A trip down the Ichetucknee River, Florida

[kylecawazafla]

I took these last week while going tubing down one of Florida's clear rivers. The water is 72 F (21 C) all year, so it's pretty.

There are a few head springs, but here is one of them. You can see the blue hole in the center of the pond where the water comes out of. I tried swimming down it, but the current is really strong and pushes you up.

Here are some as you progress down the spring. There are many fish in the water, some with cool colors.

Some limestone "cliffs" Not bad for Florida

[kylecawazafla]

Some Taxodium distichum. There are some pretty large ones along this river. They have really nice roots resembling stalagmites. (called pneumatophores)

[kylecawazafla]

Some wildlife:

The clear water

[kylecawazafla]

A cool colored fish. I think I've seen these in pet stores before.

Sabal minor grove

The phototaker . Me

[paulgila]

nice pix,kyle.looks like a great spot for a swim.

[FRITO]

great shots. was there very many people around?

[kylecawazafla]

We ran into a group of people at the head springs and chilled with them, but we didn't see anyone as we floated down the river. I think UF was having finals the following week, so the students were all studying, and we went early in the morning so had the whole river to ourselves.

[epicure3]

(FRITO @ May 09 2007,00:06)

QUOTE

great shots. was there very many people around?

I'm more concerned about whether there were any alligators around. Did you see any?

[palmmermaid]

Kyle,

Nice pictures.  Brings back lots of great memories for me.  My family used to go there for reunions - long before you were born.  There was just a sandy road (where people got stuck on a regular basis) leadng to the head spring.  We would have a picnic and swim and float on inner tubes (from car tires - you know, before tubeless tires) down the river.  But we had to walk back with our tubes!

We frequented many remote (at the time) springs in the summer to cool off since we had no air conditioning.

Great fun.

[SubTropicRay]

Kyle,

Great photos.  The water looks mighty refreshing.

Ray

[redant]

Great pictures.

I took my kids there tubing a couple of years ago, a very pretty area.

To the gator question, they don't like that 72 degree water, I did not see a single gator when we went.

[Don Little]

Nice pics Kyle.  Amazingly clear water.  I saw a special on the many underground springs beneath the limestone there in Florida.  Love the look of the thick growth.  What are the tallest Sabal minors there?  Clearest water I've seen.  looks pretty inviting to go for a swim

[amazondk]

Kyle,

Great pictures.  That is something I always wanted to do, but never got around to it.

dk

[kylecawazafla]

(palmmermaid @ May 09 2007,13:16)

QUOTE

Kyle,

Nice pictures.  Brings back lots of great memories for me.  My family used to go there for reunions - long before you were born.  There was just a sandy road (where people got stuck on a regular basis) leadng to the head spring.  We would have a picnic and swim and float on inner tubes (from car tires - you know, before tubeless tires) down the river.  But we had to walk back with our tubes!

We frequented many remote (at the time) springs in the summer to cool off since we had no air conditioning.

Great fun.

We even asked for the old black tires when we went, but they said they don't rent them out anymore. The only kind they rent now are neon yellow/blue/purple/green.

Don,

Sabal minor's here range from 10 feet tall to 2 foot tall from what I've seen. They seem to be pretty particular about where they grow, and you usually don't find them growing by themselves and only in depressions in the ground or by rivers. I've only found one place where they were about 10 feet tall, and that was in a sinkhole by my old house. That same sinkhole had Sabal minor's with a blue tinge, but much shorter, and then a few other giants.

As redant said, there are rarely alligators in the springs. Apparently there are tons of Cottonmouths though, but I didn't see any.

[wendisplantation]

Nice pics Kyle-

we go to Alexander Springs all the time during the summer, and yes, we see gators every time. They don't come right into the spring area, but they do inhabit the rivers that the springs create. At least they do up North here. Last year an 18 year old girl was killed by a gator in either Alexander or Juniper springs. Her and her family were snorkeling and she went around the opposite side of a rock than her family, and the gator got her, thrashed her in a death roll and killed her. It was Horrible to hear about, because we go to many of the springs, but Alexander is our favorite. from what my native friends say, there is not one single SAFE body of water in this state.

They get into pools around here all the time, ones that aren't enclosed in some way anyhow.

Please be careful, and just watch. When you are that low in the water, you can scan the surface and see their eyes and the end of their snout. The girl that I'm talking about was looking at the bottom because she was snorkeling, and not paying attention to her surroundings. Just be aware! I would not suggest doing anything in the water during mating season, they are very aggressive, and everywhere.

