Deep Creek



This river is about 1 hour east of Gainesville near Hastings (between Palatka and St. Augustine). 

 

The cost is $50 per person. ($39 for "wanna go" members). With your own boat it's $35 per person. ($25 for members).

Calendar of Tour dates: www.adventureoutpost.net

  

 

Description

 

On this will be a round-trip (out-and-back) paddle, we'll explore one of the more scenic and undeveloped side streams in the lower St. Johns River basin. Our total route is about 8 miles, so we'll be on the water 4 - 4.5 hours.

 



Deep Creek's fine lunch spot

There is little current on this stream, which makes it suitable for all skill levels. Being  a  small(ish) stream, there's always the possibility of new downfall, so be prepared for the possibility of having to get out for an occasional pull-over.

 

Wildlife

 

Most of this trip carries us through a densely shaded river forest, where woodpeckers, barred owls and songbirds are our most frequent companions. River otters are especially fond of this quiet stream. As we approach the St. Johns, we see more wading birds, including great blue and little blue herons, snowy and great egrets and, less frequently, night herons. As on all Florida rivers, we occasionally spot an alligator or two (or three)

 

History

 

The struggle to bring civilization to the Deep Creek area and the nearby community of Hastings has been going on for as long as at nearby St. Augustine. But it proved far more challenging to mold a solid, lasting community from the fertile muck of the Lower St. Johns River basin than from the coquina rock of the coast.

 For the Spanish outpost of Picolata, it was all about location, location, location. Situated alongside the relatively calm St. Johns River, only eighteen miles west of St. Augustine, Picolata was an excellent alternative landing for vessels carrying goods and passengers for St. Augustine that wanted to avoid St. Augustine’s treacherous sand bars. But, with the arrival of rail lines, shipping became less important for St. Augustine and Picolata was largely abandoned.

One of the largest early settlements in the Florida interior was Rollestown. The brainchild of an eccentric Englishman named Denys Rolles, the plan for  Rollestown was to use indentured English laborers to work a huge indigo plantation. By all accounts, Rolles was cruel and indecisive. From the outset, the venture was plagued with desertions. Those who stayed were not “colonists” in the traditional sense. An account written by a Dr. Stork called Rollestown, “a valuable colony of sixty people consisting of shoe blacks, chimney sweepers, sink boys, tinkers and tailors, bunters, cinder winches, whores and pickpockets.” (Is it just me, or does this sound like a great place to spend a few days?)

 

At its peak, Rollestown had a population of 200 people and produced a variety of products including rice, naval stores, citrus and citrus products (including orange juice and orange wine) and indigo. When England lost Florida in 1784, Rolles was forced to abandon the settlement. He relocated to the Bahamas, where a couple of communities retain his name.

 

In 1765, a “battou” arrived at Rollestown carrying the famous explorer/botanist John Bartram and his son William. Months later, when John decided to wrap up the expedition and head back to Pennsylvania, William decided to stay and seek his fortunes in Florida. On a plantation near the mouth of Six-mile Creek, just north of Hastings, twenty seven year old William (and a handful of slaves provided by his father) tried his hand at raising indigo. As later revealed, the young naturalist’s heart lay with other pursuits and he abandoned the enterprise later that year.

A decade later, William Bartram returned to Florida on a venture more suited to his passions. With funding from a patron and friend of his father, William came to document the nature and people of Florida, with special emphasis on plants. Unlike his earlier ventures, this was a monumental success and resulted in the famous book Travels. Early on this second Florida expedition, William secured the help of one of Denys Rolles' agents, a seasoned woodsman named Job Wiggins. Referred to in Travels as the “old trader,” Wiggins played a vital role in Bartram’s famous expedition, not only for his role as his guide and mentor, but also for loaning William the boat he used for much of the trip. Wiggins later established his own plantation near Hastings after Rollestown failed.



Water passage (w. Pam Daniels & Joanne Bolemon)

A half century later, John James Audubon spent a few days in this  area. One notably miserable night aboard his boat, he was simultaneously assaulted by clouds of “blind musquitoes” and the stench of “jerkers” (an operation for jerking beef), “from which the breeze came laden with no sweet odors.”

