(Click images to enlarge)
We started our informal "Out and Back" where CR1409 crosses Old River (aka “The Dead Hog Put-In”). It was another beautiful day as we set out on our latest venture. We paddled upstream under the 1409 bridge, looked at the swallow nests, some with babies, and enjoyed the rich greens and shade of the huge trees on this part of Old River. We poked into a few side channels with deep shade and followed them to where they were getting difficult to navigate.
Back in the main channel, we saw a great blue heron, an egret and a little blue heron fairly early on. We took photos of some hibiscus, pickerelweed and swamp lily.
We left civilization behind for a while, and then found some more with a long channel between a ritzy subdivision and a golf course. We explored the channel until it ended, and returned to the main channel, continuing for a while past the golf course.
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Natalie
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Racing at 1 mph |
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Joe |
We saw quite a few big spiders on the cypress tree trunks. By big, I mean that with their legs spread out, they would cover the palm of my hand. Bruce says they are “fishing spiders”. As big as they were, I guess they could fish, but that looks like it would be a hazardous undertaking for them.
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Big Spider
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Upstream from the golf course we found a nice spot to get out and have lunch.
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Lunch
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Lunch 2 |
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Leaving Lunch |
After lunch, we continued upstream where the river narrowed more, becoming quite beautiful and peaceful. We dealt with a couple of logs that spanned the river, and then decided it was time to turn back. This was much further than I had planned, but I was glad we got to see this part of the river.
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Dragonfly
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Bruce coming out
from under a log |
On the way back downstream we saw a red-tailed hawk.
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| Red Tailed Hawk |
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Red-Tailed Hawk
a tenth of a second later
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A little further downstream I noticed a walking stick flailing in the water. Everyone gathered around to see it, and Bruce got his paddle under it and got it to his boat, where it climbed up onto his hat. Then it took an interest in his GPS unit, and finally Bruce let him go on a palmetto frond. Be sure to look at the other photo albums on the club website for much better photos than mine of this curious creature.
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Walking Stick in
the Water (not ideal) |
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Walking Stick
with a GPS
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A little later, we came across the only brave turtle of the day. All of them dropped into the water as soon as they saw us, which was pretty far off, but this one posed for me.
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Turtle
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We arrived at the Put-in / Take-out a little after 4:00 and said our goodbyes.
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Where We Went
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Route with North Up |
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Stats |
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Started GPS a little late
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Photo Album Links: Kent Walters Bruce Bodson