Wekiva River, Blackwater Creek

Launched from Katie's Landing at 9:40

Down the Wekiva River

In the side channel

 

Back on the main branch of the Wekiva River.

Some motor boater put a picnic table at the illegal campsite.

Into Blackwater Creek

The sign is gone

See the post in the above photo?  It had an old, "Blackwater Creek" sign.

My kayak is narrow, but this gator may have been wider than it.  I drifted back to get the photos. It stayed on the bank. Would have made a sizeable wake if it went quickly into the Creek

Pair of little gators

More young'uns.  No bigger than a palm frond, Below.

Teeny tiny turtle

Break spot on Blackwater Creek.  I had paddle past it, looking for little gators. Almost always see them in this area. The huge one was well down stream.

Back in the kayak, headed down Blackwater Creek.

A good morning for little gators.

A motor boat scared the huge one into the creek,  It was going slow, but was one of those obnoxiously loud, uncovered, kicker motors.  

Back to the Wekiva

Too many infernal combustion motors on the upstream paddle.

Landed at 3.  Drove to Gemini Springs Park.  Saw the Thunderbirds doing a loop on the way. Airshow at the Sanford Airport.

As the name implies, there are 2 springs at Gemini Springs Park.  Nice one, above

The  twin.

Recently formed, in the last couple years, sinkhole.

Bike path

Not all of it is shaded and scenic, but it beats biking in the road.

5 miles to a Park, that like Gemini Spring, has an obvious  name

Green Spring

Back on the bike

DeBary Hall is about a quarter mile off the main trail.

Turkeys

Back at Gemini Spring

Tilipia school. Invasive fish are everywhere in the St. Johns river and its triutaries.

I launched my kayak here a couple times in the early days of Covid.  When Florida State Parks, and Orange County Parks were closed.  Gemini is a Volusia County Park 

An awesome day, close to home.