We got to Juniper Springs Campground around noon on Wednesday. We arranged a free shuttle for Thursday morning with one of the volunteers in the park. We explored and took some pictures which we posted on our last blog. We found that they again have their perfectly good boardwalk closed, claiming there are some rotted supports. We walked it and found it fine, it is the prettiest walk in the park. They also have the canoe launch boardwalk closed, maybe because they are not renting any boats, but it makes for a very long walk to get from the parking area to the launch spot.
Our campsite was only a few hundred yards from the water, an illegal launch of course. It was only about 40oF when we launched at 9:30 AM. There were no other boats on the river and it quickly warmed to near 70 when we got to the take-out, 2-3/4 hours later. This river has more maneuvering than any river I have ever paddled, Peggy was exhausted at the end of the 8 mile paddle. She is great at draws and cross-draws, keeping us away from all the stumps and branches.
It was a warm evening and it was 60oF on Friday morning when we left at 8 AM to paddle the Silver River. They open early but we were the first one to launch. Since Peggy was still tired we only paddled about 4 miles downstream and back. We didn’t see another boat until we were almost all the way back but we did see 10 Manatees. Big mothers and tiny babies. Hundreds of Anhingas, some Heron and Egrets and one alligator. It was a beautiful sunny day.
We got off the river early to do some grocery shopping, and decided to spend another night in a Walmart parking lot.
On Saturday morning we drove over to the 49st parking area for the Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenway paved bike trail. We have never tried this trail and it passes right through Ocala and over I-75. The trail is very hilly and in a deep woods with all sorts of mountain bike trails crossing .
We took a short ride over the bridge and just beyond where the Santos Trail starts then back for a nice 11 mile early morning bike ride. Temps in low 60’s.
Peggy looking through the viewing window to see I-75 below.
They put this bridge in for wildlife. Deer, Bear, Coyotes, and Panthers have been caught in the trail cams.
Then Saturday afternoon we plan to visit our friends in Inverness.
Hi John, We were in Inverness the last two days and biked the trail south from there. We were going to ride the trail north this morning, but opted for a slow morning, then headed for Cape Coral where we are now. We still plan to meet up with you before Christmas, and will keep in touch. Sure has been cold the last several days. Judi and Larry
ReplyDeleteWhat a cool bridge. I think I would be scared of the manatee
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