Background:
From 1773 to 1778, William Bartram, a trained naturalist, traveled southern North America, noting the characteristics of almost everything he encountered: the rivers of Florida, the groves of wild oranges, the swamps and lagoons, the fish, the tropical snakes and reptiles, the land and aquatic birds, the festivals of the Seminole, and the customs of the Creeks. He was to Florida what Lewis and Clark were to the North West.
Following the general path of William Bartram, we will paddle our way through large swamps and narrow rivers to the St. Johns River. Traveling north (downstream) the group will stop to explore large springs, flora and fauna, Indian mounds, and other points of interest.
Starting Point:
All participants will be picked up from the Orlando International Airport at 2pm. on February 19th. Anyone wanting to drive will be mailed a map prior to the trip.
Day 1: Airport pick up. Settle into our lodge, happy hour and enjoy our first group meal together. Afterwards we will walk down to the river and receive basic instruction on kayaking. We will also go over the weeks agenda, local environmental issues, and of course the travels of William Bartram.
Day 2: Shuttle to Rock Springs run, snorkel, swim, and explore the large springs. Basic kayak instruction then make our way down the spring run to the confluence of the Wekiwa River. Keep an eye out for alligators, otters, wild hog, and swimming deer. Lunch served picnic style at the sight of an ancient Indian midden. Evening will be spent at our lodge hiking, birding, or swimming in the river.
Day 3: After a big breakfast and a short shuttle we will be back into our kayaks for another day on the beautiful Wekiwa River. At this time of year the Wekiwa is exploding with color and the movement of life. The river is edged by arching sabal palms and other trees. Islands of lush green water plants float in the stream, while asters dot the landscape with purple. The trained eye will spot clumps of orchids mingling with resurrection ferns and draping Spanish moss. On occasion, deer hide near the rivers edge for a drink, bears are seen amongst the palmetto, and river otters dance through the clear water.
Day 4: An exciting day for wildlife viewing! We will make our way into the Lower Wekiva river basin and meet up with the St. Johns River, rich in serious wildlife. Have your camera ready. Turtles and large alligators sunning on logs or on the river banks can be observed at distances determined by the strength of your nerves or the power of your binoculars. In addition we will have the opportunity to observe heaps of wading birds.
Our take out for the day will be at Blue Spring State Park. Last year we spotted over 110 manatees in the spring run alone!
Day 5: Today we visit a place of great beauty and rich history, New Smyrna and Canaveral National Seashore. The day will be spent paddling the many islands in the lagoon and hiking on the still undeveloped beaches.
Day 6: We are off to Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. In my opinion this is the greatest place in Florida for birding and wildlife viewing. There is so much, it just seems too easy. We will be feet away from rosette spoonbills, glossy ibis, reddish egrets, wood storks, bald eagle, and countless species of migrating ducks.
Day 7: After a morning hike and a huge breakfast, we will make our way back to Orlando and the airport. We should arrive at the airport by 1pm.
Accommodations and Food:
The leaders will joyfully prepare and serve all meals. Meals included in the trip fee begin with dinner on the first day and breakfast on the last day. Meals served on the trip will honor and reflect local cuisine. A typical dinner would consist of shrimp and crawfish etouffee, white rice, garlic bread, fresh salad, and something chocolate for dessert. Folks with special diets should contact the trip leader.
Our lodging will be at an 800 acre working cattle ranch and B&B on the Econlockhatchee River. There is a large two story log cabin with wrap around porch and an old fashion “Cracker” house. Bathrooms are shared and rooms are multiple occupancy. Rooms with one bed will of course be given to couples. Camping is permitted for those who prefer tenting it! Because we are staying at a lodge each night, everyday our group will have to be shuttled to that days location.
References:
Travels of William Bartram, Edited by Mark Van Doren.
Guide to William Bartram’s Travels, by Brad Sanders
The Basic Essentials of Sea Kayaking, by Mike Wyatt.
A Land Remembered, by Patrick D. Smith
A great PBS documentary on Florida's unique spring systems:
