Kings Bay Crystal River

Happy Thanksgiving. Remember to floss after your feast.



This was my fourth Thanksgiving since I purchased my kayak. Year one I paddled Turkey Creek, the last two, the Homosassa River. I thought of going back to Homosassa, but decided on Crystal River instead. I had thoughts of paddling both, but after spending seven hours on and in Kings Bay and 4 springs, I came home.


>A bank clock read 40 degrees as I drove into the City of Crystal River.


I arrived at Hunters Spring Park before seven. To discover it opens at eight, and has a gate. So, to the ramp in the Birds Underwater/Charlies Restaurant parking lot. In the foggy water at 7:15.




I saw my first manatee as I approached Pete's Pier. Truthfully, I did not see the manatee, just a satellite tracking float. I've seen these devices attached to rehabilitated manatees in the St Johns River and Blue Spring, this was the first I've seen outside that manatee hotspot. Here is float from later in the day.

Great heron, great egeret under the bridge at the canal/run to Three Sisters Springs.

I saw manatee swirls, but no actual manatees until I got to the sanctuary just outside Three Sisters. Several manatees were in the warm spring. I paddled through the posts blocking boat access to Three Sisters. Two snorkelers came out. Several manatees were in the Springs. I anchored, stripped to my swim trunks and got in the cloudy water. Which surprised me. I had figured this early in the day the Springs would be clear. The manatees had stirred it up. Later in the day, on a return visit to the Sisters, then clear, a kayaker told me he saw 12 in the Springs late Wednesday afternoon. I expect overnight, even more sought the warm water. The water was so murky, I had to dive down a bit to see the fallen tree in the middle Sister. I did not see any manatee. Until I left the Sisters and snorkeled to the refuge area.

The manatees had the holidays confused.

Trick 'r treat, smell my feet. I don't have a rhyme for nuzzle my shin.

One of the two snorkelers I saw earlier had her toes inspected.

We struck up a conversation. Turns out she has seen this site, and I've seen a lot of her excellent photos and video. We both are contributors to the Green Wave Forum. Google "flkrakr" to see some very nice stuff.

I was in the water 45 minutes. Back in the yak, out the run in the rapidly clearing water.

A woodstork in the canal/run.

I hung out at the Magnolia Springs Sanctuary. Lots of manatees in the refuge, plenty outside as well.

My next stop was King Spring, the largest of the 30 springs in Kings Bay. Last Christmas Day, it was just me, manatees and giant tarpon. Today, four tour boats were disgorging snorkelers, so I passed. I did have a nice chat with two "Manatee Watch" volunteers. Kayakers who, if needed, give folks friendly reminders of how to properly interact with manatees. Boiled down to, look, don't touch. I paddled around Banana Island, King Spring located on the south side, then paddled back towards where I launched. Towards, not to, paddling up Hunters Creek Run to the park that had been closed earlier in the day. I good place to visit the restroom, eat a pear, and snorkel the second magnitude spring.

Manatees, jack crevale, and snapper.

After my snorkel I made sure I showered. Signs at the Park warn of the possibility of a rash after swimming. I swam here once before, showered, and a day or two later, had a rash in both inner thighs. So I made sure I opened up the trunks to clean all areas.

Back in the yak, I made another visit to Three Sisters, but first, I stopped at the Magnolia Springs sanctuary. The tide was low, manatees were outside the refuge, and I saw a shallow water anchorage. I've always wanted to snorkel here, so I got out. Of course, as I did, a power boat came in, and despite the skipper cutting the engine, the manatees went into hiding. I snorkeled about, and din not see any. Of course, once I stopped, and got back in the kayak, several manatees made their appearance.

I paddled to Three Sisters, which now had the clarity the make it a great snorkel spot.

Not to mention manatees.

Now it was time to call it a day. I paddled back to the launch point, and rounding Petes Pier, saw a dolphin. Only the second one I've see on the Crystal River. The other was my first visit, when I launched at Fort Island Park, several miles downriver. I tried to take a picture. As I did, a second dolphin surfaced behind me. They headed north, I followed. A few more glimpses, no pictures. They did lead me to two final highlights of the holiday. A soaring bald eagle, and

Family and friend will see what I mean when they see the name of the boat.