With the outbreak of the Second Seminole War in 1835, plantations throughout Florida were converted to forts to protect local citizenry. Closest to Hastings was Ft. Hanson on the banks of Deep Creek. Several miles east and northeast of here were Forts Weedman and Harney. Settlers living south of Hastings could seek sanctuary at Fort Buena Vista on land now within the bounds of East Palatka, and Fort Hunter at the old site of Rollestown.

It wasn't until after the next war—the War of Union Aggression (as the settlers in this region liked to call the Civil War)—that today’s town of Hastings got its start. In 1890, Thomas Hastings established Prairie Garden, a large commercial vegetable farm, to feed the growing number of tourists now coming to St. Augustine and North Florida as part of a booming health spa industry. When Henry Flagler routed the Florida East Coast Railroad through the area, he called the train station “Hasting’s,” thereby solidifying both the town’s name and its importance as a source of vegetables and potatoes.

Judging from photo archives, one of the biggest celebrations ever held in the town of Hastings came in 1915. Grainy black-and-white photos show townsfolk and early model cars lining the roads of the small downtown business district. Banners and flags hang from every pole, telephone line and balcony in sight. Thumbing through the photos, we find a series taken of the parade. One shows a pair of sweet Southern belles in their finest “Sunday meetin’” dresses, holding parasols and riding horse-drawn buggies. Another shows pedestrians, horses and a variety of early model automobiles. The caption below one picture identifies the winner of “best decorated vehicle” of the parade. It’s a huge, open-topped vehicle similar to those used by European royals and dictators of that time, except for one distinctly Florida flourish—it’s covered in Spanish moss.

The cause for this celebration was news that the highly-sought Dixie Highway was going to be routed through Hastings with a connection to Orlando. The Dixie Highway was the latest incarnation of a series of Highway Associations that had their origins in the League of American Wheelmen, formed in 1880, whose motto was, “Lifting our People Out of the Mud.”


Questions or reservations: e-mail - riverguide2000@yahoo.com , or call   (386) 454-0611

 

Crystal River Manatee Encounter

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

On this tour we take a 3 - 3.5 hour paddle around King's Bay, stopping along the way at some of the 30+ springs which are the manatees favorite hang-outs. The cost for this one is $39 per person ($50 for non- "wanna go" members) or $25 if you bring your own boat ($35 for non-members).

Calendar of Tour dates: www.adventureoutpost.net

 

 

Description

 

Kings Bay, the headwaters of Crystal river, is the winter home of over 500 manatees, making it one of the most important refuges for these amazing, endangered mammals. But there's more here than just manatees!  This is a fun area to explore, with about 30 artesian springs and lots of wildlife - especially water birds.

 

Many Indian sites are found along the edge of King's Bay and Crystal River, including an amazing complex of temple mounds (Crystal River State Archaeological Site) overlooking the north side of the bay. This site was continually occupied for nearly 1600 years!  The natives abandoned this site sometime around the early 1400's - a relatively short time before Europeans arrived. This is probably the longest occupied site in Florida. NOTE - the Crystal River Archaeological Site is several miles downstream from the area's we explore on this tour. If you were to paddle down that way, you could see a couple of the mounds from the river, but you're not allowed to enter the park from the river. So, if you'd like to see these mounds, it's best to drive to the Crystal River State Archaeological Site after our paddle. It's well worth the $3 per vehicle entry fee.

 

 

Discovery!

Highlights

 

Paddling among manatees is an experience that every animal lover should have. It's hard to believe that such large, wild animals could be so gentle and tolerant of humans. Sometimes they'll even roll over and rub their belly on the bottom of your boat.

 

As we make our way between several of the manatees favorite spring hang-outs, we're treated to the company of hundreds of water birds - pelicans, cormorants, herons (frequently night-herons) gulls, bald eagles and such. We occasionally see Canada geese and, on about half of our trips, we see white pelicans. The only downside to this trip is that civilization is pressing hard against the shoreline around much of the bay - especially in the areas most frequented by the manatees.

