out of the ordinary river

 A few hours of paddling on the Rainbow Springs River in the Florida October sun yields tons of Natures treasures.

Take a look at some of the wonders I witnessed  today.

It is Autumn now on the Raiinbow River. Just down stream from the head spring a Maple tree is true to fall form.

This little fellow let me get up close and personal before he made a huge scene by thrashing his tail and splashing violently as though he were a ten footer.

Don't forget the rule as I did. Nothing disposable can be brought onto the Rainbow River.

The Tuna package was carefully stored away and disposed of properly.

I shared my lunch with some of the locals who were hanging around in the lagoon.

A "vent", one of many in the bottom of the river, where clear 72° water escapes the aquifer and bubbles up the sand.

Apple Snails deposit clutches of eggs on the vegetation that grows along the shore. Apple snails provide food for fish, birds, otters and more.

Damsel fly. The river is host to myriad of Damsel Fly larva who make their temporary underwater home on the leaves of the Eel Grass.

Just beneath the surface is another world waiting to be discovered. A world inhabited with wondrous aquatic animal and plant life.

Plan a visit to this amazing biozone soon and see it for yourself.

It's All the Very Best Stuff

Along the eastern banks of the river the land reluctantly surrenders itself to the water. Often it slowly and gradually blends into an indistinct boundary. River and land both share the earth here. Mosses and ferns and fungus live happily on every mound of soil that sits barely inches above the waterline.

Ever so slowly the river gives way to rich black soil, damp and fragrant with the odor of life.

Here, along this tangled web of life with it wild grape vines and river magnolias, bald cypress, maple and sweet gum trees the deer, camouflaged by nature, come to be refreshed by the cool, clear water.

On the open water the eagle, spotting his prey, swoops down snatching with his claws the unsuspecting fish and then flies to the treetops for dinner but here in the dark forest edge, protected from view by the dense vegetation the racoon, the opossum and deer find retreat and life.

Here, protected from view the River Otters live; the roots of the large sweet gums and maples growing in and out of the waters edge providing them dens for raising their young. And here along the shoreline of this living spring fed river they train the little otter off spring to dive and fish and retrieve muscles and crayfish and turtles from the shallow waters 

The colors of Autumn here on the rivers edge are somewhat subdued at this humid sub tropical latitude. However the maples and sweetgums do their part as the shorter days tells them of change and and a soon coming time of rest.

The eastern shore line of the river with its fallen tree trunks partially submerged provides the perfect sun decks for the Florida Red belly Cooter Turtles. After spending the morning dining on aquatic plants they sun themselves in the warmth of the afternoon. Sometimes a dozen or more of these river dwellers line up on a single log.

Autumn brings with it mass bouquets of blooming Cardinal plants. Their brilliant red flowers line the shores welcoming butterflies and honey bees.

The Sweetbay Magnolia makes its home here. Spreading out from the shore it arches gracefully over the waters edge. Helping to make this place where the water meets the land even more alluring and magical.

Truly a place of wealth and beauty is this living shoreline of the Rainbow River.