As I stated in my game recap this morning, I set out in my kayak with every intention of catching the sunrise. That didn’t work out so well, because the rising sun hid behind the morning fog. What? All this pre-dawn fumbling around to wind up being foiled by Mother Nature? Harrumph!
Why can’t the Pittsburgh Steelers beat the Oakland Raiders, the crappiest team in the NFL? But I digress, wistfully. Harrumph!
I met some of my relatives along the river today (see picture), and all-in-all it was a wonderful nine-mile paddle. I encountered many gators and turtles sunning themselves on logs, all kinds of birds, and only three other boats on the Whole Damn River (WDR). One was another old fart in a pretty red kayak. The other two were stink-boats. Harrumph!
One such stink-boat was a flat-bottom fisherman with a guy inside tossing a couple of lines out into the river. As I neared his boat (which wasn’t stinking, as it was stopped), a curious canine rose to attention with forepaws on gunwales. Very intimidating. Not. I dubbed the little Yorkie “Gator Bait.” Harrumph!
When I took out at Katie’s Landing, a Florida State Parks facility, the stink-boat guy turned up again, beaching his flat-bottom and loading it into the back of his pickup. I wonder what part of the gigantically lettered sign “LAUNCHING OF MOTORIZED VEHICLES PROHIBITED” did he not understand. I bet that his fishing license is expired, too. Harrumph!
I SUCK AT KAYAKING (ISAK) RULE #1: Always make your outbound segment downstream, so you have to paddle your weary ass upstream against the current on the way back. Yeah, I know. We’re only talking 2-3 knots here, but a current is a current. Downstream, I can be totally lazy, with the only need for a paddle being for steering. Upstream, I’ve got to work, and some of those currents in the wild & scenic section of the lazy Wekiva are pretty tricky. (Yeah, like I’m having whitewater delusions here. Harrumph!)
Of course, the task manhandling a 14-foot boat onto the top of an SUV that is almost as tall as I am after paddling for nine miles and with a bad back to begin with, adds more pain to the fun! Harrumph!
Actually, I had a great time. Great solitude. Time for contemplation. The feeling that this scenery was what the native Timacuans saw here 800 years ago. No condos, no Ponce de Leon, no strip clubs, and no deficient public schools. They should have stayed in charge, but instead, the white man drove them to extinction, like their cousins, the Fakowie. Harrumph!
A paddle on a lazy flowing river is good for the soul. I’ll share my pictures with you, hoping that your soul appreciates them as much as mine appreciated the opportunity to take them.
The only thing that would have made the day more perfect (aside from the Steelers, harrumph!) was if Jenny could have been with me. Our days on the water are too rare. I miss singing “water songs” to each other from our respective kayaks, particularly “The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald.”
—TNT
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jd says
Some of the most fun moments on family vacations have been canooeing in Wekiva. Most involved gators/wild pigs and my insane dad chasing them around and scaring us to death.
Did you make it up to the spring yet? Can you make it there? The reason I ask is that ast time I was there a hurricane had made many parts of the area impassible. That was about 8 years ago.
If you feel like traveling a bit more, check out Jupiter (about 3 hours south) and paddleboarding through the intercoastal. Hit up Trapper Nelson’s if possible. Great times.
The Nittany Turkey says
I’ve lived four miles from Wekiwa Springs for the past 27 years, so yeah, I’ve made it a time or two. In fact, my community has its own spring, which feeds the Little Wekiva river. I love this part of the world, with its rivers and springs.
Rock Springs is accessible from the Wekiva River, too, although deadfall is a problem on Rock Springs Run. I used to know the family who ran the canoe rental company up at Rock Springs.
I’d never chase either a gator or a wild hog. I don’t usually try to piss off rattlesnakes, either. Your dad must be as crazy as you say he is.
With my back the way it is, paddleboarding is probably out of the question, but I’m always looking for things to do, and will check out Jupiter when I’m next down that way. Might be a while. Since my mom died last year (she was in Broward County) I don’t get down there as often anymore. Last time in Jupiter, we were camping at DuPuis, backpacking (with emphasis on my BACK), roughing it, but we took a day to check out Blowing Rocks (to which I’d been a few times before) and drink some beer.
Trapper Nelson was, I believe, a big crazy guy who used to spot gators three fingers (representing the amount he drank, too), and then bite their heads off. Legends grow through the years. As I remember, his real surname was Polish, so I’m wondering if he and your dad were actually one in the same. Strike that if your ancestry is not Polish.
With the Ocala National Forest, the Econlockhatchee, Withlacoochie, Welaka, St. Johns, as well as all the damn lakes around here, I have more water recreation than I can ever handle in my remaining lifetime without even doing a road trip!
I’m really glad you enjoyed our rivers!
—TNT
jd says
i’m polish, but from my mother’s side!
we vacationed for something like 13 years straight in wekiva. we usually would stay at my uncle’s place (near corner of west wekiva trail and canterclub).
what a great place to grow up! year round access to bike trails, lakes, orlando (disney, wet n’ wild, sea world, etc.). short hop out to daytona. cheap golfing. i love the area.
jd says
weird-for some reason, I always thought you were more tampa side.
The Nittany Turkey says
Probably because I’ve mentioned the Mons Venus a few times. 🙂
—TNT
The Nittany Turkey says
Most of our tourists don’t know about well kept secrets like the Wekiva. I’m just as glad!
—TNT