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Kayaking Florida's Wekiva River

Rolling StoneRolling Stone Registered Users Posts: 203 Major grins
edited December 9, 2007 in Journeys
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 doJack'll do Registered Users Posts: 2,977 Major grins
    edited December 7, 2007
    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
    jrg.smugmug.com

    Jack
    (My real name is John but Jack'll do)
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    anwmn1anwmn1 Registered Users Posts: 3,469 Major grins
    edited December 7, 2007
    Looks like a lot of fun. Thanks for sharing. thumb.gif
    "The Journey of life is as much in oneself as the roads one travels"


    Aaron Newman

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    spechtalspechtal Registered Users Posts: 344 Major grins
    edited December 7, 2007
    wow, great photos. That gator looked pretty darned big!
    Angela
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    cmasoncmason Registered Users Posts: 2,506 Major grins
    edited December 7, 2007
    Love my Necky Manitou also! Nice shots.
    Photos
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    z_28z_28 Registered Users Posts: 956 Major grins
    edited December 8, 2007
    Looks as fantastic trip !
    Turtles' shots are my favorite thumb.gif

    Anyway swimming with alligators aren't my favorite things to do eek7.gif
    D300, D70s, 10.5/2.8, 17-55/2.8, 24-85/2.8-4, 50/1.4, 70-200VR, 70-300VR, 60/2.8, SB800, SB80DX, SD8A, MB-D10 ...
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    dogwooddogwood Registered Users Posts: 2,572 Major grins
    edited December 8, 2007
    Jack'll do wrote:
    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?
    Portland, Oregon Photographer Pete Springer
    website blog instagram facebook g+

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    Rolling StoneRolling Stone Registered Users Posts: 203 Major grins
    edited December 8, 2007
    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
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    coldclimbcoldclimb Registered Users Posts: 1,169 Major grins
    edited December 8, 2007
    Nice shots! A world I've never seen... yet... :D Thanks!
    John Borland
    www.morffed.com
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    dogwooddogwood Registered Users Posts: 2,572 Major grins
    edited December 8, 2007
    Rolling Stone wrote:
    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!
    Portland, Oregon Photographer Pete Springer
    website blog instagram facebook g+

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    schmooschmoo Registered Users Posts: 8,468 Major grins
    edited December 8, 2007
    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.
    SmugMug Editor / News Flash!
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    threelions usathreelions usa Registered Users Posts: 5 Beginner grinner
    edited December 9, 2007
    spechtal wrote:
    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)
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    ShepsMomShepsMom Registered Users Posts: 4,319 Major grins
    edited December 9, 2007
    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!!
    Marina
    www.intruecolors.com
    Nikon D700 x2/D300
    Nikon 70-200 2.8/50 1.8/85 1.8/14.24 2.8
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    Rolling StoneRolling Stone Registered Users Posts: 203 Major grins
    edited December 9, 2007
    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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