3.10.10 heading to Silver Glen Springs.

I was up early and had the coffee started….when I realized we had company.

a little dark thing flew across the cockpit a couple of times. I waited until it landed… A Bat!

I was pretty sure I knew what it was. We’ve had one in here before. The enclosure is pretty snug and I think perhaps it was attracted to the heat of the engine and came in through the vents. They will have screen on them for the next trip. The last bat surprised me and I had it caught up in a towel and put outside before I thought of the camera…not this time…important stuff first!  look at those cute little hind feet and I guess it is a finger on the fold of the wing. I’ll have to research it when I get a chance.

Jim got up …we opened the side curtain and I used the fly swatter to nudge it towards the opening. Jim held up a jacket so it would be funneled outside…it worked and it was on it’s way.

We saw our first Limpkin of the season.

This is truly a beautiful bird. This picture doesn’t do it justice. Here is one I took last year.

It is really very striking. Each white feather is like a little white tab.

Back out on the river, Ed and Carole pulled alongside.  Ed has a unique way of enjoying the view.

We took Blue Creek and it was like a super highway. We have never met more than one or two boats on this creek….today they were bumper to bumper…but it was still a nice ride.

The trip across Lake George was again smooth. We anchored for the night at Silver Glen Springs.

3.9.10 Lungun Island to Blues Springs & Hontoon IS.

Everyone was up fairly early and we had a good start for Blue Springs.

Jim spotted these Wild Turkeys. These 2 males showing off for the 3 females. As we cruised thru a more populated area we saw these Pelicans waiting by a fish cleaning station for the “left overs”.  

Once we reached Blue Springs, we anchored just off shore where all the pontoon boats beach and used the dingys to go ashore.

The Manatees were in….

There was even a good sized alligator sunning itself along with the Manatees..

We hiked the boardwalk to the spring boil. It’s a beautiful walk and follows the run so you can see the Manatees.

This Mother and her calf made a leisurely trip down the run. You can see a  set of prop scars on the mother.

On our way back to the boats, we rowed down the river to the spring entrance where the Manatees travel to get into the springs. Carole and Ed had one come right up to their dingy and look them over.

Unfortunately I was unable to get a photo of it.

We headed back N to Hontoon Island so we could take on some water. Our tank was getting low. Once filled we went around to the back side of Hontoon Island and followed the Hontoon Dead River ( G53). We found a nice spot to anchor and were invited over to Southern Cross for h’orderves and a glass of wine before supper.

What a nice way to end another beautiful day on the river.

Leaving Welaka FL for Blue Springs. 3.8.10

We moved Slow Motion over to a slip near Carole and Ed and Southern Cross for pictures.

 

Kate and Tex are saying “so long” to Ed, and Bruce is kind enough to take the pictures. Next time we’ll get him into one.

We spent many miles on the water with a “little green boat” (Larry & Diane in their Nimble Nomad) and now we have a “little” Albin 25 following us. You can tell it’s going to be a beautiful day…the curtains are up and the hatches open.

They don’t follow us for long…

Their boat actually cruises faster and easier on fuel than ours does.

We had a nice smooth ride across Lake George. That is not the normal ride we are used to. It doesn’t take much wind to kick it up because it is so shallow.

Looks like these Pelicans are going to take over the Osprey nest. These markers are a favorite spot. The sticks and Spanish Moss have been brought in by the Ospreys. You can see the solar panel that lights the “green” marker. The number is on the sign the Pelican is sitting on. There is a marked channel across the lake to the “gates” at the S end.

We cruised S to Lungun Island, G3. One of our favorite anchorages. We’ve seen Manatees there and it’s a nice spot to take Raisin ashore, and stretch our legs.