Salt Springs Run

A new location of Daves Yak Tales, but from a familiar place. The Ocala National Forest. I've written about Salt Springs before, visiting it after paddling the Silver River. Today, Saturday, September 20, 2008 I paddled from the Salt Springs Marina, just outside the Springs, 4.3 miles to Lake George, pictured above.

I have a report on the Green Wave Forum,

http://www.clubkayak.com/greenwave/treports.asp?trip=264

Here are a few more pictures.

Returning to Salt Springs Marina. I landed in a grassy area to the left of the building. Less grass the usual-Fay.

I can now add manatees to alligators, bald eagles, deer, monkeys and bear to what I've see yaking in and near the Ocala National Forest.

Hammock beyond a shell mound where I got out of the rain and had lunch.

Great egret and moorhen outside Salt Spring.

Haulover After Dark

Not quite dark when I took the photo of two dolphins. (The second is in the upper left corner). I made a trip to Haulover Canal after work Wednesday September 17, 2008 for an evening paddle. Left work at 5:30, sat in traffic getting out of Orlando, in the Indian Lagoon at 7:05.

I paddled out to Mullet Head Island, following the lead of a flock of ibis and herons that abandoned the pictured perch, followed the sun and joined their birdy brethren at the sanctuary.

Mullet Head, off limits to protect nesting birds, was full of herons, egrets, ibis, cormorants, pelicans and vultures. Sunset is a great time to visit, the sky fills with fowl flying to and fro.

I paddled back to the Canal encountering the dolphins in the lead off photo. Four were feeding. Dusk made photography hard. Too much lag time between pushing the camera's button and the flash. It was fun watching the quartet pursue their quarry.

Into the Canal, two more dolphins traveling west, to the Indian River. I stopped at the Bairs Cove Ramp area. Heard, more than saw manatees as it was getting dark. I also came up with the answer as to why manatees and elephants split on the evolutionary tree. Mosquitoes. Manatees decided staying in the water was the best defense. Resumed the paddle towards Mosquito Lagoon, heard a few more manatees at the Overlook. I began to notice a white glow with each paddle stroke. This is why I was here after sunset.

Bioluminescence. Living light. Microscopic creatures, that when disturbed by a paddle, bow, hand or fish, produce an ethereal glow. The darker the night, the better the effect. The area on the north side of the Canal, is my favorite place at night. It is full of fish swimming back and forth near the surface, jumping at times. They leave trails like shooting stars or fireworks, the white ones that go "zeeeeeeee". I put my hand in the water. It was enveloped by the glow. Removing it, white dots glisten on skin for an instant, then disappear. I splashed the surface with my paddle, producing a shower of silver/white/glowing water.

It was a great night for light. A double rainbow on the drive out. Another rainbow as I drove through the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Sunset. Lightning in clouds far to the north. Stars coming out. Biolum. Back into the Canal and into Mosquito Lagoon, the Space Shuttle launch towers light up like a Christmas tree to the south.

I came back to the Canal, and out, into the area I had paddled previously, panicking more mullett to produce an undersea pyrotechnic program. Back in the Canal, the fish must be deep down. No light show other than the one my paddling provided. With one exception. A manatee exhaled, a brief halo about its head. I heard more manatee and dolphins. Tried to spot them with my flashlight, no luck. Stopped at Bairs Cove, manatees nearby, unseen. I put paddle down, propelled yak with palms, glowing water flowing through fingers.

I've done my best to describe bioluminescence. It is something that has to be experienced. I think this time of year is the best time to do it. Darkness is coming earlier. When cooler temps arrive ( this Wisconsin boy still can't put "Florida" and "cold" in the same sentence after 20 years here) the effect does not happen.

A bonus for paddling on a weeknight. No one was on the water. I passed a few cars on the dirt track along the canal to the launch area, but those anglers all left before I did. Driven off by mosquitos I bet. Not a single boat to be seen in two hours. Just me and the drawbridge tender- at least I think someone is in the bridge tower 24/7.

