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After two weeks off from kayaking, both Dot and I were looking forward to getting back on the water again. We had decided to check out a new place we had seen on the map and a place she recalled visiting earlier in her own life. And that place is Juniper Springs. From my house via Dot's place in Switzerland, Juniper Springs is about 105 miles away . . quite a drive. It is about 20 miles past our normal take-out point on the Oklawaha River on Rte. 19.
We had read a couple of pieces we found online about Juniper Springs, but even those did not fully prepare us for what is there. One of the write-ups said the water near the Rte. 19 bridge is darkly stained with tannin. Not so . . probably because of the lack of rain we've had in this area, the water was crystal clear which allowed us to see how shallow the water is at the bridge. Coupled with the fact that one has to paddle west under the bridge, this stream is for canoeists and kayakers only. Most people who paddle this stream put in at Juniper Springs campground which is also where the actual spring is located. They then paddle/float downstream to the take-out at Rte. 19 which is about 7 or 8 miles from the headspring, and is probably the 'preferred' method of paddling this stream, because the current on this stream is fierce. Ferocious even ! Within minutes of putting in, Dot and I both knew we were in for a real workout. But there is a 'flip-side' to the coin. Because we were 'forced' to go slowly upstream against the current, we saw a lot more than we would have going downstream. A LOT more. I know Dot may not want to hear this, but when we do Juniper Springs again, I would really prefer to go upstream first like we did this time. I cannot emphasize enough what a real physical workout this one was. Part way through our trip, Dot told me her arms were hurting. I told her not to feel bad about that since my forearms were aching too. It was a real strain fighting the current. When we did stop for a breather, we either had to run the boat up on a sandbar, put it into the reeds along the shore, or grab hold of a branch to stop from drifting backwards. With the GPS we put the downstream current at around 2.5 mph.
We did pass a number of people coming in the opposite direction. Some were in canoes they had rented at the campground, others had their own kayaks. All of them said we were going in the wrong direction. I'm sure most of them thought we were plain crazy to be paddling upstream. The funny part is, even after Dot and I had stopped for lunch and had decided to turn around and head back to the truck, we overtook most of those we had passed in the opposite direction. It is hard to beat the speed of a kayak. All that said . . on with the ride on Juniper Springs.
This is at our put-in at Rte. 19. This is looking back at my truck from the 'main' take-out area on the opposite shore. As you can see the water is quite shallow, at most three feet here.
This is the bridge on Rte. 19 that crosses over the stream.
This is looking from my 'truck side' of the stream to the take-out area on the opposite shore. There is a small parking lot there and a uni-sex bathroom. The dark area is nothing more than a 'low' spot in the stream where leaf matter and detritus has accumulated.
The flowers at the base of the tree are asters. There were still a fair number of them in bloom as well as yellow daisies. The stream flows on either side of the tree.
Another thing was that the character of the stream seemed to change every few hundred yards. From closed-in narrow areas, to open marsh, to heavily wooded areas. And all of it was more scenic than you could possibly imagine. This is one of those places one has to see for himself to appreciate just how beautiful it is. Dot's favorite places are where the trees close in and form a canopy over the water. Even for all she has seen on other rivers and streams, Dot was taken aback by the beauty of this one.
Don't be fooled by the peaceful, tranquil 'look' of this. Even though it is 'wide', the current was still ripping. Adding to the paddling difficulties were the unseen sandbars that kept cropping up. As Dot said, it would go from four feet of water to four inches in seconds. Even going upstream we grounded out numerous times on sandbars and shallow spots.
This is one time we grounded out at a most opportune time. Just as we firmly grounded out, I looked over to the right bank and saw a face looking back at me . . from no more than 20 feet away. It was a full second or two before I comprehended what I was seeing. Deer !! Two of them were bedded down right on the waters' edge. I, as quietly as I could, told Dot . . DEER !, on the right. The one who was looking directly at me got up and was starting to walk away. Dot said there were two of them. I hadn't even seen the other deer still laying on the bank. Dot took out her camera and starting taking some videos (which I hope to put up on You-Tube).
The second deer got up and started to follow its' buddy.
One final look back. What a rare treat this was !! Dot and I were both kind of stunned that we happened across a pair of deer bedded down right at the waters' edge. We have learned to accept the unexpected when we go out on the water. Always expect the unexpected. We had hoped and expected to see some gators (we didn't). We were hoping to see some otters (we didn't). But we saw these deer which were just icing on the cake. The scenery here was outstanding.
We got to this marsh area and the water was extremely shallow here. Going downstream through here wasn't a problem, as the current helped to move the boat over the submerged grasses. Going upstream, wholly different. At one point along this stretch I had to get out and pull us through the shallows. It was sandy where I did that so the 'gator threat' was minimized. The underwater grasses here were long bladed and had broad 'leaves'. In other places, the underwater grasses were kind of 'ropey' . As I said before, the character of this stream changes a lot.
Pulled off taking a breather. Dot had grabbed hold of some reeds and . . .
She saw this guy on one of the reeds. He was only an inch long or so. Being out here in the 'wild', observation is key. One just can't look and not see, but one has to look and observe, minutely sometimes.
Coming out of a narrow, closed in spot to an open area.
We were both kind of surprised by the number of palm trees that lined the banks. A lot of them had fallen over and into, and across the water.
There was still some fall color to see.
This really is one beautiful stream to paddle. Most of the water was between one and six feet deep it seemed.
And the width of the channel changed from 4 to 40 feet.
And every now and then we would round a bend, and we would both 'ooh and ahhh'.
We saw a LOT of turtles here, a LOT !!
But the scenery was the real grabber for the most part.
On the way downstream, I told Dot I wanted to take the front of the boat to get some pictures. She readily agreed. Dot was once again reminded and found out pretty quickly that being in the back of the boat, that person does most of the steering. And the fast current (even going downstream) was kicking her butt. To be able to steer a boat in water, the boat must be either going faster than the current or slower than the current. It the boat is going at the same speed as the current, you can't steer. Period. And that's a fact. So since it was virtually impossible to keep the boat going slower than the current, we had to keep the boat going faster than the current which presents a lot of real problems. Dot and I were both already tired from the upstream paddle, so naturally it took its' toll on her more than me. That and coupled with the fact that I have a LOT more experience paddling canoes and kayaks than Dot does, we decided on a change. So we traded places so I could take over the steering. All that said, more than once even I drove us into overhanging branches. Even experience and strength makes it very hard to beat a really fast current. And Juniper is FAST !
The big green thing on the right is a thistle. And it's the biggest one Dot or I have ever seen. It was easily over four feet tall, maybe even feet feet. It was truly gargantuan. There were a number of these along the banks at one spot, but this one was really the granddaddy of them all.
Another turtle.
You can see how it shallows out in places.
We didn't see a lot of birds out here.
This is some of the 'ropey' looking submerged grass we saw.
Another turtle.
Enjoy !!!
P.S.
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Email to Jack Woodward mailto: jackwoodward66@hotmail.com
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