| Well if manatees be mermaids they have yet to hear of Cupid for not only are they immune to his darts but if the Gulf temperatures are above 65� F they are not much in evidence. Eleven folk paddling in four canoes and two kayaks put in at Hunter's Spring City Park in Crystal River at 10:15 AM on St. Valentines morn after waiting an extra 15 minutes for a long distance paddler newly transplanted from Alaska, but alas she was still on PST and missed the boat. However three of the group from Washington State did make it, one, Marge filled [not really] the bow hatch of the Libra XT while Bill and Diane paddled the Langford Prospecter 15 canoe. Several former members of the Over the Hill Gang, Carl, Pat & Nick, Kathyrn & Joshua, and two gumballers [sp?] Rick and Marty brought up the rear as sweepers. Arriving at 3 Sisters Spring about 11 AM , after checking the Magnolia Springs sanctuary area was too late for manatees but just in time for a cooling dip once past the entrance rocks and overhanging branches. Marty and Rick indulged while the rest of the crew enjoyed the large number of mullet and sergant majors flitting about in the clear water. Then off to Banana Island and the only encounters with manatees of the day, off the NW end of the sanctuary. Six or 8 manatees were sighted under and around our boats, one alongside long enough for Marge to rub gently. She said that made up for the coast to coast redeye flight. With more paddlers than manatees and lunch hour having passed we opted for a shoreline munch at the volley ball net, we are not sure whether the court is used at low or high tide, though either would be a challenge. However this day it was, with sun and breezes ideal for lunch. On the return we detoured to Cracker's floating pier, but the big boats were tied up with no room to to dock the 22 foot Libra so only Bill & Diane got out, sliding their canoe up to the shore. All others headed back to Hunter's Spring and a take out. I and Marge doubled back and now we could get alongside at Cracker's and with Bill's help we got out and upheld the crossed Knife & Fork tradition of theFSPC. I, as leader, enjoyed the trip, the company, the canoe tips, and would love to do it again next year, but perhaps with a more open scheduling with an eye to the water temperatures?? |
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