Banana River

I worked until 1:00 today, Thursday May 22, 2008, then drove to Merritt Island and Kars Park. As I was filling out my car information at the guardhouse, I heard, and saw, a manatee. I paid the $5 fee at the store, and was in the Banana River at 2:30.




This was my second visit to the Banana River. Last time, I did not see any manatees from the yak, only from the dock at the boat basin. http://davesyaktales.blogspot.com/2008/01/banana-river-nmz.html

This time I visited the basin first. I saw four manatees. And an alligator.

Unable to get the manatees to pose, I still have the goal of photographing the "Florida Trifecta" from the yak on the same trip. At least I saw the trio today. Dolphin, alligator, and manatee. My first Trifecta since before the inception of Dave's Yak Tales in October, 2007

The boat basin is on the edge of the No Motor Zone. No motors, great wildlife, its paddler paradise.

I'd rather have the view from my yak than from six or more stories up on a cruise ship.

I doubt a liners passengers can notice the difference between a blue heron and a tri colored heron. Or ibis and snowy egret.

Birds whose names I don't know, below.

Let me know if you have the proper name for the above gull/ terns whatever the last two birds are.

I wondered what this was. A ship ? Not likely, its circular. To far from shore to be a wharf.

As I was loading the yak at the end of the day, a gentleman who has lived in the area since 1968 told me it is an old bombing target. Makes sense, with Patrick Air Force Base nearby. Also close by is Cape Canaveral. A bit of searching on the net reveals that Patrick was named Banana River Naval Air Station during WW II.

I turned around. The Banana River not only was wonderful wildlife, but launch pads, radar sites and other infrastructure for NASA. My earlier Banana post has some tower pics. Today was to cloudy, and I did not want to get out in the middle of the River for a better view due to the lighting possibility. Here's a radar site.

Back to nature. Watching a pair of dolphins on the prowl is always a treat.

One of the pair rose vertically from the water, white belly facing me. Neat stuff.

It was after 5 when I reached my turn around. I did not realize I had been out that long. I took few pictures on the way back. Not just due to the time, but the sky was becoming more ominous. Thunder rumbled in the distance. Fortunately, it did not open up over me.

The Banana River teems with fish. Redfish "tailing". Tails poking above the surface as they work the grass flats for food. Sea trout jumping. Sting ray wings breaking the surface. Also breaking the surface, an alligator, a few feet to starboard.

I arrived at the launch, and went past it to the boat basin, hoping to photo a manatee. No luck, but I did see one just outside the channel to the dock. I made up for it by getting more dolphin pictures

My day ended at 7:30. I utilized the telephone poles the great blue heron had been using to stay out of the rich organic matter (muck) as I pulled the yak to shore.

If you want more, I have a post with additional picture on the Green Wave Forum.

http://www.clubkayak.com/greenwave/trips.asp?location=145

Rock Springs Run

After an easy day Saturday on Alexander Creek, I decided to paddle Rock Springs Run, Sunday, May 18, 2008. I considered Blue Spring, which would have meant 4 1st magnitude springs in 4 days, but decided I did not want to deal with the crowds and boats on the St Johns. I may do Blue Springs Thursday afternoon. My Plan "B" if there is more than a light chop in the Banana River No Motor Zone. Stay tuned.


Wekiwa Springs had just a few visitors when I arrived. I was in the water just before 9 am. An alligator was on the far side of the lagoon. As I paddled closer to the alligator, I saw the large snapping turtle I often see in this area. Into the Wekiva River, I saw a blue heron and thought, there usually is a green heron around here... and there it was. A red shouldered hawk eyed prey from a low perch, seeing me, it flew away before I aimed the camera. Reaching Rock Springs Run, I began the upstream journey. This turtle wasn't going anywhere.






Wading birds, herons. egrets, ibis and limpkins fed in the open, marshy sections of the Run. On my right, a flash of white- a deer tail flashing as it ran away from shore. (not the first picture, that was taken on the return). A bit later, the sound of something large on my left. Round the bend, a large gator slunk into the water. An image appeared in my brain; the Grinch slithering around the Christmas tree. The Run is very narrow, and clear here. I thought I may see the gator underwater. It either hid under some roots on the opposite bank, or with a few flicks of its tail, hurried away from danger-me.

I had the Run to myself. Passing the Otter Campsite, I saw camping gear packed and ready to go, but saw no campers. There was a large group at Indian Mound, 4 canoes tied to shore. Passing the last campsite, Big Buck, no boats, but I said good morning to a gentleman, a hiker from the look of his footwear. The primitive campsites are about the halfway point of the Run.

I paddled another 30 minutes before I began to encounter downstream paddlers.

A canoeing couple asked me "How far to the white, sandy beach?" I had to tell them there was no "white sandy beach", they had been misinformed. Another couple asked a similar question. I told them, that if the campsites were not occupied, they could stop there. None of the campsites have a beach. There is a small sandbar, near the confluence with the Wekiva, but by that time the trip is almost over. Other than that, to take a break, you just need to find a flat spot on the shore- and always test the bottom with your paddle before stepping out. What appears to be solid ground often is not. A kayaking pair likely knew that. The female half, said "You're doing what we usually do, paddle upstream". Then she said they recognized me from last year. I responded I was glad I made an impression. As the current carried us apart she called back, "You said we were enthusiastic !" "and you still are", I replied.


I left the State Park waters, passing the canal leading to Kings Landing and entered the beautiful upper section of Rock Springs Run.




Saw this deer shortly before turning around, having been out four hours, and having a fair volume of water in the yak from the leak, and an empty water bottle, it was time to turn around.




The view from the flat spot where I drained the yak, filled the water bottle, and had a sandwich.

