Randy and I are camping in High Springs near Gainesville, Fl for our 25th Anniversary get-away. We left yesterday and plan on being here thru the weekend. Our desire is to kayak the Ichetucknee River when the weather clears up. Today it is cloudy and drizzling outside making it a perfect opportunity to kick back, read a book, and get caught up on e-mail. I also love to journal with thoughts, drawings, and paint and will probably do some of that too. We have a full kitchen in the 5th wheel with plenty of oven space to accommodate a pot roast that Randy is requesting for dinner tonight. I think I can make that happen for him.
February 18, 2012
Miss Lilly and Wilbur, presiding as our campground hosts, offered to take us to the drop-off point so we could navigate the Ichetucknee River today. The sun tries to melt thru the cloud barrier as we start down the river, accompanied by our feathered fauna squawking in their unique, “ducky dialog”. Winding its way south, the river current takes us past majestic cypress trees draped in Spanish moss with cypress knees springing from their roots that appear to have faces frozen in time. I fancifully wonder if wood spirits reside in them and then think to myself, “This is the real Florida that inspires and nurtures my soul”.
February 19, 2012
The sun is out today in all its glory and the Ichetucknee becomes our Venice as the kayaks meander thru pristine, spring fed waters. People come from all over to dive into the spring boils and underwater caves. Peering down into the turquoise depths I enjoy the beauty of vibrant green plants and catch glimpses of fish weaving in and out of their wavy tendrils. We “Float on down the river” like two frogs on a lily pad.
February 20, 2012
This President’s day is sunny, temps in the 60’s, with a bit of nip in the air. We decided to stay one more day and explore down the road in the other direction. The central part of the state is loaded with natural springs and the Suwannee River is no exception. We drove to Troy Spring which is the deepest spring we’ve seen, a magnificent ultramarine blue. We opted not to kayak today but did make future plans to explore this area. So after a little more hiking we stopped to eat our picnic lunch of pot roast sandwiches and then decided to head back to camp for vino and a campfire. A nice way to end the day.
Jules. my dear friend...as always your journaling creates a visual picture in my head and I feel like one of the frogs meandering down the river on a lily pad with you. So glad that you and Randy spent your 25th yr together wrapped in nature and in each others hearts.
ReplyDeleteLove you