Florida - Salt Springs - campground walk about

Tucson and I walk over to the fishing channel

 Vultures are hanging out

 and Turtles are sunning themselves

 We counted 28

A great blue heron

and a Pileated Woodpecker

Tucson spent hours keeping watch over the Squirrel Forest

another trip to the Springs

 Pavillion and basketball courts

 Sites are spacious

 I like the stainless steel sink in the sewer area

 Somebody washed and hung the Easter Bunny out to dry

and a last dip in the Spring

A great place to stay if you are going to Florida and don't need to be on the coast.

Florida - Salt Springs - Juniper Springs Run

We finally have another place to kayak.  The kayaks are sold to the marina next to the campground but on the condition we don't deliver them until the end of today.

We drop off the kayaks and I stay here while Gary follows the shuttle down to the pick up point to drop off the truck and ride back with the shuttle driver.

 It's a long boardwalk to the put in spot

 But we finally get there

and we're off!

 I lead the way

 It's a jungle out here - but more of the yellow tail butterflies

 The current is quite swift and there are hidden eddies you can get swept into

 We keep an eye out for alligators but only see turtles

The scenery is stunning at every turn

 There are stumps and logs to watch out for and at the same time overhanging branches to look out for.

 We hang onto an overhanging branch to grab lunch

 More turtles

 Every once in a while it opens up

 Dark clouds loom ahead.  Rain is in the forecast for the afternoon.

I "ran over" at least 2 turtles

 After Gary ran me into the puckerbrush I let him lead the rest of the way

 The takeout is just ahead on the other side of the overpass

 We made it!   What a great run.  7.5 miles.  I did however end up with a tick on the back of my neck from my encounter with the puckerbrush - a bunch of palmettos on the side of the water.

We head back, making a stop at the Marina to drop off the Kayaks.  It will be sooo much easier traveling without them. 

 An eagle flies over

Florida - Salt Springs - The Yearling Trail

Today we try the Yearling Trail

Reuben and Sara Jane Long established a homestead on Pat’s Island.  One spring their son found and raised a fawn.  Over 50 years later, author Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings spent time at the Long's and heard about the fawn. It inspired her to write The Yearling. When it was turned into a movie, Pat’s Island became a set for some of the scenes.

 It starts through open sand pine scrub forest

 We take the Jodies Trace to start the loop

 an Old Cattle Dip

 The trail is hard to follow at times

A large sinkhole. A seep spring, where water dripped off limestone in the bottom into catch basins, provided a trickle of water for the residents.

 The Long Cemetery

Lots of yellow tail butterflies along the way

About a 5 mile hike.  Pretty easy but I did end up with a tick though!

Florida Salt Springs Observation Trail Hike

It's a cool, cloudy day so we decide to try the Observation Trail hike a 2 mile loop trail.

 A walk through oak scrub and sand pine forest

 Almost there

 an observation deck overlooking the Salt Springs Run

Not much wildlife activity but did catch an Osprey flying overhead

 Diving for fish

 The return trip

 Apparently you can whack a Palmetto down but you can't kill it.

 Mystical Forest creature

A nice easy hike - we will try something a little more challenging next time.