DeLeon Springs

Visited Deleon Springs State Park this Sunday morning, September 14, 2008 for the first time since April. My usual paddle across the northern edge of Spring Garden Lake, into Spring Garden Creek and the Lake Woodruff National Wildlife Refuge to Lake Woodruff was cut short by the mass of vegetation pictured above. I had been paddling for an hour when forced to turn back. No I know why no motorboats were on the Creek.

Spring Garden Lake , Creek and Lake Woodruff are part of the St Johns River. The St Johns is still above flood state three weeks after Tropical Storm Fay.

Here I am returning to the launch site. Click on the photo for a larger view. The brown sign in front of the canoes is usually well on shore. The green thing hanging from the sign is a hose for washing off the yak-once it is, in normal times, on dry land. The vehicle is property of the tour boat captain-he had to drive through a bit of water to get in and out. I asked him how high the water was at its peak. He said the waterfall was completely covered, just the current was visible.

So, the level has receded somewhat.

Here is how it looked in February

The high water level made wildlife viewing a challenge. No banks for wading birds to pace or gators to sun. Here is a sample of what I did see.

In addition to the pictured blue heron, great blue heron, alligator and osprey, I saw great egrets, snowy egrets, green herons, morhens and lots of leaping fish. Swimming fish too.

The Spring was packed this hot September Sunday. I was a bit surprised to see any fish among the commotion in the Spring pool.

These are just in front of the bars that prevent swimmers from shooting over the waterfall. When there is a waterfall.

Thanks to the blocked Creek, I saw more of the Packer game then I would have otherwise. I had gator tail at Gators Dockside in DeLand. Saw gator, ate gator at Gators. Score was 21-0 Pack when I sat down. It got to 25-24 Lions. Oh oh.

Final 48-25 Packers.

Alexander Creek

Paddled Alexander Creek this afternoon, Saturday, September 13, 2008. A short paddle from the County Road 445 bridge to the Alexander Springs Recreation Area, 20-25 minutes. The alligator was viewed just after some canoers coming from the Rec Area asked if I had seen any. "Not yet".

Alexander Creek was higher and darker then usual, Fay's lingering effects.

There was a good crowd at the Spring this sunny September Saturday. But, the Spring is so large, it does not feel crowded. Unlike Wekiwa Springs where swimmers straddle the narrow vent, Alexander's opening is massive.

I was able to get some ok underwater pics, despite being blind- no video screen. Went to Ebay for the first time to bid on a replacement Powershot SD600. Got outbid and the auction closed while I was away.

Back at the Spring, did the usual walk on the Timucan Trail. Freshly cut palm logs off the boardwalk portion. Fallen from Fay, I figure. On the dirt part of the Trail, fallen trees have not been removed. I was able to climb over them.

I left the Rec Area, paddled past the Bridge for 20-30 minutes, returning at 5:20. Here is some of what I saw.

Rock Springs Run

I have a deer photo for the first time in ages. Got out on Rock Springs Run this morning Tuesday September 9, 2008.


Alligators too.

But that's nothing new. This is one of eleven gators I saw. It's possible I saw just ten, as this one dove in after I took the picture, and on the way back I saw a similar looking reptile nearby.

I was in the Wekiva at 9:30. Water level is slowly returning to normal, but still is higher than usual. Water clarity is improving a little bit.

This is the scene just off the launch. The Springs are on the other side of the foot bridge. The Weikva is now clear as far as a maze of downed trees about 10 minutes downstream. It's good to see the bass and turtles below again. Past the maze, brown runoff continues to spill into the River from the banks.

Rock Springs Run remains darker, and swifter than normal. Higher, but not as high as it has been. The log lined sandbar on the right as one heads upstream is again visible. Not as large as it was pre-Fay, but can be landed upon.

I paddled upstream, past Big Buck, turning back at 11:00.

I assume this is a doe, not a buck as it was accompanied by two smaller deer.

