Friday Tradition

Grooming

I work hard Monday through Thursday but don't expect too much on Fridays. This is the day that I put aside to enjoy the river. There is an unspoken rule that I have learned about the Wacissa, if it's planned it doesn't usually happen, my best times there have always been unplanned and unexpected.

This is where I messed up Friday. I planned on being there early after dropping my daughter off at school and I planned on taking underwater photos with the help of my snorkel this time. Well, I got there late, got into the water with my camera, no battery in the camera, go figure.

As for the unplanned, I ran into Peggy which is always nice. We had a great talk along these same lines. We have to remember to sometimes leave the cameras at home and just paddle for the sheer enjoyment that it brings. Sometimes you get so caught up in looking through the lens that you forget to really see the river and enjoy it with all 5 senses.

In addition, John was in the spring cleaning it out. He put in two days of hard work, trimming trees, removing grass, collecting trash and blowing silt off the bottom. The results were worth all his hardwork. The spring is opened up with a beautiful white bottom again. THANKS JOHN!

I still wanted to post a few photos that I have taken in the past several weeks, enjoy.

Offerings

Turtle Ballet

Check out the dragonfly he caught!

Today was not a good day for me to be on the Wacissa if I wanted to hide from anyone. Honestly, I got on the water around 10:00am and thought I was the only one there. Once in Big Blue, there was a steady stream of friends. First I encountered a very dear patient, Trent. We had a great conversation about the river and his recent cataract surgery. Next, Jack Rudloe, a local author and owner of the Gulf Coast Marine Specimen Lab. Jeff, another friend, was hidden in the shade, I managed to sneak up on him for a good scare. Sorry Jeff.

I titled this blog "Offerings" for the simple reason being, the Wacissa offers me something wonderful and new each time I am there. First and foremost are the friends that I enjoy week after week. However, each time I go out I meet new and interesting people, the list gets longer each day. For instance, today I met a man from Hawaii that lives on an island and tags birds for a living. Can you imagine?

The second offering is the wildlife. I truly believe the river only offers this to the ones that respect and love it. Each day there is something different. This past Tuesday it was deer. I left Blue through the back creek and saw numerous deer along with two spotted fawns. I was able to view them from 20 feet for at least 10 minutes. Yesterday it was the bream. They were extremely curious and eager to "kiss" my underwater camera. Somedays it's salamanders, who knows what tommorows theme will be. One thing is for sure, I will be an appreciative guest ready to embrace what this wonderful old river is willing to share with me today.

New Camera

Since this is a new blog for me I will introduce myself. I am 38, I have a 17 y/o son, a 5 y/o daughter and I am a nurse. I am happiest when I am in or on the water. There are people I know that wish they lived elsewhere or love to go on vacation to exotic places. I am not those people. I live 5 minutes from the Wacissa River in Jefferson County Florida and I have no desire to be anywhere else. I spend every Friday, Sat and Sunday on the river regardless of the weather. If it rains we are prepared, if it's cold we are prepared, if it is hot and sunny then I am in heaven. If I am not here for a period of more than 4 days, WATCH OUT! I get mean.

Yesterday was the first day I had paddled in about a month. I have had two major surgeries in the past month, one of them an emergency. I am not supposed to be out but I can't explain the healing this river offers me.

I have a new camera that I am trying to learn how to use. I met two wonderful photographers and paddlers last year, Peggy and Abby. I aspire to take photos like theirs. Here are a few I took today. Enjoy!