Paddle: Lower Oklawaha River

Each evening during the campfire circle, we would make a group decision about the next day's paddling venue. Last night there was a split decision and no small amount of apathy about what we would do today. Ultimately the group split into two factions. One group would paddle the lower Oklawaha and another group would go to De Leon Springs State Park for all-you-can-eat pancakes at the Old Spanish Sugar Mill Restaurant. Dorcas and I were still hurting from the buffet at Barnhill's last night, so we decided to paddle. Besides, we will be close to De Leon Springs in early February, so we will have another chance at the pancakes.

The lower Oklawaha runs from just below the dam at Rodman Reservoir to SR 19. There was a threat of rain, and we put in under warm, but cloudy skies. I think Oklawaha is Seminole for "Twisty River Full of Baby Alligators". We saw a lot of small gators and another million Ibis. It was a pleasant run along tannin-stained water with wooded banks. It looked more like the Lumber River or the Black River from back home than a Florida run. It did spit a little rain, but after 30 seconds of raincoats on, it quit.

Back at the ranch, Charlie was preparing his world-famous turkey fry. A rain fly was rigged and the rain teased us into the shelter of the tarp once or twice, but it never really did rain. We devoured the bird and roasted marshmallows around the fire.