Matt gave us a tip for a campsite in The Narrows, not too far away. That leaves us time for a leisurely launch and paddle to the manatee springs.
Morning finds us at AJ's restaurant, a great place in the vanishing tradition of Mom and Pop diners. Incredibly well run, the place is bustling. We liked it so much yesterday we're back again. We pound down another huge breakfast.
Kings Bays promotes itself as a destination to see manatees.
While I have had two manatees explode under my boat in a rush of water, mud and foam, I haven't actually seen one yet. We paddle up to Sisters Springs, the number one spot. There are several tour boats, numerous rental kayaks, and many swimmers in wetsuits. The manatees mostly stay within a small roped off haven and seem unconcerned about the crowds just ten feet away. Incredibly docile by nature, in this cool weather they pretty much just float a foot under the water, lifting their head up to breath once in a while. Despite the crowds it is a tranquil moment and we hang around for an hour watching the manatees.
While I have had two manatees explode under my boat in a rush of water, mud and foam, I haven't actually seen one yet. We paddle up to Sisters Springs, the number one spot. There are several tour boats, numerous rental kayaks, and many swimmers in wetsuits. The manatees mostly stay within a small roped off haven and seem unconcerned about the crowds just ten feet away. Incredibly docile by nature, in this cool weather they pretty much just float a foot under the water, lifting their head up to breath once in a while. Despite the crowds it is a tranquil moment and we hang around for an hour watching the manatees.
We paddle the day through wild natural rivers. While we don't actually see much wildlife we feel immersed in it.
The campsite is great, with an easy landing, no haul to camp, and protected from weather.
Fran's arm hurts again, even after the rest in Crystal River and short paddle today. With thru hiking, sometimes overuse injuries start to show up week 3-4. We'll have monitor any long term implications
Distance 7
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