 

Please note - We don't swim with manatees on our trips. Even though some manatees seem to enjoy human guests in their water, many of them definitely don't. Some are shy of humans and quickly move away to avoid us. Since we know the manatees come here to survive the winter (they freeze to death if they can't find warm water such as flows from these springs) it would be selfish of us to jump in and scare the shy ones away from their warm water refuge. Even away from the spring vents, making manatees move around any more than necessary makes them use valuable energy. There are many other concerns as well, including their need for rest (they sleep day and night) and their need to conserve valuable energy by not having to move around more than necessary. (I'm not prone to preach, so I won't do so here. Please ask if you'd like more details). Thank you for supporting our position by staying out of the water when manatees are present (whether it's on our trips or any other time). I am truly grateful - and so (I believe) are the manatees!

 

 

Difficulty

 

This is an easy paddle but, on windy days, paddling on the open bay can be challenging.


Questions or reservations: e-mail - riverguide2000@yahoo.com , or call   (386) 454-0611

 

 

Cross Creek

Lochloosa Lake approaching Cross Creek

 

Our recent sunset paddles at Cross Creek have been fantastic - bald eagles, gators and lots of water birds. This trip takes place about 1/2 hour south of Gainesville. 

 

The cost is $50 per person. ($39 for "wanna go" members). With your own boat it's $35 per person. ($25 for members).

Calendar of Tour dates: www.adventureoutpost.net

 

 



Approaching the bridge

Description

 

Cross Creek is a charming little thread of water connecting two of north Florida's most beautiful and storied lakes, Orange and Lochloosa. On it's brief, mile-long run, the slow flowing creek meanders lazily under a nearly complete canopy of oak, maple and moss-draped cypress. On the downstream end, Orange Lake is a vast, open expanse, famous for it's "floating islands." In the past, it was a world-famous bass lake, but water levels and water quality issues in recent decades have reduced the fish populations greatly. Levels have come up, but there's still a long way to go.

 


On the north end of the creek, Lochloosa Lake has fared a little better. The shoreline close to the creek inlet is much more accessible than that of Orange Lake, where wide marshes keep us nearly a quarter of a mile from the treeline. There are plenty of marshes on Lochloosa also, but in many places, you can paddle right up to the sandy, cypress lined shore. The lakes shore is an fantastic unbroken forest of cypress and granddaddy oaks, maples ashes and others, with the only houses seen (after leaving the Creek) being in the far distance.

 

I like to do this as a "sunset paddle," not only to enjoy the many roosting and nesting birds that fill the trees at the end of the day, but also because of the beautiful, wide open vistas that make the perfect backdrop for the area's beautiful sunsets. Marjorie Rawlings knew them well. "The sun at the horizon came into its full glory and the west was copper, then blood-red, blazing into an orgy of salmon and red and brass and a soft bluish yellow the color of ripe guavas. Northeast and south faded instantly to gray, timid at having usurped the flame of the sunset. Then suddenly the west dimmed, as though a bonfire charred and dimmed. There was only a bar of copper. All the sky, to every point of the compass, became a soft blue and the clouds were white powder, so that in the end it was tenderness that triumphed. I went home to sound, cool sleep." (MKR, Cross Creek. p. 289).

 



 

Sunset on Orange Lake

Even on those days when the Big Girl (Mama Nature) offers a more dramatic end to the day, we still come away feeling far richer for the experience. On summer afternoon, the day could end more like another afternoon Rawlings described - "The air is so still that even the restless Spanish moss hangs motionless. Although the sun is hidden the atmosphere is stifling. Then an impalpable breath stirs. The tallest palms in the east grove bend their heads, the moss in the hammock lifts as though a silent hand moved through a gray beard. There is a sibilant sound in the pecan trees, the grayness thickens, and rain marches visibly across palms and orange trees and comes in at the gate. Sometimes it is a gentle shower, sometimes a rushing flood. After it has passed, the air is as fresh and clean as April and the night will be cool for sleeping. The sun strikes through the wetness, there is likely to be a rainbow, and the palms are rosy in the evening light." (MKR, Cross Creek. p. 285)

 

Regardless of how it goes - clear, cloudy or wet - the only thing that could end a day better, would be to go home after the trip, curl up in bed with a Rawling's book (sunsets are best served with the book "Cross Creek") and let her magical descriptions of the places and wildlife you've just experienced lull you to sleep.

