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View Full Version : Kayaking Florida's Wekiva River

Rolling Stone
Dec-07-2007, 04:33 PM
Just a nice break during Thanksgiving Week

The Wekiva River is fed by two large springs, Wekiwa and Rock Spring. The water is crystal clear and you can easily see 20 feet down with no problem.

All geared up and ready to head into the swamp.
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Jack'll do
Dec-07-2007, 06:07 PM
Just came in from walking the dogs. Sixteen degrees, snow, all the trees have dropped their leaves. How nice to see the lush tropical foliage. The reflections are fabulous (especially the gator). Thanks for sharing...wish I was there :cry
anwmn1
Dec-07-2007, 06:17 PM
Looks like a lot of fun. Thanks for sharing. :thumb
spechtal
Dec-07-2007, 06:30 PM
wow, great photos. That gator looked pretty darned big!
cmason
Dec-07-2007, 07:50 PM
Love my Necky Manitou also! Nice shots.
z_28
Dec-07-2007, 09:14 PM
Looks as fantastic trip !
Turtles' shots are my favorite :thumb

Anyway swimming with alligators aren't my favorite things to do :huh
dogwood
Dec-07-2007, 09:52 PM
Just came in from walking the dogs. Sixteen degrees, snow, all the trees have dropped their leaves.

Rain here... so much it flooded earlier in the week.

Cool photos... especially the alligators. Any snakes down there too?
Rolling Stone
Dec-07-2007, 10:27 PM
Yeah, plenty of snakes. Hardly ever see them, sometimes they hang in the tree limbs so if you're paddling in tight quarters, watch carefully above you.

:uhoh
coldclimb
Dec-07-2007, 11:39 PM
Nice shots! A world I've never seen... yet... :D Thanks!
dogwood
Dec-08-2007, 09:57 AM
Yeah, plenty of snakes. Hardly ever see them, sometimes they hang in the tree limbs so if you're paddling in tight quarters, watch carefully above you.

:uhoh

Yeah, that's what I've heard. As one who has a completely irrational fear of snakes, I think maybe I'll stick with paddling the crystal clear waters of Cascade Mountain lakes-- no snakes drop into my canoe there!
schmoo
Dec-08-2007, 10:25 AM
Wow lots of wildlife on that trip! I love the turtle shots - though I'm a bit worried because we adopted one that looks very similar to those and now I see how big they get in the wild... :uhoh

That's a bit closer to an alligator than I'd be comfy with.
threelions usa
Dec-09-2007, 04:22 PM
wow, great photos. That gator looked pretty darned big!

my immediate thoughts....

exactly how far (or close) was he ?? not sure that a kayak would be a decent defence to that bad boy..

great shots by the way (i looked from behind my chair after the gator shot)
ShepsMom
Dec-09-2007, 05:39 PM
We do canoeing on Peace river once in a while. Last time we went in August, i was very dissapointed in lack of wildlife, gators and birds were hiding from us :cry You got some excellent shots!!! Very nice. May be i should make another trip while it's not that hot out. Good idea!!
Rolling Stone
Dec-09-2007, 07:14 PM
Wild alligators are fairly timid unless they're guarding a nest or it's mating season. In most instances they will do their best to avoid you. In cold weather they spend most of the day trying to warm up and can be pretty lethargic, this is a good time to quietly observe them. Just don't crowd them or put yourself between them and the place they want to go. I've been sharing the waters with them for over thirty years and give them the utmost in respect.

The babies are fun to play with.
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