[Jeff Searle]

Kyle,

  You bring back some great memories. I went down the river once, back in the late 70's when my good friend went to school there. It was a blast! Thanks for sharing.

Jeff

[Peter]

Kyle, I'm another one with memories of tubing there in the late 70's-thanks for the photos.

[DoomsDave]

Kyle!

Great pix!  The Itchy-watcha-callee River looks clean as dawn.

Hmm.  That fish looks like a species of killiefish, great in a fish tank . . . .

dave

[bubba]

One of my most interesting excursions down the big I for me took place in early December many moons ago(the days of the hippie). The air temperature was 75 F and the water was 72F so the water actually felt warm. Our philosophy class floated down together and our professor orally administered our final exam on Socrates and his proofs regarding the afterlife together with his belief that all knowledge was rememberance.The waters cooled our many six packs of Bud and naturally we all received A's in the class.I would tell you the name of the professor but he was summarily dismissed  and run off campus due to his anarchist beliefs. Those were the days and Go Gators!

[tank]

Kyle,

You've seen one spring, now you've got 100 to go.  Try Troy Springs or Juniper next.  Troy is a straight tube, about 30 ft across and 70 or 80 ft straight down.  Its on the Suwannee near Branford.  As with all of the springs, go during the weekdays during the summer if you can.  Once elementary school lets out, the bigger springs like itchetucknee tend to get out of control, to the point that they actually close down mid day due to the volume of tubers.

[kylecawazafla]

I've actually been reading up on a lot of springs lately. I really want to see Alexander or Jupiter springs. Are there any others that have good lengthy tubing routes?? I tried googling some but hte itchetucknee was the only good one I came up with. I really want to do the chassahowtizka, but a lot of the people I hang out with aren't fond of 'adventures'.

[Howeadypsis]

Man, those pics are nice, the place loks so peaceful and exciting at the same time, definitely somewhere I'd love to wind up!

[kylecawazafla]

wow I can't believe how many other people have been down the exact same tiny stretch of river I have. I really want to see the other springs now.

[Jeff in St Pete]

Great pictures Kyle!  Reminds me of why I love FL so much!

[Kris]

Dear Kyle  

great stills,beautiful location and tall & lovely river side trees.

thanks for sharing those moments with us.

love,

Kris  

[bubba]

Kyle, The Springs throughout that area of Florida are a wonderful thing. However, please dodge the urge to dive the Springs, which is the natural next step in the progression.I lost a great friend in college, who was a real adventurer, and drown 100 feet down. It simply is not worth the risk.

[palmmermaid]

(bubba @ May 21 2007,09:26)

QUOTE

Kyle, The Springs throughout that area of Florida are a wonderful thing. However, please dodge the urge to dive the Springs, which is the natural next step in the progression.I lost a great friend in college, who was a real adventurer, and drown 100 feet down. It simply is not worth the risk.

Bubba,

A good word of advice on diving the springs.  As an instructor, I can't empasize enough the importance of that warning.  You must be cave - not cavern - certified to dive them safely.  My husband started diving in Florida in 1965.   His first BCD was a Clorox bottle!  He only did cave diving until we got married and turned our attention to the ocean.  I have made many dives as a cavern diver into the springs here and have decided it is just too gear-intensive.  I like warm water with lots of pretty fish and the spings don't offer either!

I have been diving in Alexander and actually had an alligator run us out.  We were on the far side in shallow water.  My husband was taking pictures of me feeding the small fish.  Something came by and brushed my mask.  I looked and it was a 6' gator.  He turned around and swam away.  We went back to taking pictures but I kept looking over my shoulder.  I saw him coming back our way, under water with his jaws open.  I left.  My husband turned to warn me and I was already gone!  All I could think about was that the gator could outrun me on land and I would be forced to climb a tree - in full SCUBA gear!  When we told the park ranger about it, he said some divers had been trying to ride the gator!  No wonder he was mad!  The sad thing is the gator has to be killed if he becomes a menace.  Relocation is not an option because they come back to their territory.

And they say the ocean is a scary place!  I'll take sharks any day!

[bubba]

Kitty, Did you ever hear or know Gatorman? He was a well known figure on the Florida campus in the early 70's. He was best known for his swims on the back of large gators at Lake Alice. It was an amazing sight and they seemed to accept him as one of there own. He also stood for hours in the Plaza of the Americas totally motionless and speachless notwithstanding classless taunters. Word was he was a Vietnam vet, who came back traumatized. Last I heard , he was headed for Venice Beach, California.

[Trópico]

Beautiful scenery! I've only been to Wekiva Springs and Rock Springs.