Crazy how things can come at you sometimes, like some puzzle piled on the table upside down – pieces to consider for the next day. The easiest ‘pieces’ at the moment are paddling and riding some of our older highways, the rest – well, I’m thinkin that things will fall in a natural order with due-time.
Again, simple objectives and no schedule (life at 60), it seems to work so far.
My plan’s for a ‘loop’ down through Florida to visit Dad, a cousin in Hobe Sound, a niece in Madeira Beach, and then kayak in the Ocala National Forest with another cousin were all materializing – the little trailer I use sometimes for camping was all hooked up and ready to go when I received the news – Dad had died, he was 84, bummer…..
Well, I didn’t unhook the trailer and as soon as I could lock the cabin door I headed to Florida, the previous post (WT Haynie) says the rest, – writing really hasn’t been on my mind, riding has.
After the funeral, and with the trailer and kayak still behind (the only one at the funeral with a kayak) I idled up hwy 441 from Sanford to where our extended family had gathered on many Memorial Day and 4th of July’s when growing up -
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ROCK SPRINGS (Kelly Park)
(non-paddle)
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Rock Springs, Kelly Park in Apopka, Fla. (that’s Dad above on the same rock as below). Hadn’t been there in 40 years (1968), and the place looked great. New boardwalks, nature trails, and many signs that emphasized wildlife management/ habitat.
We used to get into the chilly water at the cave and swim, float, or walk (exploring the ‘boils’ along the way) to the ‘second-landing’ near the main swimming area – then if we were brave, to the ‘third-landing’ (esp alone) which was something special because it was out in the ‘woods’ (along with ‘tales’ of alligators).
On this date I went from the cave to the ‘third-landing’ (above) without ever getting wet,
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the familiar atmosphere remained, I know some of the same trees were there, and now after so many years – I was too.
It was a nice stop to reminisce, and for some reason that’s important to me – its a reason, a purpose, maybe even an excuse to stop from time to time in places where connecting with memories are possible. It’s an interesting comparison of memory, perceptions, and present reality – while finding your own value in the saying “you can never really go home again.”
I was not disappointed with Rock Springs, this was a place that our family was totally united in agreement over the water’s temperature – it was bone-chilling COLD! It was mandatory for everyone to ‘get-wet’ at least once as a group and float the ‘run.’ Over a ten-year period we spent many holiday’s camping beneath the trees as our parents sipped cheap beverage and chatted while listening to the races at Daytona.
There is not a paddling run through Rock Springs so I went a bit further along the same road past Camp Joy to check out one there, but they were closed -
Link to; (more Rock Springs picts)
so I headed up Highway-19 to
View Larger Map
The Ocala National Forest.
With some information my cousin Jo had given me (and a map from the forest service) I located the springs that I wanted to kayak – Salt Springs Marina for a ‘quickie,’ and Juniper Springs for a more extensive paddle and return shuttle.
SALT SPRINGS
Water clarity- 7+
Natural Quality – 7
Difficulty – moderate
Salt Springs would help loosen up my arms, and Juniper would be the next day.
What I found from The Salt Springs Marina was a few hour paddle to Lake George, with a return trip against the wind – all was fine, especially as the Manatee and her calf playfully broke the waters surface beside me – neat.
I did talk and drift with some other kayakers from Chattanooga too, so it was a good afternoon paddle – 2.5 hours down, and maybe the same coming back – 1230 pm until 430 or so.
There is a camp-ground available at Juniper Springs with full hook-ups (near hwy 40 and hwy 19), and from checking with them earlier – it would be the best place for an early start (Ocala was 40 minutes away) if I camped, so what the heck. Leaving Salt Springs I found a little store (with no phone reception) and picked up some jerky and oreo’s to go along with my ‘stash’ of cashews and water at last resort – but they also had hot food too. Econo-lunch on the way to Salt-Springs, and then two dark pieces of chicken and potato-wedges/bread back to Juniper Camp ground – life is indeed good, warm food..(do we need to talk about food on the Mississippi?)
Shower at the camp-ground, thats all I need – a shower. I don’t know what I would have to do if I had to choose between a pillow and a shower – lets don’t go there. But its nice to have a shower in the middle of the woods – I can make do with everything else.
Just went in as a camper, site 64. My neighbors partied most of the night, it was actually pretty nice to listen to someone else’s jabber, camp-fire conversation and music through the night, I just laid on my mattress in the back of the truck and took it all in as “a free-ride.’ In the morning the rest I received from the night of camping was like I had slept with my ‘ears wide open.’ The traffic on Highway-40 might have had a little to do with it too.
Link to: (more Salt Spring Picts)
JUNIPER SPRINGS
Water clarity- 8
Natural Quality – 9 (again, traffic noise)
Difficulty – moderate
Anyway, Juniper Springs – 8am, put in at natural spring, flow with the basin as it combines and becomes a creek with surface flow. I had seen a sign that said “Not for beginners,’ I wondered how/why?
I had spoken earlier to some other kayakers about Juniper and they had inquired about my kayaks length (associating length with maneuverability), but my 14 foot Liquid-logic never confronted me once with handling problems (it was always human error).
The spring is gentle and clear at first, and as the stream grows its a comfortable drift with the palmettos and wildlife that surrounds – a hawk hopped head level and watched me pass from 4 feet.
Hawk
Water drains from the land around making the clear water more of a ‘tea color,’ unfortunately there was occasional highway work going on in the background that I had to ‘tune-out’ and zero my attention back into the nature around me. In doing this alone, I thought several times that being solo added to the ‘peace’ of it all, it didn’t hurt my ability to remain clear of those ‘strainers’- certainly company has its benefits.
Stream into a creek, bending, ‘ducking, mostly thinking ahead while enjoying the serenity, it was present.
The current could draw you to the side if you didn’t pay attention, I saw too many cypress tree’s with the ravages of canoe’s that had beaten against their skirt, ‘beaters’ I thought as the scars are many which have healed through the years – also with that, I wasn’t perfect either. The route was adequately maintained and the many rental canoeist were likely a positive.
So as the kayaker on Salt Springs inquired of me, he asked – How do you know if an Alligator is near?, that’s easy I said – “you get chill bumps”..
It’s true. – but they are no bother and naturally afraid of humans, unless we feed them – for some reason I thought it was funny when I saw a sign that mentioned, “If you see an alligator, leave it alone.” duh…
It wasn’t long after this field that the highway noise and bridge construction neared, the Park shuttle was there to pick me up right on time – well worth the 6 extra bucks to haul me and the kayak back to the park – a secured vehicle for the day, a ride back, and another shower.
soon I was back on the road all clean thinking about how much I really like the ‘ride.’
Link to: (more Juniper Springs Picts)
Link to: The Silver River
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