DOWN THE LAZY RIVER....

         DRIFTING DOWN A LAZY RIVER

       I should have remembered the Boy Scout motto, "Be prepared" before I went venturing on the Sante Fe River at night. Next time I'll bring warmer clothes and more light than a cell phone. I did better a month later; it was a day trip, and, when I fell out of my kayak, my phone was safely sealed in a plastic bag. 

      Going out on the water is one of our favorite North Florida pastimes.  Gainesville is ninety minutes from the ocean but there are fresh water rivers, lakes, and springs nearby. You can explore them on a sunny day or a moon-lit night.

      Many here have their own kayaks. The High Springs Boat Ramp off Highway 41 gives you  easy access to the broad, dark river day or night.  We're over transporting our own skinny boats. Young folks asssist us now. One of many places where you can rent a canoe or kayak is the Canoe Outpost (https://www.aoafun.com/outpost) in High Springs.

  They're open every day, 9-5, and they often have full moon river tours.  Check with them for details.

    My wife and I love going on guided river trips with naturalist Lars Anderson.  He has run "Adventures Outpost" for years (https://adventureoutpost.net/, 386-497-4214).

Lars shows us the way

      You can choose from over thirty guided tours usually joining a small group of 6-8 people. Lars can set you up with a boat but, if you prefer, you can bring your own.

 

      The easiest way for us get into a lazy river groove is to drift down the magnificent Ichetucknee River. It's a forty-five minutes drive from G'ville. For a reasonable fee a young man will drive you up river, help you into a canoe (or kayak) and a minute later, you are drifting for hours through nature's tranquil wonderland.  

Ahhhh....

      When we were there last week, we saw a zillion birds, 126 turtles (our young nephew, Nick, was counting),   

 

a family of otters diving for lunch, and a smiling gator. In winter many bulbous manatees join the spring water menagerie as well.

           Nicolas and his mother

 

             

       Most people prefer to float down the lower half of the river in colorful inner tubes. That was a gas years ago. Now, spending hours with my butt suspended in cold water is less than enjoyable.

      Exploring the rivers, springs, and coastal waterways of North Central Florida is a fantastic experience. I hope you find yourself with paddle in hand soon.