EXTENSION REPORT

7 Rivers in 7 Days Makes A Big Splash!

If I have a free morning, I would prefer to spend it in my kayak on some little quiet backwater than almost anywhere else. More and more people are getting into paddling. According to a study by the Outdoor Recreation Coalition of America in 2000, Americans are paddling in record numbers: 17.5 million paddled a canoe, 8.8 million went whitewater rafting, and 5.1 million kayaked during the year 1999. That’s not surprising since paddling is a perfect way to experience the outdoors. It is an excellent way to explore the creeks, rivers, bayous, bays, and Gulf waters in our area. Paddling is also a great way to stay in shape and have some fun.

In January, I led my most ambitious kayak trip so far. I called it 7 Rivers in 7 Days. My plan was for a group of folks to paddle seven different rivers in seven straight days. It would be a great opportunity for experienced kayakers or for those beginning kayakers who were willing to “Cowboy Up”! The week was wonderful, with one of the best groups of people I have ever had on a trip. We did 59 miles of paddling on some of the most gorgeous rivers in the United States. We began in north-central Florida and worked our way down to west Florida, almost to Tampa.

Day 1: Ichetucknee River (the Itch) near Fort White, Florida. Crystal-clear, spring-fed swift water. We put in at the southernmost boat launch within the Ichetucknee Springs State Park. We paddled upstream to the headsprings and back. We walked around the headsprings and looked at the fish which were looking at us. Along the river, we encountered red-shouldered hawks, white ibises, wood storks, apple snails, and several manatees.

Day 2: Waccasassa River (the Wau) near Gulf Hammock, Florida. Tannic water, slow-moving current, cabbage palm trees lining the banks. We kayaked downriver from the public boat ramp. We went around Staffords Island and up into a pigtail tributary that feeds into the Wau. It was a warm day with lots of thermals, a great birding day. We saw black vultures, turkey vultures, bald eagles and ospreys riding the thermals above us.

Day 3: Rainbow River near Dunnellon, Florida. Crystal-clear, swift water.

Our group put in at the public boat ramp in Dunnellon and paddled up the Withlacoochee River and then into the Rainbow. We stopped at KP Hole County Park to eat a picnic lunch. We then kayaked farther up the Rainbow and did a drift dive, snorkeling downstream, pulling our kayaks behind us like dogs on leashes. This river is well known for its 1,000-foot visibility. We swam with bass, bream, turtles, terrapins, cormorants, and gallinules. We dove down to peer into caves and cracks in the limestone. We drifted over grasses waving in the flow of the river. The highlight for most people was snorkeling near about twenty 5-foot long river gar. We paddled back downriver to the public boat launch, returning right at sunset.

Day 4: Crystal River near the town of Crystal River, Florida. Crystal-clear.

We put our boats in at the Hunter Springs Park at the crack of dawn and paddled in a cold wind to Three Sisters. This site is called Three Sisters because three distinct springs flow from here in to the larger river. Ours was the first group of the day to arrive, and we quietly swam up the flooded channel into the three springs. There we encountered and spent an enchanted morning with about fifty manatees. Many were well rested and in a playful mood. Even though the water was stirred up by the manatees themselves, our group had a great visit with them. We paddled back to the same park.

Day 5: Homosassa River (the Sass) near the town of Homosassa, Florida.

Clear upstream, bluewater downstream. We put in at the public boat launch and paddled downriver all the way to Homosassa Bay and the Gulf.  Coming back in, we had to “Cowboy Up” to paddle against a strong east wind and an even stronger outgoing tide. We saw white pelicans, black-crowned night herons, green-backed herons, mergansers, dolphins, and river otters. We paddled around a small island that is home to five non-native, but very friendly, gibbons. The Sass is known for its distinctive blonde raccoons, but we did not see any on this day.

Day 6: Chassahowitzka River (the Chaz) in the town of Chasshowitzka.  Clear upstream, bluewater downstream. Slow current. We put in at the boat ramp by the camp store and paddled a short distance to a pretty little spring (one of many that feeds this river). We paddled downstream around several islands. We ventured into several of the lovely creeks that flow into to Chaz. We saw mullet, snook, redfish, snowy egrets, wood storks, roseate spoonbills, black-crowned night herons, white ibises, and lots of vultures.

Day 7: Weeki Wachee River near the 60-year-old Weeki Wachee Springs attraction. Crystal-clear, swift water. We put in at a private boat launch near the attraction and headsprings. We paddled downstream to Rogers Park, a public park. Our warmest day yet, 82 degrees. We stopped at a sandbar along the way to swim in the water. Refreshing! We saw bald eagles, red-shouldered hawks, Great Blue Herons, and brown pelicans. The perfect finale for a perfect day was the opportunity to see the mermaid show at Weeki Wachee Springs.

During the week, I also had the opportunity to take the group to dinner at seven of my favorite Florida restaurants. We ate at the home of Martha Monroe and Tom Harris in Gainesville the first night. We also ate dinner at Stumpknockers Fish Camp, Oysters Seafood Restaurant, The Ale House, Brooklyn Dockside Deli, The Cypress Room, Pec’s Old Port Cove Seafood Restaurant, and Cody’s Roadhouse. Our trip was documented by several participants with cameras and one cinematographer. He videotaped us kayaking. He videotaped us underwater. He captured an excellent sunset that we watched over Crystal River. He documented us eating out, and even taped our oysters being shucked and our plates being prepared in various kitchens.

One of the most difficult parts of a group kayak trip is the stuff: all those boats and paddles and life vests and first aid supplies and snacks and maps. On the first day, as the group worked to take the kayaks off the trailers and vehicles, they looked a lot like the “Keystone Kops”. It took a while and looked pretty rough, and there was a real concern that someone was going to fall into the water or get popped with a strap. On the seventh day, everyone knew their task and did it efficiently. They performed like a well-oiled machine and had the kayaks back on the trailer and the gear into the vehicles in twenty minutes flat. It was great to watch our group evolve in other ways throughout the week. We learned more about each other each day, and encouraged and supported each other. We are looking forward to sharing pictures and, of course, the next adventure.

We have scheduled our next kayak trip for Wednesday, June 7th through Saturday, June 10th.  If you are tired of dealing with FEMA, you might be ready to take a break and join us for KEMA (a Kayak Expedition of the Mobile Area). We will paddle four very different waters around Mobile, Alabama, one each day. These are Big Creek Lake, Fowl River, Rabbit Creek, and the northeast and southeast sides of Dauphin Island. For those who do not live close enough to commute, we will arrange for a group rate at a motel. If you would like registration information for KEMA, call the Baldwin County Extension Office at 937-7176 or 943-5611, ext. 2222.

Email address: smahler@aces.edu

Phone: 937-7176 or 943-5611, 928-0860, ext. 2222

Issued in furtherance of Cooperative Extension work in agriculture and home economics, Acts of May 8 and June 30, 1914, and other related acts, in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Agriculture. The Alabama Cooperative Extension System (Alabama A&M University and Auburn University) offers educational programs, materials, and equal opportunity employment to all people without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, age, veteran status, or disability.