Rock Springs Run & Wekiva River

Looking Up

Still trying to get back to the routine so paid a visit to Wekiwa Springs State Park to kayak Rock Springs Run. Every time I kayak there am excited because the chance of seeing a deer and/or a bear. Have seen deer many times, never a bear but I know they are there. Went 0-2 on this trip since no deer and no bear. Saw deer on the road, from the minivan, not from the kayak and have no pictures of them.

Young Little Blue Heron probably close to a year old.

Put In / Take Out: Wekiwa Springs State Park. Please click on the link for information like location and fees. This is a beautiful place to kayak/canoe but it can, and will, be crowded in the Summer. At 12:30 I walked in the concession to buy a snack and there was a waiting list for kayaks and canoes. It is that busy. Also, if you own a kayak or canoe, be sure to bring a cart as it is a long walk from the parking to the beach where you put in. I do really need to follow my own advice. Yesterday I forgot it...again.

Green Heron

Had an early start and was in the water at 8:30 AM. Took me one hour to reach the confluence of the Wekiva River with Rock Springs Run. Had some pics chances on my way there with the highlight being a trio of otters. Here are the pics from this part of the paddle...

Lagoon little gator #1

Lagoon little gator #2, a few feet away from #1

Gator

Gator

Gator

A squirrel caught this gator's attention

Little Blue Heron

Little Blue Heron

Green Heron

Green Heron

Green Heron

Limpkin

Great Blue Heron

Little Blue Heron gets breakfast

Little Blue Heron

Otter

Otter

Otter

Otter

Up to the Rock Springs Run. This time it was not the nice crystal clear flow but fast and reddish. I would like to blame the afternoon storms falling in Apopka for the last days but it am worried about the construction of the highway. I hope it is not the latter. Here are the pics taken on my way up and then down the run...

Belted Kingfisher

I did not go too far up Rock Springs Run. It was hot and also the forecast had a 40% chance of thunderstorm for the afternoon. So turned back at the end of the first open area. As I approached the confluence with the Wekiva River it became busier and busier. The confluence was really busy but saw a lady I respect a lot. Joanne was doing her rounds as part of the Wekiva River Angels, volunteers that watch everybody behaves while in the river. Here are pics of what I saw from the confluence to the lagoon at Wekiwa Springs...

Green Heron

Green Heron

Osprey...Most of the people paddled by completely unaware of its presence.

Osprey

And this is it for this one. A good day at The Run and at the river. Thanks for coming and let us know how did you like this one. You can also check our Facebook Page for more pics and videos. See you soon, when we will be sharing more Views From Our Kayak.

Rock Springs Run

Canaveral National Seashore - Back to where we left it

I see you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Events in your life, good or bad, all of them leave a mark on you. You have to keep going. It was not a plan to paddle today but I was encouraged to go back to my routine, even if I do not find it as fun and exciting as it used to be. I felt there was some unfinished business left on my most recent paddle. Had to cut the paddle short because the heat. So this morning, after finally deciding to return to the water, thought Canaveral National Seashore was a good place to go.

Juvenile Tri-Colored Heron

Put In / Take Out: Parking Lot #7 at North Quadrant of Canaveral National  Seashore, near the Eldora State House.

Osprey

This time I headed West after leaving the Put In. Explored the are near Orange Island. I know because saw campsites #1 and #2. Manatees and birds were ruling this section in a windy morning. Let me show you the pics I got from this part of the paddle. Saw a Short Tailed Hawk (first I thought it was a Peregrine Falcon), a Wood Stork, and a Roseate Spoonbill all in flight.. Was able to shoot pics but came out bad so will have to take my word for that.

Snowy Egret

Great Blue Heron

Great Egret

Osprey

Osprey

Manatee playing with a buoy

Manatee

Juvenile Tri-Colored Heron

Juvenile Tri-Colored Heron

Somehow made a mistake and the settings of my camera were changed to Monochrome pictures, or something like that. Realized the issue after a few minutes but decided to keep a couple of pics...

Took a break under the shade provided by the trees in the campsite #2. Was thinking about heading to Turtle Mound but decided to go South instead. Am glad I did that as a pod of dolphins were heading that same direction. The pod of four became a pod of seven, and then a pod of 9, including the famous dolphin with the split fin. It was choppy and windy at the time and I struggled to obtain decent dolphin pics.

Dolphin

Typical dolphin fin pic

Mosquito Lagoon Dolphin

Dolphin hunting at the lagoon. See the little mullet at the right near the end of the splash?

This one was not a total fail...was able to catch a mullet mid air

 Dolphin

Dolphin

Dolphin pod at the Mosquito Lagoon

Mosquito Lagoon scene

Dolphin pair

Followed the pod South for about 30 minutes. Sometimes the swam North and across the lagoon. One of them even jumped over the wakes of a boat. It was fun but I was exhausted because the heat. It was time to go back. That did not stop me from taking a few more pics...

Osprey

Osprey

Little Blue Heron

Now, that is something I would like to do

Green Heron

Snake in the lagoon

Snake

Brown Pelican

Near the Take Out area manatees were in a mating frenzy, three different mating mats, lots of splashing...

Mosquito Lagoon Manatees

And this is it for tonight. Before I leave would like to say thanks for those of you who contacted me or expressed some concern about the personal situation we were going through. Even when we are not out of the woods things are looking better. Things are never going to be the same or back to normal but this is life. Even when right now kayaking does not feel the same as a few months ago it is still a window, an escape valve. Will make the most of it. Remember to check our Facebook page every now and then and more important...enjoy and RESPECT the wild life around you. See you soon to share more Views From Our Kayak.

Mosquito Lagoon