Blue Spring state park cabin day one

 Headed to Blue Spring

Into the water.

Snorkeling against the flow to Blue Spring

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Time to head down the Run

Tilapia

Gar

From the dock, I shouted out a thank you to long time manatee researcher, Wayne Hartley.

Long time, as in since 1980.  First as a State Park employee, more recently for the Save the Manatee Club.  I could be wrong, but I think Mr. Hartley developed the system of identifying manatees by their boat strike scars.

On the St Johns at 9:35

After snorkeling in Blue Springs Run, I was surprised to see it was closed to vessels.  I learned that on a cold day earlier in the week, there were over 70 manatees in the Run.   "Kayakers and paddle boarders" would not leave them alone" said a ranger.

 

These tagged manatees were down the St. Johns from Blue Spring

Coot, a sign of fall. Although, it felt like summer. Well, cooler than summer. Only mid 80s

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I landed at Hontoon Island State Park

Went for a walk