After a day of low impact activities (a hike and a bike ride) we recovered from the Cold Creek kayak trip and were ready to take on Blackwater River. Wow, what an amazing waterway. This is the only river that I have ever seen with a sandy bottom for the entire run. There were a few logs and branches that had fallen along the way but the river was open and was an easy ride. The trip was 8 miles and flowed about 2mph, it had beautiful white beaches along the ba...

Coldwater Creek was beautiful and an adventure in itself. Friends, Chris and Suzie - who sometimes find themselves with more adventure than they planned - almost got another dose of the same. We were told the trip down the 11 miles would take about 4 hours because of the current. Even with the 2MPH flow and steady paddling, it still took 6 hours to make it to our exit point; we barely beat the darkness as we paddled our little hearts out. The water was crysta...

Today we tackled the Suwannee River... it was only a 7-1/2 mile kayak run but it included the Big Shoals (Class III rapids) and Little Shoals - which lacked thrill but not beauty. The river clipped along about 3-4 MPH, which made for an enjoyable ride.

On May 17, 2013, nearly ten months after our 2012 travel adventure tragically ended with the death of our son-in-law, we have resumed our travels. Our first stop was Stephen Foster Folk Conservation Center in White Springs, FL; this was our last stop on our trip home last year but because of a broken shoulder, I wasn't able to kayak the Big Shoals. Last year the water level was at 57 feet; this year it was 58-1/2 feet making it Florida's only class III run. ...

With the sudden death of my son-in-law, I will be ending my travels to be with my daughter and grandchildren during this very difficult time. Keep them in your prayers.