Another great trip. Saturday we ran the lower Kissimmee River. It has been restored from a canal to its' original path. This is a unique ecosystem called Florida Prairie. If contains several endangered bird types. I can see why. There were birds everywhere. We saw only two boats all day. This river twist and turns and you need some local knowledge to get around. Some local boaters Ray and Julia M. warned us of the many gators but also kindly pointed out the correct branch of the river to get up stream. There were many dead ends.
The early marsh sections have a sweet stench. Water runs in, off all sides of the marsh make small swirling eddies. The water it dark and hard to read but there were few hazards other than the occasional hydrilla and hyacinth being sucked up and fouling the ski intake.
On the flat prairie you can see the ski in front of you two turns ahead on the tight s turns. We passed the Air Force Bombing range. That is where the McClellan's were going, to visit Julia's family graves. Her family were early homesteaders in the area.
I have lots to write about this trip and will update it later this week in full detail. Meanwhile enjoy the slide show.