I was unable to get a family portrait. At least I have the first deer from the yak photos since July 12 on Juniper Creek, and the first on Rock Springs Run since May 18.

Another sign of lower water level, Indian Mound Campsite.

Ten days ago, August 31, the Run was above the roots, the bank an inch or so above the surface. Someone or something has removed all the dead fish that greeted me last time.

I like daredevil turtles.

Precariously peering past the parapet.

My neck is sore just looking at this tri colored heron.

Of the 11 gators, 7 were little fellers, like these two.

Yes, two. That's a tail hanging at the top of the log.

I did not see any people this weekday morning until past noon, as I neared the Wekiva.

Turtles in the lagoon.

The final alligator of the day.

A pleasant 3 plus hours on the water. I did not swim, if I did, things would have been tight getting to work on time at three. On the other hand, had I swum, I could have skipped a shower. Naaaa.

Mosquito Lagoon

Visited the Canaveral National Seashore today, Sunday September 7, 2008. A fantastic day for marine mammals. It began from the time I launched at 10 am. This manatee was feeding just off the launch site.

He decided to check me out. As my kayak did not taste as good as seagrass, it moved on. As did I, north towards Turtle Mound.

On the way, I saw the first dolphins of the day. A group of four. No luck getting pictures. Here are pics of some stationary critters.

I saw another manatee near the Visitor Center dock, and more dolphins in the distance. Paddled by Turtle Mound and across the Lagoon to the entrance of the Shipyard Island Trail. The trail is a marked course through a maze of waterways. I've been paddling it for four years and still haven't figured out exactly how the markers work. Do you turn on the inside ? I did that at the first marker, and 10-15 minutes later wound up where I began. I than paddled towards and through the markers. Better yet, bring the map that's available at the Visitor Center.

If I had the map, I may not have exited Shipyard Island at its north end. I've done this before, but had to carefully cross an oyster bed. Sharp oyster shells and kayaks don't mix. The water level in the Lagoon, like everywhere else is high, due to, all together now, the lingering effects of Tropical Storm Fay.

I could have gone back, found the Trail, and continued, but chose to stay in the Lagoon. I follwed the curve of the Island, passed a campsite, then saw the Bethune Park dock across the lagoon. When I saw the manatee as I put in, I thought, good, now I won't have to paddle up to Bethune Park to see some, which I had done my last few trips. But now, as long as I was in the neighborhood, I figured I'd stop by.

Glad I did. 10-15 manatees were in the area.

It appeared to my untrained eyed that some of the manatees were engaged in conjugal activity.

I moved on after twenty minutes.

Stopped at Turtle Mound and took the new boardwalk to the top.

Looking south, Atlantic on the left, Mosquito Lagoon right.

Spider near boardwalk. web.web.net

I saw another manatee on the way to Turtle Mound, and more dolphins. Active dolphins, leaping above the surface as the hunted. Got a few "wows !" out of me. Back in the water, still more dolphins. Saw one with a fish in its mouth. Finally got some pictures.















I reached the launch site, and paddled beyond it. Back at Turtle Mound, a kayaker asked me how far it was to the Eldora State House. I told him 20-30 minutes. Curious to see how long it took me, I paddled towards the 19th century home. The top photo, dolphin dorsal in front of dock was taken at 2:20. The house is just around the corner. The spider shot was taken at 1:35. 45 minutes elapsed. Figure 5-10 minutes to get to the yak and relaunch, another 5-10 dolphin watching, and the 20-30 minute time is in the ballpark.











As I was watching the dolphin in the first photo, I saw, and heard, more manatees. A closeup of one.
Others, I needed to stay clear, as they were busy, and a human in a kayak could be flipped aside as they concentrated on each other.













I'm no marine biologist, but it won't surprise me if there are baby manatees in a year.

What a day ! Over a dozen dolphins, some thirty manatees, both species very acitve. All in the calm waters of the Lagoon, while you listen to breakers crash on the other side of the narrow barrier island.