Our meeting site for this trip is about 1.5 hours S.W from Gainesville (10 miles below Homosassa Springs). The cost for this trip is $39 per person for "wanna go" members (non-members $49). With your own boat it's $25 per person for members and $35 for non-members.
Calendar of Tour dates: www.adventureoutpost.net
Description
Winter excursions on the Homosassa are mostly about manatees, and since they always head for the head-springs, so do we. This makes for a 4 mile round-trip paddle, (upstream and back) that usually has us on the water for about 3.5 - 4 hours.
This is a nice stretch of river, but developed - especially on the north bank. Sections where The Lady (Mother Nature) maintains her ancestral claim are characterized by a lush, semi-tropical forest that crowds the shoreline.
The main head-spring is within Homosassa State Park and out of bounds for us, but we'll pass a couple of other large springs where we can see manatees.
Homosassa River is tidal, so the strength (and direction) of flow are variable, but never strong.
History
Prehistoric people loved this area. On the lower river (below where we'll be paddling on Sunday) you can occasionally spot a densely packed shell heap that identifies an ancient midden. All along the Gulf coast and elsewhere in Florida, these refuse heaps (essentially Indian garbage dumps) indicate the presence of a former village site.
Later Floridians were also attracted to Homosassa. David Yulee, Florida's first State Senator and builder of the Florida Railroad (which spawned many communities along it's route, including Gainesville) made this his home base. At it's height, his plantation employed nearly one thousand people, including slaves. The roadside remains of his sugar mill (which you'll pass as you drive to our meeting site) are well known to anyone who's driven into the historic district of Homosassa. Less well known, and rarely recognized for it's historic significance, is the site of Yulee's homestead, Margarita, on Tiger Tail Island. We pass this site on our other Homosassa trips when we paddle downstream from town, but not on today's trip. Margarita is long gone, having met a violent end a century and a half ago.
During the Civil War, Levy's Homosassa plantation was a major supplier of sugar to the Confederacy. Some was sent overland while other shipments were sent out on swift blockade running boats (one of which was sunk in a nearby bay of the river). Upon learning of this, a Union force made it's way up the river in May of 1864, and destroyed the homestead. A few miles upstream, the sugar mill was spared. Production never resumed after the war and with time the mill decayed to ruins.
Wildlife
As you might imagine, water birds of all varieties are seen. And, as with other coastal trips, dolphins are always possible. The headsprings are one of nearly two dozen winter sanctuaries for Florida manatees. While this area doesn't attract as many manatees as Crystal River, it is a more natural, relaxed (manatee-friendly!) setting. Raccoons are often seen scrounging for crustaceans and other goodies in the mud that is exposed with each fallen tide.
Highlights (and low lights)
The area near the town ramp where we'll begin and end our trip can be busy with motor boats heading out to the Gulf. But, once we leave the ramp, it get's much quieter. The wide channel is lined with many homes but, as with Crystal River, the beautiful setting and abundant wildlife usually hold our attention.
Difficulty
The length of this trip (about 3 - 3.5 hours) in addition to slight currents and the possibility of breezes can be a bit strenuous.
Questions or reservations: e-mail - riverguide2000@yahoo.com , or call (386) 454-0611
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