Paddling down a river has a way of making memories. As an example I offer our family canoe trip on the Wekiva River last spring. My daughters learned what deer scat looks like. It wasn’t because we were on some kind of scat quest. It was because we watched a deer deposit the scat. That’s a memory my girls still like to recall, usually at inopportune times.
We returned to the Wekiva River in early December for the Wekiva – St Johns River Ramble courtesy of Paddle Florida and the Seminole County Convention and Visitors Bureau. It was a 3 day, 3 night paddling and camping adventure covering 30 miles, three rivers (Rock Springs Run, Wekiva and St Johns) and crossing three central Florida counties (Orange, Seminole and Volusia). We saw plenty of deer. No luck on the scat this time.
I felt like I brought a beach cruiser to the Tour De France. I got used to spry old ladies and energetic old men passing us in their sleek, carbon Kevlar, vacuum bagged, rotomolded works of art called touring kayaks. I suspect some of those kayaks were so light and nimble they could be propelled by a well aimed burst of flatulence.
My wife Nancy, daughter Lily and I managed to plow all 30+ miles in our 17 foot Grumman aluminum canoe that we’ve affectionately named “The Beast”. My 11 year old daughter Anna paddled and peddled the whole way in her 9 foot Hobie Sport kayak. Only once did she need my help and that was to extract her kayak from a tangle of cypress knees after an emergency potty break.
We weren’t completely roughing it. A truck transported our camping gear from campsite to campsite and Bubbalous Bodacious Barbeque (http://bubbalous.com/) catered delicious breakfasts and dinners each day. Owls serenaded us to sleep each night after roasting marshmallows on the campfire (us, not the owls). To reserve a campsite call (407) 884-2009.
Central Florida rivers are beautiful any time of year but in the late fall nature cranks it up a notch. Maple trees along the banks were ablaze in reds, oranges and yellows. Gusts of wind would send thousands of colorful leaves cascading down upon the river like a gentle snow. If I had been manning the camera full time instead of the paddle I would’ve filled up my memory card on the first day.
If the incredible scenery wasn’t enough to satisfy, wild animals greeted us around almost every turn. We saw the aforementioned deer including two we watched swim across the Wekiva River (flail and splash may be a better description). We saw more turkey (the feathered kind) than I could possibly count plus plenty of hawks, turtles, alligators, manatee, tarpon and water birds. Although we didn’t see them, otter and Florida black bear were also spotted on the trip.
Paddling a canoe or kayak is good for the spirit. Obviously I’m a big fan of Florida’s beautiful spring fed rivers like the Wekiva and winter is a great time for a visit. Joining a group trip from an organization like Paddle Florida makes it even better as they handle all the food and logistics. About the only thing you need to take care of is the paddle.
For more information visit:
http://www.dep.state.fl.us/gwt/guide/designated_paddle/Wekiva_guide.pdf
http://www.floridastateparks.org/WekiwaSprings/activities.cfm#14
