The streams running from the springs to the larger rivers are called spring runs. The Ichetucknee spring run is fed by about 6 springs. We were able to paddle over a few of the springs, pretty cool to look down into. It is all crystal clear water over white sand, and is one of the most pristine examples of a spring run stream in Florida. It is protected so the sensitive vegetation is alive and is home to lots of wildlife.
John on the Ichetucknee spring run. You can see the white sand and river grasses. Wild flowers near the stream.
Great Blue Heron and three turtles. Lots and lots of turtles and and birds.
The color of the water was incredible. These are cypress tree reflections.
Fall colors reflected. In the second one you can see the grasses below the reflection
John photographing turtles on the shore. The turtles like to lay in the warm sunshine.
John relaxing. We did not need to paddle much, just floated with the current. We did have to watch out for submerged logs though. Here is a big cypress tree.
A pilated woodpecker. This one is about a foot long, they can be up to 18 inches. A great egret. These guys are about 3 feet tall.
John floating by cypress knees. A harmless water snake sunning on a branch.
I had to rent a kayak, they don’t allow inflatables in this part of the stream. In the summer it is full of people on inner tubes, but not in the winter. It costs half to rent a kayak and have them shuttle both of us than it did for them to shuttle both our own boats. Such a deal. It took us 3 hours to float it, but we stopped a lot and checked out the view.
A couple dragon flies. Blue spring is one of the springs that feed the spring run. You can scuba dive in it and it has an underground cave system. Florida is made of limestone. It has 600 springs, and millions of underground caves. It is like swiss cheese. Cave diving is a big sport here in Florida.
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