FL Pics: Juniper Springs Run

We took an early-morning paddle down the river that flows from Juniper Spring. It was a cold night, and the water is always 72 degrees, so there was magical steam over the crystal-clear water for much of our trip.

FL Pics: Way Down Upon the Suwanee River

It's only about an hour from Gainesville, but we had never gone to the Suwannee River. Very different from most of the other rivers in the area -- for most of the stretch we paddled, at least, there are limestone cliffs that have been eroded into swiss-cheesy formations.

FL Pics: Gators & Cranes at Payne's Prairie

Three years ago Payne's Prairie had so much water in it we went kayaking. This year it was back as I remembered...

...plus more sandhill cranes than I ever remember seeing.


On our walk out to the observation platform a ranger told us to look for the mama alligator and all her babies. We saw the mama...


...but totally missed the babies until we were walking back. (They're actually in the background of the picture above.) I count at least a baker's dozen in there.

Cookies (and carrots)!