Loxahatchee River at Riverbend Park

Roseate Spoonbill

This past Friday were able to go to a new place for us. The Loxahatchee River at Riverbend Park in Jupiter, FL. This one has been in the making for a while and this week was the time to do it. Riverbend Park in Jupiter offers more than one choice to kayak or canoe there. One is the Johnathan Dickson Run, the other the Cypress Canopy, and the one we did; The Riverbend Boating. This one is basically a loop around the park through different ponds and lakes formed by the Loxahatchee River. Will provide a link for you to check if you are interested.

Wood Stork

Put In / Take Out: Riverbend Park at Jupiter. The irony of this is that we lived in Jupiter from 2004 to 2009. Never visited Riverbend Park or any other State Park in the area. But back then I was not into kayaking so will excuse myself. Canoe Outfitters rents kayaks and canoes at this facility. Put in at the Canoe Launch area in Picnic Loop.

Canoe Launch Area

Check this link of the area we did paddled for you to follow our route. We started at a canoe launch in Picnic Loop, which is not shown in the map. From there we headed to the Loxahatchee River and turned right...

Thanksgiving Day Survivor

Great Blue Heron

Trail Bridge near over Picnic Loop

Little Blue Heron

Red Shouldered Hawk

Red Shouldered Hawk

Not long after you turn right there is a bridge. Before a bridge there is small beach where you will have to portage. You will do that one more at the end of the trip. It is well identified so you will have no problem finding this spot. After the portage we headed to West Lake through a small marsh area. The outfitters' web site says there are several pair of eagles living at West Lake. They took the day off as were nowhere to be seen. As a matter of fact, other than a Red Bellied Woodpecker and a hawk, there was nothing to see. Not even fish jumping and for an underwater video we took, it is dead underwater too.

Red Bellied Woodpecker

Red Bellied Woodpecker

Red Bellied Woodpecker

At the South end of West Lake there is Hunters Run, a narrow canal. We got into it heading for South Pond, which we found. Nothing to see there neither but a raccoon, another Red Shouldered Hawk, and a coot, which was not pic friendly.

Raccoon

Red Shouldered Hawk

Got back into Hunters Run in our way to Cow Pen Lake. Had a few pic chances here and also made a stop at Little Pond, where an Osprey posed for a few pics...

Raccoon at Hunters Run

Great Egret

Osprey

Osprey

Left Little Pond on our way to Cow Pen Lake, the biggest one of the loop and where we saw most of the wildlife on this trip. It was here where we saw a Bald Eagle soaring high in the sky. Sadly it did not cooperate with us so no pics of the eagle. Pics of almost everything else but a Belted Kingfisher...

Great Egret and Ibis at Cow Pen Lake

Great Egret

Limpkin

Limpkin

Limpkin

Juvenile Little Blue Heron

Snowy Egret

Turtle

Turtle goes in

Roseate Spoonbill

Roseate Spoonbill

Roseate Spoonbill

From Cow Pen Lake we made an incursion into East Slough Run...

Osprey

Osprey

Small canal inside East Slough Run

Snowy Egret

Wood Stork

Back to the Cow Pen Lake...

Gator

Gator

Gator

Spoonie

Glossy Ibis

Glossy Ibis

Tri-Colored Heron

Went through the culvert into Gator Slough Run on our way to where we started to trip. Nothing to report other than it was very shallow and we had to portage one more time, which you would have to do regardless...

Culvert at the end of Cow Pen Lake

Trail Bridge 

This is it from this one. Quite frankly, the Cow Pen Lake part saved this trip. Up to that moment we were boring and most dissapointed. The water levels were low all over the place and the vegetation made the paddling very difficult most of the time. When you spent more time untangling the algae from your paddles than taking pics it is not good. Just because the experience in that last lake I give this one a B minus. Next time will try the J. Dickson Run. Anyways, thanks for checking us. Will post a few more pics on our Facebook Page. Thanks for visiting and see you soon to share more Views From Our Kayak.

Views From Our Kayak at Riverbend Park

Three Sisters Springs at Crystal River

Selfie with a manatee

A cold front came down to Central Florida this week leaving record low temperatures in most of the area. The lowest for Crystal River was 28 F Tuesday night, which meant manatees were going to be at Three Sisters Springs, a manatee sanctuary. Was not able to go Wednesday morning but temperatures were low enough Wednesday night to consider going Thursday morning. Did exactly that and had one of the nicest trips we have had.

The view at Hunter Springs Park

Put In / Take Out: Hunter Springs Park. They open at 8 AM so do not do what I did arriving at 7 AM.

View from under the kayak

We started at Hunter Springs Park and headed to Three Sisters Springs area. One manatee tour boat was coming out when we arrived. It takes the chance of seeing manatees in crystal clear waters to take my wife out of bed early in the morning. I believe you will see why. Let us go to the pics...

The leaves also change colors in Florida.

Lesser Scaups. This is the only place in Florida where I have seen them...Crystal River

 

Osprey looking for her breakfast

Cormorants

SW Kings Bay Dr bridge

View after crossing the bridge. So peaceful!

Manatees in front of the entrance of Magnolia Springs, which is closed for the season.

Manatees surface among the mist created by the temperature difference between water and air

Scene

Manatee greets us near Three Sisters Springs

Going under!!!!!!!!!!

We paddled into the springs area. To our surprise the water was murky. There was no visibility from the kayak. Three manatees swam under us in the opposite direction we were heading. I did enter the water leaving wifey in the kayak. The visibility was terrible. Another manatee swam by leaving a cloud of sediments. Caught it on video but that was it. The view was much better in the east side spring...

Three Sisters...at least one of them...

With nothing else to see decided to give it a try outside the springs...

Short Three Sisters Springs Run

Manatees came from all sides. Two of them were all over me which left me wondering if I am really that overweight. Kidding aside, I can guarantee you there was no manatee touching or harrasing. A volunteer was right there in a kayak next to me looking to say something. Two officers in the boardwalk were watching very closely. They did not have to call me out because I know and follow the rules. One hand in the camera and the other in my back. That is important if you want to have a good time at this wonderful place...

As Master Dave called him, Barnacle Bud

Manatee

Hello. My name is Barnacle Bud

Manatee

Manatee duo

Just swimming by

Closer look

Two for One

Beautiful scene

This one grabbed my knee fist and then my hand

Manatee at Crystal River

Checking the kayak

View from the kayak

Manatee swims to the restricted area. There were not too many on the other side of the rope this time

Manatee

Manatee

Breathing

Manatee

Sea Cow

Tour boats came flooding the area with people. The tide, which affects this area, was low meaning it was shallow. With most of the tourists walking the waters became even murkier. It was time for us to leave. Not complaining. We had a blast...

Great Blue Heron

Great Egret

Brown Pelican

Female Northern Shovdeler

And this it it for this one. There are more pics and also will post a very cool video on the Facebook Page. Thanks for coming and consider yourself invited for out next post. We will be sharing more Views From Our Kayak.

Crystal River