Santa Fe River

On the day we lose an hour of sleep, it is good to be in a motel, instead of waking up after long drive.  Did my usual away from home routine, downloading photos, breakfast, coffee an hot pocket in the microwave, packed, checked out.

A deer ran across Rum Island Terrace on my way to Rum Island Park.  I stopped, got out, got a picture.

 On the water at 10:35

Rum Island Spring

A short paddle down, and across the Santa Fe River, to Blue Spring Run

And, Blue Spring.

One of 67 "Blue Springs" in Florida.  I embellish, a little.

Down the Run to the Santa Fe

Back to Rum Island,which I paddled around.

Paddled up the Santa Fe

Pickard Spring

What appears to be a spring in the River between Pickard, an Lilly Springs.  I cannot find a reference to it

Paddled up the shallow, swift, short run

To the springs

Ed was not home when I entered, but soon arrived.  Fully clothed. He puttered about the yard, paying no attention to me.  I broke the ice, asking if he was coming home from church.  No, but he had been in town.  I asked if he gets any compensation for the use of his name and likeness on the Naked Ed's Pale Ale sold at the Great Outdoors in High Springs.  He does, even though he is not a drinker.   He is not happy about them using his name and likeness on dishes and menu items.  Once Naked Ed starts talking, he does not stop.  Kind of like Dave's Yak Tales. When I told him about being sorry I did not have 5 bucks with me for his generosity he went on about people who make a big show of giving him 20 bucks, as compared to Cub Scouts who put a few quarters in the donation jar.  The latter are more appreciated.  That led to me asking about camping at the site.  He does not allow male only groups. Or even a lone one, like me.  Women keep things calmer, said Ed.  I graciously said goodbye and headed back  to the Santa Fe

 Headed back, down stream

Got out of the kayak to take pictures of this little spring.  Just up River from Rum Island.

Last two pics are closer looks at the turtles in the opening photo. Suwannee Cooters

Went past Rum Island Spring

 Asshole

Pie billed grebe

 Warm enough for tubers to be on the River.  "Tubers"  Perfect name for the couch potatoes.

Ginnie Spring. I think.  Could be Devils,but I forget where I took the photo

Dogwood Spring.  I dropped anchor and got into the water

Musk turtle

I had it to my self.  Campsites around the spring were empty.  Which surprised me, as it is spring break.  A lot more out of state tags on the roads the last few weeks

July Spring, on the opposite bank, not part of the Ginnie Springs complex

The land around this first magnitude spring is posted No Trespassing.   I looked for a shallow spot to anchor, but was unsuccessful

Deer Spring, back on the Ginnie Springs side of the River

The trip was marred by the jet skier pictured earlier an two of his buddies in power boats.  They were going up and down the River, blatantly ignoring the Idle Speed restriction.  Only slowing down when they saw tubers, canoers, and kayakers.  F***ing assholes.  As are the people who run Ginnie Springs who apparently do not care.  I posted this on the Ginnie Springs Facebook page

•  Sunday was marred by a jet skier and two motorboats speeding up and down the Santa Fe. They had a campsite. What, if anything does the Ginnie Spring complex do about criminals like this? As any informed boater knows, the entire Santa Fe River is an IDLE SPEED zone due to the high water. Any intelligent boater should know they should always go slow passing Ginnie Springs. One day, it may take a dead tuber to slow these clowns down.

I returned to Rum Island Park at 2:25.  Loaded the kayak on the car and snorkeled

I left Rum Springs just before 3.  At 3:20, I was at O'Leno State Park.

I had never visited before.  I always go to the Spring centered parks in the area, but they are all flooded.

De Soto trail marker

O'Leno is one of Florida's original State Parks, along with Myakka River, Highlands Hammock and a few others.  Developed by the Civilian Conservation Corps during the Great Depression.

I have a theory on why Florida is blessed with such a great State Park system.  The state was the frontier far longer than anywhere east of the Mississippi.  Indian wars lasted into the 1850's.  Excessive heat and mosquitoes kept people from coming here.  It was not until the advent of DDT and air conditioning, plus the many military members who trained in Florida during WWII, that the population began the climb that continues today.  So, beautiful locales that may have been playgrounds for the few, are parks for the many.

 Robin

 River flow

I walked a trail along the Santa Fe.  It normally is a loop, but the suspension bridge, built by the CCC is under repair, so it is out and back for now.

In April, 2007, on my second visit to the Santa Fe River, I wrote:
The Santa Fe River ends at the Suwanee, 50 miles from
its source. It appears to end well before that, just
a few miles from its beginning, At Oleno State Park,
the Santa Fe goes underground. Three miles later, it
reappears, at River Rise State Preserve. To me, a
river that disappears, only to reaper three miles
away, is magic.

This was the first time I saw where the magic takes place.

Not very dramatic.  I should have saved a link to a time lapsed video of turtles spinning in the sink. Still, a river going underground, then reemerging 3 miles later, is pretty special

CCC Boy

One reason for the walk, other than to see where the Santa Fe vanishes, was to see how the surface was for biking.  I saw a father and son on bikes, they said it was pretty good, one sandy spot where they had to walk.  I got on my bike

A short section underwater

 Did Jim ignore the sign?

I have never seen so many sink holes. Or at least so many filled with water.

Saw a deer

 The paddler looks a lot like Joanne B's favorite guide

Ride stats.  Nice to have an hour of sunlight left at 6:24. But, I had to work Monday, so I put the car on the bike and headed home.  Finishing the Tale Tuesday night, 3 days to go until a  3 day weekend in Cedar Key.