Wednesday 21 November 2007

Exploring the Suwannee

Yesterday Popeye again took us on the river on his boat, with some other friends, Tom and Lucy. We again went up river to the Manatee Springs State Park and saw manatee and some birds. Manatee Springs is about 2 miles from Yellow Jacket Campground. As we returned a plan formed in my head, a plan so audacious and awesome that would make Bill and Ted’s adventure look like a trip to the corner shop. What if we were to explore downriver! As far as the mouth of the Suwannee! This would be an expedition of major proportions, taking a whole day, involving the production of a picnic. I shared this with the rest, who were taken aback by the intellectual leap that had been created before their eyes. Being of almost sound mind we sought out the Old Sea Dogs who inhabited the Yellow Jacket Campground, who universally said ‘ohh’, accompanied by a sharp intake of breath similar to a plumber when asked to give a price on changing a tap washer. (please use increasingly ludicrous and fake Cornish/pirate accent) ‘You be careful of that river, it be a dangerous place’, ‘Watch ye out for the sand bar’, ‘Be ye sure that you leave Turkey island well to starboard’, ‘ Make sure ye have a spare shear pin in case of weed’, ‘you’ll be doomed, doomed, doomed’, ‘If ye be swept out into the Gulf there be serpents, leviathans and Krakens awaiting, not to mention the ghosts of Spanish sailors still searching for gold lost when they foundered in the Spanish Main’. Anyway, our minds were as one – to Suwannee Town we would venture, way down upon th4e Suwannee River. Getting out my trusty GPS parchment I reckoned it was 19 miles, so it would be an adventure. Read on for when we return.

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