WAKULLA RIVER

Our 2010 kayaking season has begun and we ventured out early this year, way before baseball season was over. We have Florida State University season tickets and we didn't make it to very many games this year because we started kayaking so early. Normally, we begin kayaking after turkey season ends and after the regular college baseball season ends. However, we have discovered that the water and beaches are gorgeous in the early spring when it is still cool enough for a jacket but warm in the sun.

One of our spring trips was a trip to the Wakulla River. A friend had suggested this trip to me and I did my research of the river and places to launch and where we would go. We left early on a Saturday morning driving toward Tallahassee to the bridge at Highway 98 that crossed the river. This is known as the Lower Bridge. The water was cool and clear and this would be our first trip in fresh water.

We started our paddle upstream on the river. There was barely a flow downstream and the water was clear enough to see mullet, crabs, other fishes, turtles and all sorts of plant life. The river is fed from Wakulla Springs which is up the river, above the Upper Bridge and is not accessible from the river itself by boaters. The river is being choked by an invasive water plant as are most of the rivers in Florida. A few weeks before, a herbicide was dumped in the spring area to control the growth of the plant and you could see the dying remnants along the river's edges. The dead mush would eventually end up in the Gulf of Mexico but for now, it was the perfect resting place for turtles and baby alligators.

The paddle upstream to the Upper Bridge is about 3 miles and is slow and relaxing with no wind to worry about. The water is flat and calm, unlike the waters we are used to in the bays and Gulf. This was all so new to us but wonderful to experience. We saw many other kayaks and canoes along the way and the most beautiful trees, cypress stumps and blooming water lilies along both banks.

We knew of the manatees in the river and hoped we would see at least one. About half way up the river we saw our first manatee, a juvenile manatee who had already encountered a boat propeller. As we neared the Upper Bridge, several people told us there was a family of manatees at the bridge. Sure enough, we came upon a mother, a juvenile and a baby. The baby was so friendly and loved our blue kayaks, swimming under them and even stopping to scratch his head on Jr.'s rudder. We enjoyed watching them so much and they were no more afraid of humans than we are of them. They are slow and docile which explains how easily it is for them to be hit by motor boats.

We left the manatees and began our trip back down river. With the slow current, it was unnecessary to paddle so we mostly just floated along, spotting a few more manatees along the way. Everyone along the river was so nice and friendly and we had the best time. As much as we love the saltwater, we have a new admiration for the freshwater side of Florida. We will certainly be visiting our friends on the river again.