Kayak Paddle Rodman Reservoir and Ocklawaha River Palatka, Florida скачать в хорошем качестве

Kayak Paddle Rodman Reservoir and Ocklawaha River Palatka, Florida

Kayak Paddle Rodman Reservoir and Ocklawaha River Kayak Camping Trip along the Cross Florida Barge Canal Palatka, Florida Trying not to get lost! That's the theme of day 2 of this two day kayaking adventure. Not to worry though, there were two of us to navigate the spider creeks and swamps in this area. More on that soon, but first a little background. So, like any good backpacking adventure, this kayak trip had similar components. First, packing. I could be a little more liberal in my kayak packing because weight is not as important, however it is important. I simply packed my backpack as if I was going backpacking overnight and strapped my pack to my kayak. Basically my gear included my backpacking gear with one exception, my sleeping shelter. My big splurge on this trip was bringing my Wise Owl hammock, screen, and tarp. This was a perfect choice for camping in the woods. Recreation abounds here with camping, fishing, hiking, kayaking, and ATV opportunities. The Florida Trail passes through this area with miles of the trail along the Barge Canal, exiting the woods to cross over the Kirkpatrick Dam and reentering the woods on the other side of the dam through the Ocala National Forest. This part of the Florida Trail ranks high on my list of favorite Florida Trail hikes. You can camp in the developed Rodman Campground if you prefer that to the wilds of the woods. Day 1: Paddling Rodman Reservoir, also known as Lake Ocklawaha I love paddling this giant, 9,500 acre reservoir. It is surrounded by woods and you can even take a paddle down the historic Barge Canal with its high, wooded levees on each side. The Barge Canal was was created as part of the Cross Florida Barge Canal project in the 60s. Thankfully, this environmentally damaging project was halted. The result of the project in this immediate area did leave the Rodman Reservoir, Kirkpatrick Dam, Barge Canal, and the altered route of the Ocklawaha River. You can expect to see ospreys, eagles, and various waterfowl on this reservoir. Watch out for submerged and partially submerged obstacles from the forest that existed here before the reservoir flooded the area. I paddled the perimeter of the reservoir and clocked in at 10.21 miles. I recommend rigging an umbrella for portable shade under the blazing hot Florida sun and added heat from reflecting off of the water. There are cool shaded areas along some of the shoreline to have a nice, shady break. For me, I found my Gossamer Gear hiking umbrella perfect! It even withstood the strong breezes that day day acting as a sail which was fun. Bonus! Nighttime: All I will say about night at camp is it was pitch black with the deafening sound of frogs and insects, quite the chorus. I finally used my earplugs, an essential in my backpacking gear. Hammock review - Best night sleep ever! In fact, if I could figure out a way to keep warm and keep weight down, I would invest in a lightweight backpacking hammock. However, I sleep cold so I'm not willing to head to the mountains with a hammock and have to carry an underquilt or risk being uncomfortable. Even in Florida, in June, I appreciated my Enlightened Equipment down quilt because it got a little chilly during the night. Day 2: Ocklawaha River (East Side of Kirkpatrick Dam) A quick paddle from camp took us to the Rodman Recreation area boat ramp right next to Rodman Campground. Here, we loaded the kayaks and drove across the road to the Kirkpatrick Dam Boat Ramp. Into the unknown. Here the Ocklawaha River starts out broad and wide then there are many options to explore the backwaters of the Ocklawaha. This is not my first venture in this maze of waterways filled with kayak size alligators. I knew what I was in for! One of my previous adventures in this area resulted in having to wade in chest deep water through a lily pad jam as the sun was sinking lower into the sky negating the opportunity to simply backtrack and find another way. I was already planning how I could sleep in my kayak that night. I made it out successfully that day, so I had hope for our early start, experience, and much improved technology. This area is beautiful! Giant cypress trees, flowering plants here and there, surrounding swamp mirrored perfectly in still water - breathtaking. Quiet, peaceful, birdsong... Yes, we did get lost but only had to backtrack a couple of times. We ended our paddle at the Johnson Field Boat Ramp right off of Hwy 19. This is a great starting point to enjoy a little of the Ocklawaha River either paddling back towards Kirkpatrick Dam, approximately seven miles, or paddling on east toward the St. John's River. All in all, a great trip! It scratched my backpacking itch for a short while. If you decide to overnight on the reservoir or Barge Canal, follow the governing body guidelines (Ocala National Forest or Office of Florida Greenways and Trails) As always, follow the Leave No Trace guidelines.