Daytrippin' on the Ichetucknee River

with friends Joyce & Dwight

September 19, 2008

Ichetucknee Springs is the tubing capital of the Florida State Park System.  The last time I (Nana) was there was many years ago (>25)  when the kids were small and we went tubing.   We returned this month to kayak from the spring itself down the 3.5 miles to the takeout point at the South entrance, with our pals Joyce & Dwight.  Joyce is an accomplished kayaker and photographer.  Dwight is a prodigious letter writer and champion of the common man.  We had a wonderful time.  This is a great trip for couch potatoes as all we really had to do was to guide our kayaks to keep them from getting hung up on logs.  The river flows South at least a mile an hour.  The water is crystal clear--enough to observe the many fish swimming by--lots of mullet and bass.  And this day there were many, many turtles sunning on the logs.  The cool water, the screech of the osprey, the colors of the wildflowers, and the camaraderie made for a relaxing, idyllic day.

                                       Cyprus knees & wildflowers (wish I knew the name)

Dave & I in our "sit-on-top" kayaks

Joyce in her more traditional kayak

Dwight & Nana, just taking our time