauty.  Back to the beasts.

 

 

Beauty of Rock Springs Run

 

The dents on the shell intrigued me. So, I got a close up.

I was drawn in my what I assume are alligator teeth marks, but what about the 6/8?  Are turtles branded during the annual survey?   

 

 

 

 

 

 Saw one deer, a buck with a small rack. On my left. The swift current took me past it. By the time I stopped and paddled back, it had ambled into the brush.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

One gator on the log in the lagoon I've been taking pictures of since February.

 

I assume this is the same tri colored heron I saw at 7:55 am.  Second photo, 5:12 pm

Landed, got the yak on the car, drove to the Sand Lake trail head.

Gopher tortoise and deer on the way.

Deer at the Sand Lake parking lot.

Four of them. I was able to get out of the car without having them run away.

Staring on Dave's Yak Tales

As you saw, the deer walked away. I walked around Sand Lake.

 

 

Short walk around a small lake. A "borrow pit" Dirt taken for road building.  I crossed the road, walked by the horse corral.  Where I have never seen deer.

Until now.

 

The four deer had not gone far.

 

 

 I left the deer to their gazing.  This is were the rental horses hang out.  But the rides aren't available in the summer.  Mid October is still summer in Central Florida.  Mid to high eighties, but the humidity is becoming bearable.

 

I veered off the hiking trail to the bike/horse trail

Big Fork is for horse back riders

 

Another deer

That made 5 does. Rutting season is just about here. Where were the bucks?

Nearby

And so ends another wonderful day at Wekiwa Springs State Park