Rock Springs Run

Did a 12 mile, six hour paddle today up Rock Springs Run (and back) from Wekiwa Springs State Park. Did not go as far as usual, hoping to avoid the afternoon rain. I did get wet, but nothing bad. No lightning. The lead off picture was taken at the end of the paddle, in the lagoon/pond near Wekiwa Spring. I was trying to get the alligator's pillow in, along with the green heron.

I began at 9:30, paddled down the Wekiva to Rock Springs Run, then up the Run, turning back at noon. Shortly after reversing course, I saw a sign "6 miles to Kings Landing Takeout". This is for the benefit of those launching from Kings Landing and going downstream. The confluence is roughly half way between the State Park and King's Landing takeout adjacent to the Wekiva Marina. That's how I get the 12 mile distance.

Here are a few of the birds from the upstream paddle.











Limpkin, ibis and great egret, red shouldered hawk.

For a pleasant Sunday morning, blue sky, 80's the traffic coming downstream wasn't bad at all. Maybe 20 canoes and kayaks.





This gator came off the log after I took the picture at 11:43 am. He was back when I returned at 12:16 pm.


I stopped for lunch a short time later. Tested the ground with my paddle. Mucky, but not to bad. I stepped out. It wasn't bad. It sucked ! My leg up to the thigh. Ok, I'll get the other leg out, closer to shore, that has to be firmer. Not ! I sank to my waist. I pushed the kayak to firm ground and slowly slogged out.


I stood on the bank, covered in mud up to my waist and beyond in front where I had laid in the muck as I pulled one leg, then the other, out of the quagmire. The towel I use to mop up the water in my leaky yak served dual purpose as I wrung it out over my mick encrusted lower half. After a sandwich, I got back in the yak and continued the trip. I hung my right leg over the side to further clean it, then tried the left leg, and couldn't bend it enough to get it out. This is not a new development, it has hurt to bend my left knee for the last couple months. I'm starting to see the advantages of sit-on- top kayaks.

I let a few people pass me so I could have the "illusion of seclusion" on Rock Springs Run. Then I saw something I never see, a paddler coming upstream 5 miles from the confluence. I thought it could be a reader of these Tales who has written she paddles up Rock Springs Run. "The only person I've ever seen paddling that way is me" "How far to the end?" she asked. "About two hours" "Oh......." We spoke again, at the end of the paddle. It was her first time heading up Rock Springs Run.

Spotted the usual sun basking turtles, bass, gar and other fish below the surface, the usual blue and great blue herons

Saw a deer, but too deep in the foliage to get a picture. Here's another alligator.

After I took the picture, it slid of the bank, and swam beside me for a while, visible in the clear water, before ducking back under some vegetation.

Here are two more great egrets.

Also seen but not pictured, tri colored herons, wood ducks, cardinals, and vultures.

I was out late enough in the afternoon to get rained on three separate times as I made my way downstream. Helped remove more muck. Also kept the crowd down when I reentered the Wekiva. 3 pm on a clear Sunday, it would have been packed. But, the sky was clearing, and several paddlers were coming downstream from the Park. Others came from the Marina.

I picked up items dropped by the novices, a flip flop, styrofoam cup, bud bottle, before landing at 3:30 pm. I dragged the yak up the hill, then had a cooling dip in the Spring.

The time was only 4:40 so I decided to hike the entire 5.3 mile Volksmarch Trail. Saw two deer, two cotton tails, butterflies, a large flock of varied water fowl on Lake Prevatt, several two inch sized, round headed, gray-blue birds, and Florida Scrub jays.

I can add Wekiwa Springs State Park to Pat's Island in the Ocala National Forest and the Scrub Jay Trail in the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge to sites I have seen this endemic species.

The Trail, which I ran in a previous life, took over two hours to complete. My bad left knee began to bother me. Benches on the trail are nice for an old fart like me. I'm still hurting now, 9 pm Monday. I need to keep my walks to under 3 miles.

Fort DeSoto

A new post on Dave's Yak Tales, but not a first visit to this wonderful park at the entrance to Tampa Bay. Family and friends know about this trip, but I haven't visited May, 2007

Fort DeSoto Park lays like a chicken's foot off the southwestern corner of Pinellas County (St. Petersburg, FL). The Park consists of 6 or 7 keys. Two toll bridges lead to it, .85. No admission fee for the Park. The fort at Fort DeSoto was built to defend the approach to Tampa during the Spanish American War. The War ended in a few months, it took several years to complete the Fort. It remains to this day, makes an interesting tour. I did not visit it today, other than driving past. My plan was to get a close up view of another fort, Fort Dade, also built at the turn of the 19th century. Fort Dade is on Egmont Key, a mile across the Gulf from the northwestern chicken toe. It is accessible only by boat. Although only a mile from the tip of Fort DeSoto, getting to it requires crossing an 80 foot deep channel, frequented by very large ships. Something to do only when the weather is clear, the Gulf calm. Not the case today.

