June 23, 2009

Wacissa River

While wandering in Florida last week, my sister and I went canoeing on the Wacissa River. With the weather so warm, we wanted to whet our paddles early.
We women are not in the least wimpy, and we wished to pit our wits against the waves. Whoops, we forgot repellent to ward off mosquitoes, but as it turned out, they weren't wicked.
Fog wafted over the river and washed us in humidity, but a wisp of west wind kept us cool. Water hyacinths in full bloom floated on the surface.

Would we try a walk on the swampy shore? We were wary, since the thick growth wasn't so welcoming. The shoreline was well-stocked with cypress, oak, magnolias, willows, woodpeckers, water mocassins, and what-not. We were okay with the trees and birds, but we are weak when it comes to snakes.
We watched the water birds watching us. Ducks, heron, and egrets waded in the clear shallows.
Wide-eyed, we witnessed the whorling water as a whale of a gator swam past. Minding our welfare, we didn't wait around to photograph him.
Only slightly weary and not too wet, we returned to wheel-based travel, well-satisfied with our wonderful morning.
(My sis took all the photographs. Doesn't she do great work?)
For more of Denise Nesbitt's ABC's, click here.

30 comments:

  1. You watched a gator go past and are afraid (well weakish) of snakes? I would have been terrified of the gator!
    Your sister takes great photos by the way

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  2. What a change of scenery from Utah! It looks like a very nice, bit adventurous trip. Thanks for sharing

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  3. What a great amount of "W"'s! And you describe it so beautifully! The photos are brilliant. Your sister did a great job.

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  4. wow those whispy woodlands are amazing.

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  5. That top shot is incredible. Really beautiful, but I'll pass on the gator.

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  6. You are seriously the Queen of the Road Less Traveled. What a cool experience!

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  7. Great shots, but were there any snakes in the water? I'd be SO nervous!

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  8. Sis did great on the photographs. I don't blame you for not wanting to walk on the shore.

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  9. What a wonderful team effort! Bravo! OR, Brava!!!!

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  10. That looks idyllic, apart from the snakes and mozzies of course.

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  11. Sis did great on the photos...I love the first shot...and love your descriptions...

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  12. Wow! Eye level with a gator, and various other swamp critters. What and adventure!

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  13. You sure take us on a lot a fantastic nature adventures. Thanks for sharing your journey.

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  14. Oh my, i miss doing this adventure. Would love to do this again. I love the first pic with the trees.

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  15. You must be sure and tell your sister she is a success online!

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  16. This looks like a wonderful day...great use of the letter W!!!

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  17. What a fascinating trip! One of the highlights of our own visit to Florida was the air-boat ride we took. We saw gators and water moccasins, lots of birds ... it must be so much better in a canoe without all that noise!

    Great pictures!

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  18. Such a different and interesting area from your usual photos of your beloved mountains. It looks like you had an exciting holiday even meeting up with an aligator. the photos are beautiful and show well this very special place.

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  19. what a wonderful write up and wisuals!

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  20. You've posted lots of great shots these last few days! Love the butterflys a few entries down, great My World post too - snakes and gators, I'm outta there!

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  21. Wonderful!
    I enjoy your ABC Wednesdays so very much. I do not like getting my hair wet.....I love the water from the shore...
    Thanks for the canoe ride....your sis takes nice photographs.
    Sherry

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  22. Amazing photos! I am kitty-corner on the US map. This is like alien landscape to me... different and so very beautiful in its own way.

    Thank you for sharing it and thank you for coming by oodles of funch today! It's a pleasure to meet you!

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  23. WOW--what a great travel log! And all those sites and wildlife. I bow to you and your sister's adventurous spirits. Thanks for sharing.

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  24. Wow, that first picture is absolutely gorgeous. I love all of the greenery with the hanging moss and how the trees have such an interesting shape. What an awesome boat trip!

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  25. We have lot of swamps in Finland as well, but they have very little in common between the swamps in Florida.
    This kind of images always stop me for while, because the scenary is so alien to me and at the sametime quite fascinating.

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  26. Gosh Janie---You do get around. I had no idea that you were in Florida last week. Quite a change from Utah--isn't it???? Beautiful photos. Your sis does well...

    Hugs,
    Betsy

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  27. I wuv your way with words. Nice to spend time with you sister. And yes, she takes great photos.

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