 

 

Glossy ibis

Wildlife

 

There's hardly a more scenic setting in north Florida to enjoy Bald eagles, osprey, several species of duck, egrets, herons and, of course those two amazing fish catchers, cormorants and anhingas. Watch the shoreline carefully and you might be lucky enough to spot a reptile or two - maybe an alligator, snake or turtle. On summer evenings, we're usually treated to a deafening chorus of frogs - a "boys choir" of males hailing from several species, as we pass an active breeding site.

 

 

History

 

Prehistoric Indians found this an ideal area to live, and left plenty of evidence to attest to this fact. Near the north shore of Orange Lake, one of the State's oldest burial mound complexes is found near an interesting village site surrounded by earthworks.

 

By the time Europeans began their exploration of Florida, the main village of the powerful Potano tribe was situated a short distance from the ancient earthworks. Life changed for the Potanos in 1539, when Spanish explorer Hernando de Soto led his expedition through this area. The chroniclers of his expedition mentioned Potano but fortunately the soldiers didn't stay long enough to create the kind mischief which highlighted much of their journey. In the mid 1500's, the Potanos withstood several raids from French and then Spanish soldiers, fighting alongside some of the Potanos Indian enemies. Eventually the Potanos were forced to relocate their village to the San Felasco hammock, north west of Gainesville.

 

Several decades later, another band of Indians moved onto the abandoned Orange Lake site. The area was now at the southern fringes of an expanding system of Christian missions being established by Spanish monks. It's believed there was a mission briefly established here at this village, but it didn't last long.

 

During the late 1800's, several small steam boats conducted business on these waters - mostly carrying lumber, oranges and produce. The most active "port" seems to have been at the small community of Lochloosa on that lakes eastern shore.

 

By far the most colorful chapter in Cross Creeks past began with the arrival, in 1928, of the famous author Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings. For nearly 25 years, until her death in 1953 of cerebral hemorrhage, she captured the essence of rural life in this area. Her writings brought Rawlings worldwide acclaim (and a Pulitzer Prize in 1939 for The Yearling) and inspired people around the world to dust off their atlases and search for this tiny hamlet. Today, her enchanting words still cast their magic, inspiring thousands of people every year to visit her home, now a quiet and appropriately "off-the-beaten-path" State Park with scheduled tours. (For park info, call 352-466-3672).

 

 

 Questions or reservations: e-mail - riverguide2000@yahoo.com , or call   (386) 454-0611

 

Chassahowitzka River

         
        

 

This is nearly 1 3/4 hours S.W from Gainesville (10 miles below Homosassa Springs). 

 

The cost is $50 per person. ($39 for "wanna go" members). With your own boat it's $35 per person. ($25 for members). ** There's also a $3.00 (approx) per vehicle parking fee.

Calendar of Tour dates: www.adventureoutpost.net

 

 

Description

 

The Chas, as this river is commonly known, is the quiet, unpretentious little sister of the popular GOMER (Gulf of Mexico Region) spring rivers. But, when I say little, I'm referring to the head springs. the main river channel is surprisingly wide, but relatively shallow.

 



 Swamp limbo

With Crystal and Homosassa rivers vying for attention to the north and the siren's song of rhine-stoned mermaids luring tourists to Weeki Wachee to the south, the Chas has gone relatively unnoticed. That, in itself, would usually be enough to make this a must-do trip for the "wanna go" crew - but there's more! This river's isolation is no mere fluke. It runs through the heart of a beautiful, 40 square mile wetlands known as the Chassahowitzka Swamp. And, if that's not enough, there are springs too. Granted they're not the big, showy fountains of her sister rivers - but some are very nice.