I picked out the only section of clear sky for this picture.







A kayak can be launched almost anywhere in the Park, I launched near the rental concession, pictured above. I was going to launch at the concession, but was told I had to go down the dirt road to the next opening. Just as well, to avoid the weekend renters, but a change from earlier visits:


The attendant said I could pull my car to the edge of the water. He also asked if I had a guidebook and map. I did from a prior visit, but appreciated the friendly help. The concession is at the start of a 2.25 mile marked trail in an inlet named "Soldier's Hole". Numbered posts correspond to sections in the guidebook describing the plants, animals and history of Fort Desoto. Mangrove lined, Soldier's Hole offers protection on windy days.






The paragraph above is from a June 23, 2005 trip, posted on Paddling.net. Click here if you want the full version. http://www.paddling.net/places/showReport.html?1105






Today's paddle was the same route I did three years ago. Began in the protected water near the rental concession. As I was putting in, a large, talkative gang of paddlers passed by. I prefer solitude and quiet when paddling, so I passed them. On my right, I saw what could have been a manatee swirl. I paused, saw no manatee, but a few fish and went on. Behind me, I heard "A manatee !" Perhaps there had been one when I passed. This was my sixth, maybe seventh trip to Fort DeSoto, and I had not yet had a confirmed manatee sighting. I paddled on, past a trio of small mangrove islets that mark the end of a marked paddling trail. The waterway broadens, I've seen dolphins in this area. Anglers waded in the shallow water, casting over the seagrass beds. I was in Mullet Bay, the majority of which is a combustion motor exclusion zone, with a minimum wake corridor. Perfect paddling. It had drizzled a bit, but now, the rain held off, suface glassy. I passed a few more wading fishermen, when a manatee breached the waterline, head and shoulders out of the water. I can now add the waters of Fort DeSoto to the locations where I've seen manatees. Here's the list, off the top of my head.



Weeki Wachee River



Hommosassa River



Halls River



Crystal River



Chassahowitzka River


St Johns River



Hontoon Dead River



Blue Spring



Wekiva River



Indian River



Mosquito Lagoon



Haulover Canal



Turkey Creek


Spring Garden Creek (not off the top of my head, added Sunday 6-22-08)




I waited for the seacow to resurface. It did, once that I saw. I moved on, paddling towards the tip of the chicken toe. I arrived at the tip, and entered the Gulf. The choppy Gulf. I took a look at the Egmont Key Lighthouse, a mile or so to the south, got soaked by a wave, watched lightining flash in the distance and decided to turn back.






But first, I crossed the narrow channel eastward, keeping an eye out for power boats leaving from and returning to the six lane ramp and landed on Shell Key. Shell Key is aptly named. I'm not much for shelling, but the only unbroken sand dollars I've ever picked up are here, including one today. Shell Key is usually a popular spot for weekend boaters, today a lone craft was anchored, the crew on the beach, under a tent as the rain was coming. I landed, turned the yak over, and headed to the interior. A lizard let me share its spot under a seagrape bush to get out of the rain.








The showers disapated, and I went back to the open beach. I doubt the tide left this line of shells.








Shell Key is a bird sancturay, 1/2 of the island is off limits to homo sapiens. Birds that nest on beaches have a lot of competiton from human devepopment and recreation. Setting aside areas like Shell Key increase the chances future generations can enjoy birds like these black skimmers.








These are very cool birds. They feed, flying low, skimming the water, bright orange beak wide open, lower half in the water. Very protective. I walked the beach, outside the roped off nesting area, until two skimmers convinced me to turn around, by flying very close, veering off at the last moment. My escort continued well past the start of the nesting area. Hers's a so so view of a black skimmer, sorry its not centered.

For some reason, I want a bowl of Fruit Loops.

I passed this bird walking to the yak.

No idea what it is. Young pelican ? Needs to grow the beak.

Shell Kay remained almost empty. Myself, the boat I saw when I arrived, and three guys fishing. They got out of their boat to wade and cast in the surf. Then one of the anglers began to run along the beach. I figured he was following a big one. No, the boat came loose, he was running to ask the other boater for help. He got it. What kills me, is, as the boat was drifting away, other powerboaters and jet skiers zoomed past, not one pausing to check on the appparently abanonded vessel. I applauded the guy who did help.

