We made the river run and actually got back from it, which surprised all of us. There were good times had by all, plenty of fun with some different type of weather.
Here it is the middle of January and for two days on the water it felt like June and not January, warm, almost to the hot stage and without any rain. Then a cold front came thru, the wind blowing worse then an old man telling fishing tales. The trees were whipping around, leaves blowing all sort of directions and just plain windy.
We meet at the Ocklawaha Outpost on Sunday and prepared for the river run when the wind started, but it was just Joe (lazyriverguy) who owns the Outpost and after his lovely wife Val. dragged him from the camp, kicking and screaming, :lol: things calmed down .... A bit but not a lot since all of picked up from where he left off.
Basically I think it was Brads (swamprat) fault but we will not mention any names of the guilty party. Brad had been enjoying life at Juniper Springs and decided to join us for a night of camping and then a day trip with us on the River Monday. Needless to say all of us were having a grand time and we had not even gotten a boat wet.
"O" .... I need to tell you something. I had the Freedom on the top of the jeep and when I stopped in Salt Springs for a sandwich and came out to the jeep there were a couple of guy's (kayakers) looking at the Freedom and wanting to know where I found it because they liked the looks of it and wanted one for there fun. I told them the story about the boat and that to this date the plans for it are not available to the general public (yet) but who to contact or harass to get them. Sorry Matt, the devil made me do that, along with Joe when he paddled it at the put in the next day.
Joe was telling me he thought the boat was something from Photo shop and not real since he could not locate any information about it on the web, I told him it has to be for real because he just paddled it and who to send a e-mail to. Sorry Matt ... the devil made me do that also.
It fit in the boat really good........ with some room to spare , a good boat for tripping if you can find the plans for it.
After the good times while camping at the Outpost we got the gear loaded up and off to the river with Joe as out chauffeur and shuttle person.
We arrived at the put in and managed to get the gear off loaded and packed in the boats and hit the river.
This is some beautiful paddling, clear water, wildlife, birds, a good current and just a paddlers dream. Brad (swamprat) paddled with us till we pulled over for a snack and at this time Brad decided it was time for him to go back up river since he had to be at something called work the next day.
Brad (swamprat)
On down river for the rest of us to the 1st campsite for Monday night. We pulled in and set up camp.
Joe and myself in hammocks
The guys motels
Al.... Paddling an grinning
Camp is set up, the firewood is collected and we are thinking about supper so I sprang a little surprise on the guy's ......... Supper is baked beans with 4 1/2 pounds of extra large shrimp sauteed in a skillet with garlic and assorted herbs. No one refused supper and believe it or not, it all disappeared that evening, no left overs.
Our noisy neighbors , A relaxing night with the owls hooting, some coyotes singing on the other side of the river, cool temps and just darn good times. Up in the morning and off down river
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Here it is the middle of January and for two days on the water it felt like June and not January, warm, almost to the hot stage and without any rain. Then a cold front came thru, the wind blowing worse then an old man telling fishing tales. The trees were whipping around, leaves blowing all sort of directions and just plain windy.
We meet at the Ocklawaha Outpost on Sunday and prepared for the river run when the wind started, but it was just Joe (lazyriverguy) who owns the Outpost and after his lovely wife Val. dragged him from the camp, kicking and screaming, :lol: things calmed down .... A bit but not a lot since all of picked up from where he left off.
Basically I think it was Brads (swamprat) fault but we will not mention any names of the guilty party. Brad had been enjoying life at Juniper Springs and decided to join us for a night of camping and then a day trip with us on the River Monday. Needless to say all of us were having a grand time and we had not even gotten a boat wet.
"O" .... I need to tell you something. I had the Freedom on the top of the jeep and when I stopped in Salt Springs for a sandwich and came out to the jeep there were a couple of guy's (kayakers) looking at the Freedom and wanting to know where I found it because they liked the looks of it and wanted one for there fun. I told them the story about the boat and that to this date the plans for it are not available to the general public (yet) but who to contact or harass to get them. Sorry Matt, the devil made me do that, along with Joe when he paddled it at the put in the next day.
Joe was telling me he thought the boat was something from Photo shop and not real since he could not locate any information about it on the web, I told him it has to be for real because he just paddled it and who to send a e-mail to. Sorry Matt ... the devil made me do that also.
It fit in the boat really good........ with some room to spare , a good boat for tripping if you can find the plans for it.
After the good times while camping at the Outpost we got the gear loaded up and off to the river with Joe as out chauffeur and shuttle person.
We arrived at the put in and managed to get the gear off loaded and packed in the boats and hit the river.
This is some beautiful paddling, clear water, wildlife, birds, a good current and just a paddlers dream. Brad (swamprat) paddled with us till we pulled over for a snack and at this time Brad decided it was time for him to go back up river since he had to be at something called work the next day.
Brad (swamprat)
On down river for the rest of us to the 1st campsite for Monday night. We pulled in and set up camp.
Joe and myself in hammocks
The guys motels
Al.... Paddling an grinning
Camp is set up, the firewood is collected and we are thinking about supper so I sprang a little surprise on the guy's ......... Supper is baked beans with 4 1/2 pounds of extra large shrimp sauteed in a skillet with garlic and assorted herbs. No one refused supper and believe it or not, it all disappeared that evening, no left overs.
Our noisy neighbors , A relaxing night with the owls hooting, some coyotes singing on the other side of the river, cool temps and just darn good times. Up in the morning and off down river
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......I mean retired like you. I could have made this trip.