Florida Week Of Rivers – 10 March – 18 March

[ChrisH]

I am putting together a “week of rivers” type trip to Florida in March.  Any and all are welcome to join the trip.  The itinerary of rivers is still being researched but the dates have been set.  Nadine and I plan to leave Central PA on the morning of March 10 and arrive in FLA on the afternoon / evening of 11 March.  We plan to tent camp at state parks and private campgrounds near the rivers.  We will probably stay at the same campground for a couple of nights and then move to a different area.  The rivers we will paddle are suitable for rec kayaks and canoes. Although the rivers will not be difficult some of the trips may involve paddling 15 or more miles in single day. Right now I’m looking at rivers with clear water springs where we might see manatees.  We may get into some estuary, marsh, and mangrove areas too. If you have an idea for a river to paddle let me know and I will see about working it into the trip. We plan to paddle on 5 days and drive back north on Friday the 17th, arriving in central Pa on the 18th. 

All of this is very flexible.  If you want to leave on Saturday instead of Friday, or even later,  you can join us where ever we happen to be when you arrive.  If you can’t stay for the full time you can leave early as well. 

Right now the trip includes Chris, Nadine, Russ, John Raudenbush, and Vern.  Join us, the more the merrier. Reply here and email if you want to join the trip. 1/26/17, two new additions – Mary Klaue and Barb Horst. A couple of maybes still considering .

Chris – holladcd@gmail.com

• This topic was modified 4 years, 8 months ago by ChrisH.

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[Sally Gajecki]

Chris, I am interested in hearing more about this trip as you plan it. How far south are you planning on going? Everglades, the Keys? Has anyone else (other than those listed above) shown interest? Are you planning to caravan down? Do you think you might do this again next year? I’m not sure I can get away this year. You can reach me here or at sallygajecki@hotmail.com. Thank you.

[Steve Landis]

Chris,
In Florida now and we paddled the Silver River yesterday. Clear water spring fed – alligators, monkeys, interesting birds, turtles etc. Put in at the Silver Springs head waters, paddle downstream to take out – Ray Wayside Park abbot 3+ hours or as long as you want to make it. One of our favorites. Crystal River to the Three Sister Springs and paddle with the manatees which are there now but make seasonal appearances based on water temps. I have some planning books for Florida paddles I can share. Interested but cannot commit right now.

Steve

[ChrisH]

Steve and Sally more info on the in progress trip planning. Steve I saw you pictured on Facebook and was going to email you for more information on the Silver River. It looks like the kind of paddle we are looking for and I am adding the Silver River to the list of possible day trips.

Sally the trip planning and research is still ongoing. So far I have Crystal River (Three Sisters Spring), Rainbow River, and Sliver River on the list of possible paddles. At this point it appears that most of the paddles will be between Tallahassee and Tampa in the western half of the state. We will not get down to the Keys. We might get as far south as Everglades City. Including you Sally three others have expressed interest but have not committed to joining the trip. As the list of participants develops we will discuss the logistics of getting down to Florida. We will probably look at matching paddlers up so that we don’t have solo drivers. We can caravan with those that want to travel down and or back together. There is currently no plan to do the trip again in 2018 but if it is successful we might do it again.

[Sally Gajecki]

Thanks, Chris. I can’t commit yet but am definately interested. Please keep me in the loop.

[ChrisH]

Added two new names to the list of those coming on this trip. Check back to the original post. I will get some additional information on possible paddle destinations shortly and should have the itinerary drafted out in a week or so.

[ChrisH]

Here is a preliminary itinerary for the Florida trip. Getting camp sites is going to be an issue as this is high season and the state parks that I’ve checked so far don’t have sites available on the dates we want. I’m still researching campgrounds. If you have suggestions let me know. If you want to join the trip let me know soon as I’m going to reserve camp sites as soon as I can find them. This itinerary may change based on where I find campsites, that is we may paddle rivers closer to the campground where we end up staying.

Friday 10 March:  Depart Central Pa, overnight at location to be determined (TBD).
11 March:  Complete driver down, check in at campground. TBD.

12 March:  Paddle Suwannee River, 10mi, could add another 7 miles if group wants.

13 March:  Break Camp and travel to Ichetucknee Springs, Paddle Ichetucknee River, 5 miles.  After paddle travel to a campground to TBD.

14 March:  Paddle Alexander Spring Creek, 7 mi.

15 March:  Paddle Crystal River / Three Sisters Spring,  approx. 7mi  (1.5hr drive)

16 March:  Paddle Juniper Creek, 7 mi  (if time permits, and the crew is willing, paddle Silver River, 5 mi)

17 March:  Break camp and return to Pa.  Overnight?

18 March:  Conclude trip to central PA.

[ChrisH]

Just added two more, Steve Landis and Al Cummins; the full list of those joining the trip follows. I will be sending an email to these participants discussing ideas for driving down, overnighting on the trip down, and sharing rides.

Chris & Nadine
Russ Thomas
John Raudenbush
Vern and Judie
Mary Klaue and Barb Horst
Arlene Taylor
John Guetter
Steve Landis
Al Cummins

• This reply was modified 4 years, 7 months ago by ChrisH.

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