 

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An old crab-man once told me "there ain't no ho's in Chassahowitzka." It took me a moment to realize he wasn't trying to crush any dreams I might have of finding a meaningful relationship on this river, but was simply letting me know that the locals pronounce the river's name, "Chassawiska." The "ho" is silent.

 

I had been drifting alongside the grizzled old-timer for nearly an hour, me in my little canoe, he in his flat, open crab-boat. What had started as a passing "hello", had evolved into full-blown conversation as he kindly doled out colorful anecdotes and lore in answer to my questions. He told me of outlaws, such as Al Capone, who sought refuge in the area's remoteness and of huge tarpon, which even today, draw fishermen from around the world. He even waxed a little poetic when describing the thousands of water birds which, on good years, fill the trees during nesting season, and were the driving force behind the creation of the Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge.

 

With dusk settling in, it was time to part ways. The crab boat's engine sputtered to life as the old man pulled away. As he pushed out the throttle, he turned back one last time and, trying to restrain his sparsely-toothed grin, shouted over the roaring engine, "nope, no ho's here, he he." I don't know if it was the joke or the love of his lot in life, but at that moment he was truly delighted with himself - and so was I.

 

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 Nestling night herons are well-camouflaged

Highlights

 

As you'll learn from the caution signs on the highway coming down, there are bears in these woods. But here, as elsewhere, the Florida black bear is an elusive critter. You have a much better chance of spotting an otter, deer or wild hog rooting along the river bank. Winter brings great birding to this area. Spoonbills, eagles, osprey and every egret in the (Florida) book love this water. Night herons (black-crowned and, more commonly, yellow-crowned) are more common here than most Central Florida rivers. 

Another positive aspect of this trip is the shortage of motor boats. They're here--no question about it--but not in disturbing numbers. Most are commercial fishermen in small, open crab boats, who are generally more respectful of paddlers than sports fishermen and recreational boaters.

 

 

Difficulty

 

This is an easy, round-trip paddle. We'll be on the water about 3 - 4 hours. The Chassahowitzka is a fairly wide, tidal river, and even during the stronger periods of the coming and going tides, the current is relatively weak. Even the little feeder streams, some of which we'll explore, are slow.

Questions or reservations: e-mail - riverguide2000@yahoo.com , or call   (386) 454-0611

Cedar Key

Unlike other coastal regions, where civilization crowds shoulder-to-shoulder along the shore, like lemmings amassing for their the mythical plunge into the sea, nature still rules along Florida's Big Bend area - a.k.a. the central Gulf coast.


The meeting place for this trip is about 1 hour W of Gainesville.
The cost is $50 per person. ($39 for "wanna go" members). With your own boat it's $35 per person. ($25 for members).

Calendar of Tour dates: www.adventureoutpost.net

 

Description

 

 It’s a low, wet country where the "shore line" defies definition, ever-changing, shrinking and expanding, with the ebb and flow of tides.

 

Island hopping

Driving west toward Cedar Key, you hardly notice the slow drop in elevation - only about a foot per mile as you approach the coast. Leaving the pine flat-woods and sandy, scrub ridges, you notice the roadside ditch has become wetter and is filled with a beautiful assortment of wetland plants. You'll also notice that the pine forest has given way to hardwood swamp, loaded with bays and red maples.

 

Nearing the Gulf, a gust of warm air, heavily perfumed with sea-salt, tells you you're getting close. Another bend in the road and you're treated to one of the rarest of Florida offerings - a wide-open vista. The forest ends unnoticed as your gaze is drawn away to vast expanses of salt marsh, scattered islands and open water stretching to the horizon. 

 

The hundreds of little islands that line this watery coast, range in size from barren, half acre sand-spits to bonafide, mile-wide islands. For the curious explorer who's not in a hurry, the complex, species-rich communities that crowd these islands never get boring. And, if you lose track of time and suddenly find that you've run out of daylight (I'm speaking from experience here), that's not so bad either. As dusk settles and the the only sound you hear is the breeze, you look out to see the silhouettes of palms, wind-gnarled oaks, pines and mangroves cast against a smoldering sun. It's the stuff of dreams - a place where all the world is right.