Flkrakr kindly sent some of the pictures she took. This gives a good perspective of how thick the manatees were outside Three Sisters. It was hard to find a place to stand.

Blue Spring Snake Creek

I went to Blue Springs State Park Sunday, November 23, 2008 and paddled the Snake Creek, Hontoon Dead River, northernmost canal loop. It warmed up enough to get gators out, yet still cool enough for lots of manatees to gather in and near Blue Springs Run.

I launched at 9, after talking to the tour boat captain about what he knew about the status of the old launch area. He did not know any more than me. The old launch area has been

closed since the end of August and Tropical Storm Fay. Two months later, there still is little room in that area, the St Johns is still a bit higher than normal. A nice thing about the old launch area is it is on the edge of the seasonal manatee refuge, and you can get a good look at the seacows as you launch and land.

These cormorants are on the buoy line marking the "No Motorized Boats" area. Not being a motorized boat, I crossed over. This is the area near the old launch site. Since November 15 a second barrier restricts any access further up Blue Springs Run. This will remain until March.

I saw a few manatees heading out to the St Johns to feed. I did the same. Not feed, but out to the St Johns. The manatees went north, I went south to Snake Creek. One fishing boat was on the River.

Here's your typical tri colored heron photo. elegant bird, flowing neck. Here's the same bird, a bit more gawky pose.

Into Snake Creek, more birds.

Ibis

Great Egrets.

It's good to see big gators enjoying the sun on Sunday.

I took a picture of another tri colored heron, and looking in the screen, wondered why it was upside down.

Oh.

A panoramic view of Snake Creek.

Here is a closer view of the gator on the left from the first photo.

Unbeknownst to me, there was a third gator. It became knownst as it sensed me getting a bit to close, and entered the St Johns, followed by the other two. I was back in the St Johns, having gone down the Snake to the Hontoon Dead River, south on the HDR to the northernmost canal and back to the St Johns. The gators were on my left, a few minute later, manatees on my right.

Several feeding in an area where I frequently find them.

I had been out over three hours, and had only seen one other boat. Here's more wildlife.

Cormorant, snowy egret, turtle.

Back to Blue Spring, where now other boaters were on the River. Power boats moving slowly, one not slow enough, until I responded to his wave by pointing at the Idle Speed sign (how do illiterates afford boats?) and rental canoes from the State Park.
I hung outside the outer barrier watching manatees come and go. I then checked out the nearby island, and came back. One manatee, picture earlier, came in for a closer inspection. Here's another view.

I landed, got the yak on the car, then took a 7.5 mile bike ride on the new path just outside the Park entrance. The parking lot, which had been almost empty when I arrived, was now almost full. A line of cars was at the entrance station as I pedaled out. The reason for the crowd?

Manatees. The Run was jam packed with them. I tried to count, and stopped at fifty. A woman told be she got to seventy. Blue Spring Run is now very clear, almost all the way to the St Johns, so the view from the boardwalk is very good.

Another fine Florida November weekend. Deer and bear in the Ocala National Forest Saturday, alligators and manatees along the St Johns Sunday. I can't wait for the upcoming four day weekend.

Juniper Creek and more

In my last Tale, I wrote I was thinking of heading to Juniper Creek today, Saturday, November 22, 2008. Thought turned to action and I was in the water at 6:40 am. It was chilly, I'm curious to see what the temperature was. I'd guess 39-43 My guess was off, weather.com reports the temperature in Astor, FL was 37 at 6:05 and 7:05 am. Its warmer on the water, thanks to the three springs, Sweetwater, Fern Hammock, and Juniper that feed Juniper Creek. Steam/mist/fog rose from the Creek for the first hour.

I went to Juniper Creek because I was sure I'd see deer. Of course, I saw none. Which surprised me after seeing so many on recently on Rock Springs Run, a very similar waterway. As usual on Juniper, not a lot of wildlife. To cold for alligators, no turtles until half way home on the way back. Belted kingfishers, pileated woodpeckers, hawks, vultures, blue herons, black crowned night heron, great egret, great blue heron.

