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Published: March 4th 2014
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The dream became reality on my last day in Fisheating Creek Wilderness Campground. This area is preserved by FL in their effort to maintain wilderness areas and safe animal habitat. The area is quite large and runs along both sides of the creek to maintain the watershed and a safe avenue for the birds and animals. Lucky for us humans, we get to experience the forest primeval as it was when man first landed in FL, I almost expected to see an Indian around the next corner.
Gerald was in the camper next to me and said he would love to take the kayak trip again before he left the campground. He and some friends took the trip 2 weeks ago and a repeat was in order. I was thrilled because this was one trip I didn't want to do alone.
So we arranged for our ride to the drop-off spot and rental of 2 small one man kayaks, packed our lunch and water and off we went. There was a small lake at the start and 4 men had been dropped off 2 days prior and they were camping and fishing for another 2 days. If you want
to get away from it all, this sure is the place.
What a gorgeous day to set off, temps in the high 70 and light wind. We headed out at a slow pace just enjoying the entire experience. At the end of the lake we encountered a jam of floating plants that blocked the creek entrance. It was very strenuous getting through and thank goodness was the last big blockage we ran across. We found the creek exit and wound our way through the cypress trees. Sometimes the creek was no wider than the kayak and then we would encounter a lake that opened up into something really impressive. Never too big we couldn't figure our way to the creek but nice for wildlife.
We saw egrets, herons, ibis, osprey, wood storks and about 50 alligators. While in the middle of the forest we heard an owl hooting that sounded so spiritual echoing through the trees, then there was an answer. There was profound quiet. Just the sound of the paddle going in and out of the water and an occasional bug buzzing by.
The trip took 5 hrs and I thought my arms would fall off
before we got to the end. The trip was about an hour too long and I think the floating plants took a lot out of us. The water level is low and that too added to the length of the trip. We got stuck on sand bars here and there but only had to get out twice to carry the kayaks. Gosh, it sounds like we had a lot a trouble. Not really, just an occasional bump.
When we got back to the campground we were both exhausted and I headed home to rescue Oscar. The poor little guy was in the camper all afternoon and in need of his dinner. After eating and a little walk he was ready for bed for the night as I was.
I was so thrilled to have made the trip even though it was physically grueling.
"It is in the wild places, where the edge of the earth meets the corner of the sky, the human spirit is fed." A quote by photographer Art Wolfe
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