Monday, December 24, 2012

December 24, 2012 Chassahowitzka River, Florida

The Chassahowitza River is another river that is from a first magnitude spring. First magnitude springs release greater than 100 cubic feet of water per second. There are 33 in Florida. 3 in Citrus county where we are now. The Chassahowitza is supposedly one of the least visited. It was pretty busy when we paddled it today. But the side streams were very nice. It was predicted to be a sunny, 75 degree day, but it was in the high 66s and cloudy. Still nice to be out.

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Manatees in the main channel at the main spring by the put in. A little up river is the 7 sisters springs, here are two of the springs.

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A great blue heron flying by.  Swamp lilies on the edge of the river.

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A hunting egret. The main channel is pretty wide and full of motor boats. We took a side one, called Baird Creek, It was very narrow and pretty. We were the only people in there.

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The source spring is called Maggie’s crack. Here is John at Maggie’s. Past Maggie’s it gets very narrow and has overhanging branches, like these oak limbs.

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John by the giant ferns. Part of Baird’s creek.

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Back in the main channel John is photographing a pelican. I didn’t see him till I was right under him. Here he is peering at me.

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Sue under overhanging branches. John  petting a manatee

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We found this little beach with picnic tables for lunch. John sitting on the picnic table with the river behind him.

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