 

In 1867, naturalist John Muir described Cedar Key as being "surrounded by scores of other keys, many of them looking like a clump of palms, arranged like a tasteful bouquet, and placed in the sea to be kept fresh. Others have quite a sprinkling of oaks and junipers, beautifully united with vines. Still others consist of shells, with a few grasses and mangroves circled with a rim of rushes." Wildlife watching is great in this area - especially for birders.

 

 

 

Dolphin! (no, Marie, not a shark)

Wildlife

 

Pelicans (brown and white), osprey, cormorants, gulls, oystercatchers, skimmers and a dizzying menagerie of plovers and waders will keep your binoculars hoisted. We often see bottle-nosed dolphins on this trip, as well as rays and other fish.

 

 

 

History

 

In addition to its richness of wildlife, the Cedar Key area has many archaeological sites. When the earliest Floridians arrived nearly 12,000 years ago, their lives revolved around following the roaming herds of huge Ice Age mammals, such as mammoths and mastodons. But as warming temperatures brought an end to the Ice Age, so too went the so-called "megafauna", and the Indians were forced to change their eating habits and life-style.

 

About 2,000 - 3,000 B.C., seafood began to dominate the diet and permanent villages were established on the higher ridges near the Gulf coast. Central to their diet, were shellfish, proof of which is seen in the many large shell middens, or mounds, where generations of villagers tossed their table scraps - mostly oyster and mussel shells. These middens are found on the nearby mainland and on many of these islands, including some which we will explore on this trip.

 

During the Second Seminole War (1835 - '42) Seahorse Key, near Cedar Key, was the location of a military hospital and  a detention center where Indians were kept before being shipped west to the Indian Territories. After Florida became a State, the U.S government built a lighthouse on the island. Later, during the Civil War, it was used by the Union Army as a military prison.

 

On nearby Atsena Otie island, the army built a supply depot during the Second Seminole War. Over a century later, in the wake of the Civil War, a large mill was built on the island, where much of the area's vast stands of cedar trees were buzzed into pencils and shipped to distant ports. The town's population grew to nearly 300 before the mill was shut down and a hurricane destroyed most of the homes. On days when our journey brings us to this little island, we enjoy a short hike to the old grave yard where we find the graves of some notable characters including a pirates family, politicians and mill workers. On other days we head for different islands where we explore an old home site, abandoned early in the 1900's, where we learn about many of the local wild plants and how they were used by the Indians and settlers.

 

 

Highlights

 

In addition to being a haven for all sorts of water birds and interesting sea life, this trip's open waters and the chance to do a bit of beach combing are a nice change of pace from our inland excursions.

 

 

Difficulty

 

This is usually a relatively easy paddle on open water with little wave action as we cross between several barrier islands. However, if it's a breezy day, it can be moderately strenuous with a light chop. If it gets to be more than a light chop, we won't go out.


Questions or reservations: e-mail - riverguide2000@yahoo.com , or call   (386) 454-0611

Canaveral Nat'l Seashore

　
　
This is one of the most interesting and diverse areas on the Adventure Outpost "Launch Menu", with a fantastic variety of historical, archaeological and natural features.


Our meeting (launch) site is about an hour east of Orlando (2 hours SE of Gainesville). We usually schedule this one the day before or after another trip in this area.

Cost: The fee for this trip is $50 per person (or $39 for "wanna go" members).With your own boat, it's $35 per person ($25 for members).

 

Calendar of Tour dates: www.adventureoutpost.net


Description

On this trip, we paddle the quiet lagoons of one of Florida's finest parks. Extensive dunes and a maze of salt marshes, island hammocks and mangrove lagoons are home to nearly 1,045 plant species and 310 birds, not to mention a fine array of mammals, insects and (my favorites) reptiles.

