[Paddlewise] Trip Report

Date: 2/15/2000 
Location: Oklawaha River
Length: ~20 miles about 5 hours
Skill Level: Intermediate to Expert (due to remote location, limited take 
outs and length)
Directions: Put in at public ramp SW corner of  SR40 bridge 5 miles east of 
Ocala, Fl
Fee: $2.00 per car (County fee)
                                                       The Trip
  It was a fine Florida February morning, skies were clear, winds were 
negligible and air temps  were to top out in the mid to upper 70's.  Water 
temp on this trip would be about F 72.  The St. Augustine Paddler's Society 
(hereafter referred to as the SAPS) met the mystery guest paddler (a P/W 
member) at Hardee's in East Palatka for a biscuit.  After biscuits, the SAPS 
headed to the Oklawaha with the honorary SAP in tow.  A shuttle would need to 
be set up.  We dropped a vehicle at one of the public boat ramps in Eureka, 
Fl.  There are two free public ramps in the area.  One is located on the SE 
of the SR316 bridge.  The second (the one that we used) is located on the NW 
side of the SR316 bridge.  At the second location there is also a private 
ramp with a parking fee, they also offer a shuttle service.  After dropping 
off the shuttle vehicle, we finally proceeded to the put in.
  The put in is at a small basin located inside a small Marion County park.  
Upon launching you head southerly (only choice) for about 1/10 mile.  At this 
point you are afforded the option of left or right on the Silver River.  
Right goes to the world famous Silver Spring (about four miles one way), 
possibly the largest Artesian spring in the world (I don't know as I haven't 
been to all of them yet).  This spring, the resulting river and lesser 
springs are the primary source of water for the Oklawaha River.  Water 
clarity on this day was exceptional.  We went left towards the confluence of 
the Silver and Oklawaha rivers (about 1/3 mile).
   Oklawaha means long and winding river and thats what it does.  This 
section winds it's way north forming the western boundary of the Ocala 
National Forest.  Each sharp bend affords the paddler a fresh chance at 
viewing abundant wildlife in the form of schooling fish from three inches to 
three feet in length, turtles piled on logs (sometimes as many as ten per 
log), Gators from two to ten feet in length.  Ibis, Great Blue Heron, Green 
Heron, Woodstork, Cormorant, Anhinga, Gallinule, Limpkin, Great Egret, Lesser 
Egret, Kingfisher, Pileated Woodpecker, Bald Eagle, Red Tail Hawks are some 
of the birds that we experienced.
   Boat traffic was minimal as this was a weekday.  We encountered about 15 
boats without incident.  Most of these were met in the first three miles and 
were sightseers.  The river is normally 50-60 feet wide in this section.  
Access is very limited and the shore is state and federal land so that homes 
are non existent (YAHOO!).
   Shortly before our lunch break at Gore's Landing, a small Marion County 
campground, we encountered a troop of Rhesus Monkeys.  The mystery guest 
whipped out his camera and shot a few monkeys before dropping his camera in 
the river.  He had the camera on a leash and retrieved it post haste.  I hope 
the pictures turn out.  I never bring a camera.  We had a quiet lunch at 
Gore's Landing and continued north for the second half of our trip.
   The second leg was every bit as wonderful as the first leg.  We had even 
less boat traffic.  Trip was without incident.  We took out at Eureka and 
made a quick run down to our vehicles at the put in.  Winter sure is great.
   The last we saw of the mystery guest, he was headed out of the park.  
Going the wrong way down a one way.  What a SAP.

   Bruce McCutcheon
   WEO
   St. Augustine, Fl
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