Before I left Shell Key, a dolphin passed by, headed the same way I was about to. I got back in the water, but did not see it again. The wind blew strong, from the northeast, at my back for a bit, but as the contour of the shore changed, more of a right angle. A somewhat difficult paddle particularialy where Tampa Bay flows into Mullet Bay under the bridge to the Park.

Few boats on the water. The rain scared them off. Anglers are hardier, several were still casting in waist deep water. Here is an avain angler.

Here's a cormorant. Perhaps the bird on the beach was one ? But it seemed bigger. I have another question. This cormorant has a white belly, instead of the usual all black. Any ideas why ?

Perhaps I'm misidentifying it. I did not not mis ID the manatee that sufaced near me in the general area where I thought I saw one earlier. I also saw great blue and black crowned night herons, ibis and great egrets. And a rosete spoonbill. Not in the Park, but in a golf course rentention pond at the Pinellas Bayway turn. Saw it both on the way in and way out.

The rental concession was shuutered when I landed. Not because of the hour, it was about 2:30, but he weather. A disapointed family saw me and and asked if I worked there. "But it stopped !" a litle girl said, "can we use yours ?" I should have said, "Sure, for fifty bucks and daddy's license". Just as well, as soon as I got the yak on the car, it began to rain, hard. So no Fort or cannon pictures. This time.

Fort DeSoto Park has lots to do, its a shame I have not been here for over a year. I'll be back.

Hontoon Island Loop

Happy Father's Day to all Dads, especialy Chris, Pat and Larry. Haskell kids, tell your Dad I say Hi.

I went to Blue Springs State Park. Began with a snorkel in the Spring and Run.

My swim was not as enjoyable as it could have been. My mask was leaking, thanks to my own stupidity-leaving it in the car trunk, in June, in Florida is not good for rubber and plastic.

My post Saturday the 14th, from the Mosquito Lagoon has a shot of a live oak with dry Resurrection ferns. This shows what a little rain will do.

This shot, taken from the boardwalk along Blue Springs Run, turned out well.

I was in my kayak just before 10:00. A gator floated just on the edge of where the Run meets the St Johns. Several other paddlers launched with me, the gator disappeared. I paddled north, upstream to Hontoon Island State Park. Lots of rental pontoon boats on the River this Fathers Day. And wildlife

This boat was berthed at the Hontoon Marina. Isn't Nevada desert ? Then I remembered, Lake Tahoe.

The only part of the Hontoon Island Loop with civilization is across from the State Park. 15 or so homes, and the Marina. I passed them, on the right, the State Park on my left and entered the Hontoon Dead River. A boater coming towards me said he saw a manatee. I paddled slowly, looking, listening, but it eluded me. Planned on the usual stop where hiking trails meet, and walking to the Shell Mound. This greeted me.

The fence and sign are new. I have two questions.

1) Why is this here ?

2) As the holder of Florida State Parks annual pass, how can I be trespassing if I land here?

I will try to find the answers later. Today, I did not land, as two people were fishing within sight of the sign. I also figured I could stop at Snake Creek. This hawk has a frog, not a snake.

An identical sign to the one above was on the Snake Creek shore. In the past I've seen metal, brown and yellow State Park signs in this area. I landed, ate lunch, then went on my way.

I saw several of these large red flowers. If anyone knows what it is, let me know. I found the answer, Wild Scarlet Hibiscus http://www.hontooncso.com/im22304/hon36.jpg

Snake Creek is narrow, shallow, winding and long. Power boats are rare, and so are paddlers. I encountered a group of canoers shortly after my lunch break. I asked if the came up from the St Johns, as opposed to coming from the Dead River, as had I. They had come from the St Johns. Which meant the way was clear. Snake Creek can get blocked by thick weed growth. The group of 8, or maybe 10 people, in 4 or 5 rental canoes from Blue Spring State Park, were the only people I saw in Snake Creek. They asked how much farther to the St Johns. A strange question, as they had come from the St Johns. I told them they were headed to the Dead River. One of the party responded, "we have map, how much further?" I told them 10-20 minutes, turn left at the Dead River, left at the a canal, back to the St Johns. Obviously this was their first trip up Snake Creek. For me, the route they were taking is a short 3 hour paddle. But then I know where the canal is. Assuming the map the woman had was the same little one littering the canoe/kayak launch, it was missing a few details. Hopefully, they made it back- but I did not see them back at Blue Spring.

I did see this limpkin when I returned to the St Johns River.

A couple more birds, herons, blue and great blue.

I saw about five gators in my four hour paddle, all in the water, like this one.

I had to take a picture of this boat, among all the boats beached just outside Blue Spring.