Canaveral National Seashore has more than its share of outstanding and unique natural features. Perhaps the most noteworthy is it's extensive pristine beach, which stretches for nearly 24 miles. The only high-rise building you'll see here is NASA's massive Vehicle Assembly Building (with more open space inside than any other building in the world), but even this architectural behemoth is a mere speck on the horizon. For wildlife viewing and nature study, you're best bet is to get on the backside of the dunes and into the park's extensive marshes and mangrove lagoons. That's where we're paddling on this trip.

Of course, if a picture's worth a thousand words than a webcam shot must be worth a million. So, I'll stop writing and give you a link to a webcam atop Turtle Mound. Very interesting! Our launch site is just a few hundred yards to the north, but trees block the actual ramp from the view of this camera. Turtle Mound webcam: http://virtualvolusia.com/Canaveral3.html


Archaeology

Within the bounds of this amazing preserve, there are over 100 registered archaeological sites. Many are shell middens and burial sites, the silent remains of thousands of years of native occupation. One local site (not in the park) discovered in 1982, known as Windover, has proven to be one of the most significant archaeological sites in the country. Among the remains of over 40 sets of human remains, some dating back 8,000 years, researchers discovered some intact brain tissue.

Another, more obvious site, that is in the park and is along our paddle route, is Turtle Mound. This 35 foot high Indian mound (50 feet when first excavated in the 1800's) is composed of millions of sea shells, discarded as dinner scraps by Timucuan Indians during the period from about 800 to 1400 A.D. Once the highest landmark on Florida's east coast (before being eroded by the forces of man and nature) it was a landmark for early explorers. In the early 1600's, the Indian village of Surruque was located here.


History

During the Civil War, this quiet lagoon took on great importance as a port for importing and exporting goods for the Confederacy. All regular ports were blockaded, so blockade runners made this a regular port of call. Arriving shipments were brought through a small canal to Indian River and from there, a short overland wagon ride brought them to the headwaters of the St. Johns River.

On our exploration, we'll pass near the ghost town of Eldora, a 19th century community which once boasted a population approaching 200. Like so many other early settlements, nature dealt a crippling blow to the citrus trees which were a mainstay of Eldora's economy. In addition, when the Intra-coastal waterway was dug, it routed boat traffic to Mosquito lagoons western shore, opposite Eldora's scenic little bluff on the eastern barrier island. The communities decline was slow, but finally in the 1960's and '70's the last residents moved away.


Wildlife

In the open waters, crossing the lagoon toward the mangrove islands, we often see bottle-nosed dolphins rolling in the surf. Water birds including terns, gulls, egrets, herons, osprey, cormorants and eagles are all common. Birding is good during the migrations, especially in the fall.

As we enter the lagoons and winding passages between islands, we find ourselves in the world of mangroves. Four varieties of mangroves flank our watery trail as we skim between the islands.

Raccoons, can often be seen grubbing around for crustaceans and bivalves among the large "meadows" and saltpans of saltwort and glasswort. On larger islands, oaks, bay, palm and nakedwood trees dominate the over story, while a fantastic variety of shrubs and herbaceous plants cover the forest floor. A number of species reach the northern extent of their range in this park.


Difficulty

This is a quiet, shallow lagoon with little wave action. On windy days, it can be a workout.


Questions or reservations: e-mail - riverguide2000@yahoo.com , or call   (386) 454-0611

Black Creek

With its deep channel (deeper than the St. Johns into which it flows) and its proximity to St. Augustine and the nearby ancient trail that served Indians and white settlers for thousands of years, it's little surprise that this is one of the most history-rich paddles we offer.


This is about an hour north east from Gainesville in Middleburg.

Cost: The fee for this trip is $39/person for "wanna go" members ($50 for non-members). With your own boat, it's $25 for members and $39 for non-members.

Calendar of Tour dates: www.adventureoutpost.net


Description

Black Creek is one of those river's you don't hear much about - not in paddling circles anyway. This, in itself, wouldn't be so unusual if it weren't for the fact it has been one of the most well known and thoroughly explored rivers in Florida.

Many of the families and individuals who played major roles in the settlement the Alachua region around Paynes Prairie, had their Florida roots along Black Creek and the adjacent sections of the St. Johns.