These swamp lilies were at my usual lunch spot.

I saw a few people in the area near King's Landing, but no one from well outside the State Park waters to below the campsites.

Spotted a swimming gator, and a few youngsters like this fella.

Here are some of the bird of the marshy section.

Great blue heron, blue heron, ibis, limpkin.

A great egret flying past the hammock.

I had a passenger for much of the downstream float.

This is the scene at the canoe beach. I heard one of the workers say "We sent out 60 (something) white canoes, and ?? green ones"- Wow, and kayaks weren't mentioned. Most renters stay close to the Park. By paddling upstream, I avoided the horde.

The spring itself was still busy by the time I dragged the yak up the hill and tied it to the roof.








Minnows were the only non-human critters I could find.



I took a 20- 30 minute post swim walk. With the sun setting late, no deer where I often see them at dusk. Back at the now empty Spring, I was tempted to go in again. But, it was the end of a long day and long, fun weekend, so I made my way home.

Alexander Creek

After spending Friday far, far away on the Suwanee River, Saturday called for a short trip. Take a smaller bite, as it were. So, I went to the Ocala National Forest, put in at the Lake County 445 Bridge, and paddled the short distance (about a mile) to Alexander Springs. Alexander Creek was crowded with paddlers. No motors allowed upstream of the Bridge. Here is the scene at the Spring, in the water, and the picnic area.

The underwater view.

>

Did the usual post-snorkel walk on the Timucan Trail. Saw this guy after I completed the short, 1.1 mile, walk.

Smart critter- easier to get table scraps than battle in the forest.

I got back in the yak.

Paddled downstream, to and past the Bridge. Most folks coming from the Spring turn back at the Bridge. The alligator at the top of the Tale was beyond the Bridge. The picture is on the way back. Here is how it looked on the way out.

After I took the picture, a couple yahoos paddled close to the gator whacked their paddles on the canoe, scaring it off the log. Spoiling the opportunity for another couple to see an alligator. After the gator got back on the log, he opened his jaws to say "Don't mess with me" Or, more likely, its a cooling technique.






Here's a bird gallery.

And a turtle.

Suwannee River

From Manatee Springs State Park

Where the deer saw me off

To Fanning Springs State Park

Big Fanning,

and Little Fanning

Back to Manatee,

where the deer welcomed me back.

This was my fourth trip to the Suwanee. The first three I paddled downstream only, using a Park service provider shuttle the first time, a car-bike shuttle the next two. I now have a bad knee, so a 14 mile bike ride is not an option, so I did the patented Dave upstream/downstream paddle.

For a time, I was unsure which way was up. The Suwanee flows south and west, from the Okefenokee Swamp in Georgia, to the Gulf. Out of the Spring Run, I turned right, north. Windblown waves negated the current, the sun behind thick clouds, I questioned my sense of direction for a time.

This section of the Suwanee is similar to the St Johns from Blue Springs to Hontoon Island in width. The latter has more wildlife.

I saw great blue herons, great egrets, kingfishers and anhingas.

A few turtles, no gators. I have yet to see my first Suwanee River manatee. I did see three Gulf sturgeon, and heard the loud SPLASH ! of many more as these large fish threw themselves out of the water. My last visit, I only saw one. Today,one of the three launched itself about 10 feet to starboard. I stayed near shore for three reasons, wind brake, avoid the occasional fast boat, and stay clear of 6 foot, 100 pound, bony fish. In recent years, several boaters on the Suwanee have bee injured by sturgeon. None of the victims were paddlers.

It took a bit over three hours to reach Fanning Springs State Park. As I approached, I saw the first and only kayak of the day. I paddled up narrow, shallow run,

To Little Fanning Springs. Or at least close to it. The fifth picture on this report is what I think is Little Fanning. A circular basin, clear water flowing from a tangle of cypress roots. But, my prime Springs info source, Springs Fever states "water flows from the base of a limestone bank". Perhaps there is more than once source. I did see a gauge just over the roots, perhaps that was in the actual spring.

I had no issues identifying Fanning Springs. A short, deep run ends at a floating dock. Boats can tie up. Kind of high for a yakker with a bad wheel, so I stepped into the water and pulled the yak up. An alternate paddler landing is a bit upstream on the Suwanee. It requires a bit of a walk to the Spring. This Friday afternoon, with only six people at the Spring, and no boats, there was plenty room for the yak and I.

Here is a picture from a dive platform above the Spring.

I have underwater pics, but none too great. As I snorkeled, it seemed as if there was a lot more algae covering the limestone walls and outcrops of Fanning Spring. Looking at pictures from my May, 2007 visit, there is more.

After a sandwich, I was back in the yak for the downstream paddle back to Manatee Springs. With the wind in my face, it seemed like I was going upstream. I took a break at the Andrews Wildlife Management Area Dock.

The dock is much to high for a kayak, but a staircase goes up the bluff to a covered picnic table grill, and hiking trail head. Before hiking, study the kiosk for hunting dates. No hunts in May.

Here, the bluff is sand, other parts of the River have limestone banks.

8 hours and 16 miles after setting out, I returned to Manatee Springs.

After putting the yak on the car,as the deer watched, I snorkeled the Spring.

Manatee Springs has miles of hiking trails. I strolled the short, 0.6 mile Sinks Trail. Saw another deer. Two more on the side of the Park Drive as I exited at 7:45. Eight deer for the day. Perhaps a name change is in order.

A fine day, despite battling the wind, and rain- three downpours on the upstream paddle. Still beats work- and this was a paid vacation day.

Here is my Green Waave Forum version of the trip.

http://www.clubkayak.com/greenwave/trips.asp?op=showtrip&trip=214