"Yacht Club or South Shore ?", I asked. Those are Milwaukee marinas, for my non- Wisconsin audience. Turned out to be neither, he's a local who bought it from a Milwaukean who drove it down. I told him I was surprised the guy sold it to a Viking fan- check out the towel hanging from the back of the boat. He laughed, saying, yeah. I'm a Viking fan, but I like Farve.

Don't we all.

Mosquito Lagoon Canaveral National Seashore

After a weeks hiatus from kayaking, I was back on the water today, June 14, 2008. Put in from the canoe/kayak launch at the National Seashore about 1:15. My vehicle was the only one in the lot. On my way in, I passed trucks with trailers parked on the side of the road, outside the entrance. The trailer parking lot was full. It's great to be a kayaker

There was more shore than usual at the put in. Mosquito Lagoon is somewhat affected by the tide, but this had to do more with lack of rain. Oyster beds were exposed, I gave them a wide berth as I paddled north towards Turtle Mound.

Pelicans find the stakes marking the path through the oyster beds a perfect perch.

This is the fourth National Seashore Tale on Dave's Yak Tales. The Lagoon is a prime spot to see manatees, yet, I had not seen any here since the October, 2007 debut of this site. Paddling north, I passed the visitor center, Turtle Mound, and the boat ramp. The entrance to the Shipyard Island Trail is across from the ramp. Due to low water, I decided to skip the Paddling Trail, and continued north, leaving the Seashore. A long island splits the Lagoon, the inner section is a manatee zone, slow speed. I told these folks they were the first honest fishermen I ever saw.

I prefer these craft.

I paddled past J.B.'s Fish Camp, boaters leaving and docking, kayaks on the shore, the deck full. The above yaks were at a private residence. My destination, Bethune Beach. The Lagoon side of the Park has a dock overlooking a cove. A manatee area. My last visit I saw two dolphins. I entered the cove and a manatee surfaced. From shore, a woman said, there's a manatee !. Not the one I saw, but another, and another, and.... I counted 10.

Four are in the above photo. Here are two more, one rolling- note the flipper on top.

Road side manatee watching.

Two of the manatees decided to give me a closer look. They swam to me, then gently rubbed against the underside of the yak. One had a taste, running its snout along the bow. I failed to get a decent picture. I hung with the manatees about thirty minutes, then made my way back the way I came. Saw another manatee traveling north as I paddled south. I then saw something I've never seen in this part of the Mosquito Lagoon.

A sailboat. The shallow waters of the Lagoon are not good for a boat with a keel. Kayaks are perfect. Powerboats are mostly "flats" boats. "Catch A Buzz" is a flats boat. Note the platform above the motor. It serves as both an observation platform, and a place to stand while poling the boat through the grass flats with the motor up.

Dolphins appeared as I neared Turtle Mound. Five of them, traveling in the opposite direction. I stopped at the Mound, planning to walk to the top. I was not able to. The boardwalk up the mound is still ongoing renovations. So, I had some cold chicken on shore and continued on my way.

Approaching the Visitor Center dock, I noticed people standing, looking into the water. I got closer, and did not see any fishing poles. Had to be a manatee. It was. One near the dock. The mom of the family on the dock asked where they could see dolphins. I told them if they stayed where they were, chances were the five I saw would eventually turn around and head back this way.

I came back to where I started. The area near the launch is often good for manatees, but none today. Perhaps the quartet of wading fishermen scared off the seacows. I passed the Eldora State House, on my way to Castle Windy. The water remained shallow, I stayed outside a series of small oyster shell/mangrove islets. Across the way, I saw a dolphin. I went for a closer look, it disappeared. but then, I saw one, two, five. The pod I saw at Turtle Mound had turned around.

All those dolphins, and one picture to show for it. So you'll have to take my word for it when I write I think they were mating. I do not know any other reason why a dolphin would try to ride/mount another. I also saw the white belly of one as it went after a fish that jumped from the water.

I went a bit beyond Castle Windy, following the dolphins, then came about and landed. Walked the 1/2 mile trail to the beach.

This is a live oak covered with resurrection ferns. Hard to see because they are brown. Rainfall will restore them to a vibrant green, hence the name.

Compare this to the picture on the next post from Blue Spring, an area that has had much more rain then the coast.

Speaking of the coast.

Back in the yak and back to the launch. Spotted another two dolphins near the Eldora

State House, and another manatee. Other wildlife, not previously described or pictured includes raccoons, osprey, black crowned night heron, great blue herons, gulls and armadillos. I was six hours on the water.



A final picture - what the f@#* ? Can't walk 10 steps to a trash can?

I picked up for the scumbags. Unfrappin believable the lack of morals/ethics/courtesy/common sense.