Destination: Orlando, Florida
Duration: May 16 - July 1 (7 weeks)
Purpose: Internship at FINLEY Engineering Group
Residence: Condo on Orange Blossom Trail, NW of downtown
Previous Experiences: A week long family vacation when I was ~7 with memories pieced together from pictures and family stories.
Outdoor Adventures
Wekiwa SpringsEveryone knows about Florida beaches. The natural warm springs, however, are a lesser known secret. The constant temperature, fresh water is a nice break from the sun and salt of ocean life. I'm in search of a natural spring, where water comes up from an aquifer through a vent in the ground. Wekiwa is 25 minutes away from GL's place, has a swimming area in the Springs, and has kayak and canoe rental on the Wekiwa River. Lawrence comes for a weekend and we are both excited to see the park and to try our hand at kayaking. The activity is popular, and we end up renting a two person canoe.
The first 30 minutes on the river is like navigating the traffic in Atlanta. Some treat kayaks/canoes like bumper boats, most go in some sort of zig-zag pattern, some have dogs perched in the middle, or coolers with drinks or fishing bait, some have brought beach chairs for little ones to sit in the middle, and some are full of teenagers that you can hear from a mile away goofing off and on the brink of capsizing. The river is fairly wide for being a spring fed river; for the portion of the river we were on there was a width of 40-100 feet. Either side is lined with cypress trees, with knees at their base for storing storing oxygen and helping to anchor the tree in water/muddy soil. The water is fairly open at this point, cool to the touch, and clear. 40 minutes into our paddle, we see Rock Springs. Aka, a docking point popular stopping point and bar on the river. We see people wading in the water holding wine glasses and beer bottles. Kids are tossing balls, splashing water, or trying out Paddleboading. The live music in the background creates a very laid back scene. We soak it in by stopping for lunch by pulling our canoe up under the trees lining the other side of the river.
Continuing north after the Rock Springs stop, we break away from a majority of the people from earlier. The reward is a more peaceful, naturally beautiful scene. There are lilly pads everywhere, and in some cases there is a 'highway' of sorts cut out of the lilies to facilitate kayak travel. In addition to the wildlife we can see (birds, fish, turtle), we hear what sounds like loud whoopie cushions. The whoopie cushions bounce off either side of the river: once to the left, once to the right. Several weeks later we find out these are alligators talking to each other (Were we caught in between alligator mating calls??). Despite not seeing the creatures, we know we were canoeing in gator territory (which later turns out to be very obvious.. there is a gator attack several weeks later at the very place we had stopped for lunch.. no serious injuries, just a wake up call). After ~ 2 h.5 hours out, we have the river pretty much to ourselves. It seems like we're on a Tarzan film set. Our arms have gotten over the initial burn from the paddling, and I embrace the workout after days in corporate America where my finger typing and clicking muscles see most of the action. Due to time, we start paddling back. We want time to swim in the springs and cool off. So, back through gorgeous scenery and past the 'bar on the water'. Along the way, several power boats pass us by. Either they have the intention of fishing or are just out to cruise the water. Their waves provide a nice distraction and excitement. Lawrence uses it as an excuse to rock our boat even more :P
The swimming hole feels like a large swimming pool in a natural setting. The area is very popular and the slope near the spring is full of picnickers and sunbathers. The water is very cool at first. There is about a 30 degree temperature differential between the the outside temp and water temp. Acclamation takes a couple of minutes and the water quickly becomes verryy enjoyable. Almost everywhere I can touch ground... ground being either rock, sand, or slimly mossy stuff. I practice open water swimming for the real first time and make huge improvements. What a confidence boost. This is the weekend before going to the tri in Dunedin. My mind is on that open water swim. Overall, what a nice oasis from the city! Crowded, as you would expect any water spot on a Saturday and so close to the city. This is one of my favorite pics. I love this dude's chill attitude.
Blue Springs
This time, we're in search of an even more natural spring (aka, with less peeps). We're promised real alligators!! Expectations are high. The drive is a bit farther, but the people load is the same, almost even heavier. We get there mid day, and are welcomed with a 1.5 hr wait to get in the park (??) This is new. Wouldn't be so bad if there weren't dark clouds threatening in the distance... but we're optimistic. Once in the park, we're treated to a kayak through a wildlife sanctuary. There is hardly anyone out on the water. The rental dude tells us an appropriate route and helps us in the water. Our vessels are two single kayaks, of the plastic variety and very maneuverable compared to the metal canoe of a clunker we had last time. Within 5 minutes of scanning the coast, the first gator is spotted!! What a treat. He is perched on a log, is about 4 feet (?) long, and appears to be sleeping (he doesn't move for the time we're snapping pics/video of him). His majesty's portrait:
Ok, awesome. We saw a gator in the wild! Our kayak continues. Our route is pretty much an hour paddle around an island that will take us by some remote, gator prone areas. By the end of the paddle, it seems like EVERYwhere is a gator prone area. We run into an experienced kayaker. His custom made wood boat (very purty), his tan and his hat tell us he knows whats up. Was very friendly and tells us of several offshoots that are only navigable via kayak. Given time, and seeing the darkening sky, we stick to our route. Which.... turns out to be exciting enough :P L (Lawrence) stops for cliffbar break on the side of the bank. Two wonderful looking birds put on a puppet show of sorts for us :) From their interaction, I can't tell if they are brother/sister, mother/child, or boyfriend/girlfriend. In any case, it's a treat to see interaction in a wild setting so close to us. Ahh! Way better than the zoo. As we paddle away, I see two eyes and a nose skim to the surface and nudge L's kayak. WHAT!?!?!? Was that a gator??? Being the great friend I am, I am so speechless I don't point it out, and in a panic, am paddling as hard as I can AWAY in the other direction. Lawrence will have to describe my face. I can describe the panic / excitement. A sad and sure sign that the gators in the area have been fed, they are unnaturally comfortable with getting very close to boats. L doesn't see his 'friend' and I am a little shaken up. We paddle on, me with the eery feeling of being surrounding by clamping jaws. My high school physic's teach Gator 'chomp' is flashing through my mind. The splashes of water that randomly happen in the river are signs of a gator (or a fish, but usually a gator). Along the route home, we see other great wildlife. Videos of wildlife at Picasa Album (awesome clip of bird flying off... look for the 33 second vido). We are treated to several more gator spottings. Unlike the first stationary one we saw, all these other are very active and moving in the water or getting in/out of the water. Make for an exciting paddle and what an awesome memory! This is definitely the place to come if you want to see Florida Gators!
Boasting the oldest bald cypress tree in the world and 17.5 feet in diameter, this is definitely something I've gotta see. Fabricio from the office and I meet up for a bike ride on the Cross Seminole Trail and plan a route and starting point with two things in mind: Big Tree Park and the I-4 pedestrian bridge that Simon (our boss) was the Engineer of Record on several years ago. We'll get to see both in the span of several hours of biking. Big Tree is such a jungle! Wow! I am greeted by a lush entry... a wall of greenery and a noticeable temperature differential. Walking into the park, I feel like someone opened the freezer door at the grocery store. After biking in the 10am heat, the cool air feels very refreshing. There is a short walk into the jungle to see The Senator and Lady Liberty. Both are very large in diameter and a neat site to see. I think more than anything, I like being in a jungle environment where it is nice and COOL :) THe I-4 Pedestrian bridge is awesome to ride over as well. How often do you get to cross an interstate? On a bike? The ride is capped off by a very very very delicious scope (or two :) of gelato from a shoppe along the trail. Come 12 o'clock in FL heat... you see where my interests lie.
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