December 6-7 2012 Ocala National Forest, Florida

We camped at Ocala so we could boat some more springs. Very remote place. We started on Juniper spring run. It was overcast in the beginning, not good light for photos, but it burnt off mostly by afternoon.

John locking the bikes up after a bike ride in our campsite. The Juniper springs. You can swim in most of these springs. This pool was built by the CCC.

They also built this mill. It was originally used to make electricity.  Warning about alligators and snakes at the beginning of the spring run. The first 2.5  miles are narrow and winding, scarcely wider than 6 feet. There is also low hanging vegetation, trees  to duck under and submerged trees to avoid.  You paddle through Juniper Prairie wilderness surrounded by lush tropical forest of palms, cypress and  many southern hardwoods. The run is 7 miles long. There are no intermediate access points and it takes about 5 hours.

John putting in. The water is incredibly clear. And pretty shallow at the beginning. Other springs water add to the river. You can see the bottom at all times, fish, turtles swimming under you, your shadow when the sun comes out, it is like floating above the ground in a boat.

John took this of me ducking under a palm tree.  Asters , fall colors and palm trees.

Juniper Prairie wilderness sign. It is getting lost in the wilderness.  Asters around a cypress trunk.

Later the stream widens out and gets deeper. Lots of asters.

It flows around islands, braided streams that you have to choose which one to take and hope you can make it through.

Palms. John surfing on a little rapid. We did not expect to see one of those in here.

The trail widens out  into prairie. Then closes back in to a very narrow run, with fast current , lots of turns, overhanging vegetation and submerged lots to dodge.  You really have to pay attention, almost impossible to take photos with out getting crammed up under a bush, or a tree. Wore me out.

Common primrose willow with a bee in it,  white flower,sunflowers, turtles, aster and red berries, cardinal flower. Amusing sign, church meeting at the VFW?, great blue heron, another turtle.