We last paddled the Chassahowitzka River almost exactly 
two years ago. While paddling the river that day, we were talking to LazyDays on the phone, negotiating the deal on our current motor home, which, obviously, we did end up buying. They tell us paddling can be a dangerous sport. One can literally drown or be eaten alive by an alligator. Apparently one can also drown or be eaten in a more figurative sense (i.e. financial drowning or being devoured by high-pressure RV sales staff). Oh well. Actually, Dorcas and I are very happy with our purchase and have used it extensively.
The put-in for this river is at a county park at Chassahowitzka River Campground. They charge a modest $2 to launch your boat. Unfortunately, it was a beautiful Saturday and the boat traffic on the river and at the spring was fairly heavy. There was a manatee at the boat dock, who apparently was a frequent resident. We paddled
upstream a short distance to a small spring complex that was filled with swimmers. We then turned down-river and paddled into the Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge. We largely avoided the main channel and most of the motorboat traffic and zig-zagged through the back-channels, behind a number of small islands. We picnicked on the shore at a sandy beach, where Matilda got a chance to play in the water a bit. On our return we paddled about a half mile up Baird Creek. Baird Creek is spring-fed and eventually becomes a very small, clear, sandy run. We paddled as far as we could and then walked a few hundred feet further. Later we learned that if we had gone another 50 yards we would have arrived at a very pretty spring known as "The Crack". On the way out I was attacked by a swarm of no-see-ums or sand flies. 
They bit me all over my arms and legs, but apparently avoided Dorcas altogether. Based on past experience I know I will be in for about a week of red whelps and an excruciating burning itch. Time to go to Wal-Mart and stock up on anti-itch cream.
two years ago. While paddling the river that day, we were talking to LazyDays on the phone, negotiating the deal on our current motor home, which, obviously, we did end up buying. They tell us paddling can be a dangerous sport. One can literally drown or be eaten alive by an alligator. Apparently one can also drown or be eaten in a more figurative sense (i.e. financial drowning or being devoured by high-pressure RV sales staff). Oh well. Actually, Dorcas and I are very happy with our purchase and have used it extensively.The put-in for this river is at a county park at Chassahowitzka River Campground. They charge a modest $2 to launch your boat. Unfortunately, it was a beautiful Saturday and the boat traffic on the river and at the spring was fairly heavy. There was a manatee at the boat dock, who apparently was a frequent resident. We paddled
upstream a short distance to a small spring complex that was filled with swimmers. We then turned down-river and paddled into the Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge. We largely avoided the main channel and most of the motorboat traffic and zig-zagged through the back-channels, behind a number of small islands. We picnicked on the shore at a sandy beach, where Matilda got a chance to play in the water a bit. On our return we paddled about a half mile up Baird Creek. Baird Creek is spring-fed and eventually becomes a very small, clear, sandy run. We paddled as far as we could and then walked a few hundred feet further. Later we learned that if we had gone another 50 yards we would have arrived at a very pretty spring known as "The Crack". On the way out I was attacked by a swarm of no-see-ums or sand flies. 
They bit me all over my arms and legs, but apparently avoided Dorcas altogether. Based on past experience I know I will be in for about a week of red whelps and an excruciating burning itch. Time to go to Wal-Mart and stock up on anti-itch cream. 
No comments:
Post a Comment