Let's Go To The Beach at St. George Island

St. George Island State Park has the nicest beaches in our area.
It's about 2 hours from Tallahassee.
The end of Oct. and there are still a few swimmers

Marilyn walked over the dunes (there's a boardwalk) to the nice sandy beach on the Gulf side

Oyster bars on the Bay side offer good fishing

Keep the kayaks away from those oyster shells. They're sharp.

Only a few waves. The oyster bars provide protection.

Terry

Looks like a long way to the causeway and open water.

Terry can brave the open seas. Marilyn's heading back.

Tallahassee Kayak Club takes on Holmes Creek

12 of us from the Tallassee Kayak Club put in at Cotton Landing for the 10 mile paddle down Holmes Creek in Washington County, FL. It was a beautiful day with temperature of about 70 at 9AM when we started and about 80 in the afternoon. There's a nice current from the dozen or so springs feeding the creek so you can do more floating and relaxing than paddling.
Jay, our trip organizer, and Terry

There are quite a few obstacles to manuver around which keeps the trip interesting. Once we had to wade in and pull the kayaks over a sand bar because the water's low this year.

That's a cypress tree on the left.

There goes Marilyn.

It's not completely isolated and remote. Someone has a cool place to relax and enjoy the river. We passed one fisherman with a 6 lb. bass on his stringer.

That's Holmes Creek. On the left you can see how crystal clear the water is. Those dark spots are tree branches laying on the sandy bottom about 6 feet underwater.

We Discovered the St Marks River

The beautiful St Marks River looks quiet and peaceful,

but we discovered lots of current especially since the tide was going out.

Our little flotilla spotted manatee, an otter, several little alligators and lots of turtles.

There were plenty of fish, but not many birds.

When we turned around and came downriver the current carried us with no effort.

This weekend we chose the Ochlockonee River

The Ochlockonee comes down from Georgia. It's not one of the spring fed rivers, and consequently the water is warmer and the current is slow. Most of the shore line is sandy beaches. We saw alligators, turtles, birds, a deer and fish jumping. We don't bother them and they don't bother us.
Great Blue Heron

Lunch time. Where are the picnic tables?
You won't find many traces of people here.
For about 4 miles of paddling upstream we only saw one little boat with a fisherman.

Anhinga

This is one big, ugly bird drying its wings in the sun after diving in for a fish

How low can you go.

Terry tackles the obstacles. The rest of us go around.

10 Miles Down the Chipola River

Jay Keiser, one of the people Marilyn works with

at First American Title Insurance Co, invited us to Kayak down the Chipola River

in the western Florida panhandle with him and his wife, Carol.

The river is fairly shallow at the put-in with logs

and other obstacles to test your kayaking skill.
Terry's stuck, but it didn't take him long to push off.

A few miles down river we pulled over on the grassy bank to take a break.

An Ibis took refuge in a tree as we floated by.

Marilyn pulled over for this photo op

to show the limestone formations along the bank.

Terry wanted to get out and explore the cave

that goes back into the limestone about 30 yards.

Jay and Carol guided us back to one of the springs that feeds the river.

The spring water is so clear you can see the little fish.

Terry decided to jump in. He didn't stay long.

It's cold water coming up from about 40 feet deep!

Marilyn waded in where it's shallow.

The spring water flows out behind her to feed the river.

Almost to the take out point.

Great float down a beautiful, peaceful river.

Jay took this photo to share. Thanks.

Back to the Wacissa River

The water is so clear you can see yourself.

Swimmers love the cool, clean spring fed water.

This air boat can skim over the surface in just a few inches of water.


This Green Heron is fishing, making good use of the thick seaweed along the shore.

Monticello Watermelon Festival and Parade

Let's celebrate the watermelon grown in northern Florida.
When we move into our new house we'll be residents of Monticello, FL
Click to zoom in and see the oranges on the tree behind Terry.

All kinds of arts and crafts booths.

These birds made of PVC pipe are really cute.

Marilyn bought a basket from the flower lady to hang an orchid in.

That's the Jefferson County courthouse in the background
Pretty girls riding in the parade on the Watermelon Queen float.

In Florida young and old get out for a good time.

If it's hot, the horses can ride.