Some folks feel Florida does not have fall.

They need to visit the Ocala National Forest to see the red maples and cypress trees.

While disappointed that I did not see any deer, I was ecstatic that I did not see any people. I'll repeat that. I did not see any people. On Juniper Creek. On a Saturday. Granted, my dawn start helped, but I arrived at the Juniper Creek Recreation Area just before 10, it opens at 8, plenty of time for people to begin paddling downstream.

I had the Spring to myself.

In this pic, I tried to catch the bits of shell and rock being blown about by the force of the spring flow.

Thee are two main vents in the spring pool, This is the other.

Other than minnows, no fish in the pool.

Maybe most bigger fish have a hard time swimming under the water wheel. I say "most" because I have see eels in the Spring.

I had this beautiful place to myself.

Speaking of beauty, I took the usual stroll over to Fern Hammock Springs.

Beauty and the beast, some of the best boils I've seen, throwing up huge amounts of sand from the bottom.

As I was leaving Fern Hammock, one, than two, than three, than ten turkeys dashed across a narrow clearing. I did not get a photo, as knowing what lies in the near future, they got back under cover fast.

I also missed the picture of this varmint,

when he was in my kayak.

The boardwalk from Juniper Springs to Fern Hammock Spring has several overlooks on both spring runs. I could see paddlers headed downstream, and so I waited for them to get ahead before I began my return trip.

As noted above, turtles began to come out as the day warmed.

This shot reminds me why my arms are sore.

This is going downstream, heading up against the current flowing over the limestone bottom was a different story. As usual, I took my time downstream, yet I passed all seven boats, 4 rental canoes and three kayaks. Seven craft on Juniper Creek. I love cool November days.

I landed about 2:10, just after getting this action shot of a great egret fishing.

At the landing, I chatted with the shuttle van driver, waiting to take paddlers back to the Rec Area. The self described Cracker told me deer should be soon be prevalent on the Run. It's hunting season in the Ocala National Forest, but no hunting is allowed in the Juniper Creek Wilderness. "Dogs will be chasing deer from three points, and they'll all come here".

A few months back, the Forest Service changed the rules at the Juniper Wayside. In an attempt to end damage by the partying crowds that gathered on both sides of the Run, leading to erosion, trash and other problems, the area was closed for all activity other than landing canoes and kayaks. As I launch here, this affected me. Thanks to a grass roots effort, in which I played a small part, the rules were changed, and launching was again allowed. I had not noticed this on my previous visits, but it is nice to have confirmation.

Silver Glen Springs is 3 miles north of the Juniper Wayside launch/ takeout. Unlike Juniper Springs, there are big fish here.

Lots of fish.

Mostly mullet.

Usually, scores of stripped bass are in Silver Glen. I saw none this snorkel. I'm not sure what these are.

Besides the fish, I shared the immense first magnitude spring with two other people. As many deer were on the edge of the parking lot as I put the snorkel gear in the car.

This is a picture of two deer, not one huge 8 legged one.

After my swim I walked the two mile Lake George Trail and saw more deer,

and Lake George.

Another deer bounded across the picnic area when I returned. By this time, it had been a long day. Six hours paddling, snorkeling two springs, a two mile hike. I almost did not walk the 3/4 mile Springs Boils Trail. Named for tiny springs boiling up. Not as spectacular as Fern Hammock, but very nice.

I've seen raccoons here, maybe I'd spy a deer drinking. The end of the trail has a short boardwalk and platform for protection and observation. I turned a corner saw a shape and thought. What is th.., a bear ! On the boardwalk ! It sensed me, got up on a railing, haunches quivering as it balanced for a moment, than jumped off, running up a hill. I snapped a picture and missed. Perhaps I was distracted by the noise on my left. Something moving fast in the woods, a black shape, another bear !

I never saw a bear until I began kayaking. I think these two make ten I've seen since '05. Seeing these two , while we were both on terra firma, was quite the experience.

I saw another deer on the way out, then crossed Highway 19 to look for scrub jays along the Yearling Trail. I heard plenty, saw one.

I'd say I had a pretty good day.