Our trip begins at the old town of Middleburg. From there, we will paddle downstream a few miles to the bluff at Black Creek Ravines Conservation area. Here, atop a 50 ft. bluff (it's an easy climb) we'll take lunch while enjoying a beautiful view of the river. After lunch, we'll make our way leisurely back upstream (very slow current) to the launch site.

This stretch of the river is relatively deep, so there can be a number of motor boats. Fortunately, it's also a wide channel so motor boat encounters are more of a passing annoyance than a Mexican standoff as often happens on the smaller streams.


Questions or reservations: e-mail - riverguide2000@yahoo.com , or call   (386) 454-0611


　

　

Bear Creek

With recent low water levels, our opportunities to get into any good swamps has been very limited. But, Bear Creek is a nice exception. This trip offers a great opportunity to get up close and personal with a hardwood swamp while paddling along a scenic little stream. This river is about 1 hour southeast of Gainesville.

The cost is $50 per person (or $39 for "wanna go" members). With your own boat it's $39 per person ($29 for members).

Calendar of Tour dates: www.adventureoutpost.net


Description

This remote little stream offers a great opportunity to explore the wild beauty of a swamp without getting wet (usually). Here, we'll explore the maze of creeks and sloughs that braid through the beautiful swamps of the lower Ocklawaha basin.

The first leg of our journey follows Bear Creek and Indian Village Slough into the heart of the swamp. Much of this section lies within Little Lake George Wilderness Area. Cypress, tupelo, maple, cabbage palm, holly and more, form a closed canopy overhead. In their shadows, we take in the rich sights, sounds and smells of the regal bottomland forest.

After a couple of hours paddling, we emerge from the shaded serenity of the swamp onto the wide open expanse of St. Johns River. Here, we'll rest, drifting in a floating garden of spatter dock, water lettuce, water hyacinth, duckweed and water ferns, enjoying lunch and watching the hustle of river commerce. Many birds live along the St. Johns and there's always the possibility of spotting a manatee.

After our brief, rejuvenating siesta, we'll gratefully return to the quiet fold of the river forest. At it's mouth, the Ocklawaha, is a fairly wide river but narrows as we make our way upstream against a very modest current. Soon, we re-enter the river swamp, following a series of small watery trails, with names like Turpentine Creek and Tusintak Creek. This last leg of our journey carries us through a section of Caravelle Ranch Wildlife Management Area before landing us back at our original launch site. This is a round trip.


Wildlife

Florida's swamps, in general, are a virtual smorgasbord (are my Danish roots showing?) of wildlife. The Ocklawaha river swamp is a prime example. The year-round abundance of woodland birds swells considerably in winter with arriving migrants. Manatees are a possibility in the vicinity of the St. Johns river. Other wild residents include bears, eagles, osprey, deer, otters, egrets, herons, ibis and other water birds. This section also has a healthy 'gator population, as well as snakes and an occasional wild hog. We often see wading birds, ranging from lone limpkins to flocks of 100+ white ibis feeding among the cypress knees and buttressed trunks of ash, tupelo and oak.


History

Remains of an ancient Indian village site and a nearby shell mound, located on the high ground south of Indian Village Slough, attest to prehistoric occupation of this area. In the historic period this section of the Ocklawaha River, with it's vast swamp lands, has gone relatively untouched. For more on the Ocklawaha river's past, see Ocklawaha trip history).


Difficulty

There is no good ground for us to get out and have lunch, so we'll be sitting in our boats to eat at the edge of St. Johns River. There are some little tussocks of ground around the bases of trees in some places, where you can stand and stretch or use a bush if necessary. This is a small stream, and is therefore subject to an occasional fallen branch or tree that requires a pull over or around. We didn't encounter any on our last trip here, but it's a real possibility. This, combined with the length of trip (4-5 hours) makes Bear Creek a poor choice for anyone with physical limitations or low endurance.


Questions or reservations: e-mail - riverguide2000@yahoo.com , or call   (386) 454-0611