Update 2024-07-22: And again: Allen Ramp to SRSP, Withlacoochee River 2024-08-01.
Update 2022-11-25: We’re doing it again 2023-02-04
Two photographers, three cameras, one outing: Allen Ramp to Suwannee River State Park, past Double Window Spring, Morgan Spring Run, Powerline Spring, Corbett Spring, Withlacoochee River, Suwannee River, and Suwanacoochee Spring, plus that chair on the old road bridge buttress, and let’s not forget Battery Shoals, Wipe-Out Shoals, Deer Shoals, Deer Shoals, and Melvin Shoals, where 1/3 of our paddlers (starting with me) fell in. Thanks, Shirley Kokidko for leading us from Allen Ramp to Suwannee River State Park, June 1, 2019.
Left: Allen Ramp, Corbett Spring; Right: Melvin Shoals, Suwanacoochee Spring
We started at Allen Ramp. All pictures are by Gretchen Quarterman, except where marked jsq, when I took them. Click on any small picture for a bigger one. All the pictures are also on the WWALS website.
Banners: Pre-launch photo four more arrived afterwards, 08:36:05
Saw a caterpillar to start out the day, 07:04:07, 31.0122500, -83.2696528
Old concrete structure by jsq, 08:53:49
Shirley Kokidko gives the safety lecture, 08:37:02
At the boat ramp with Dan Coleman, 09:52:08, 30.4491750, -83.2214056
On the river
On the river by jsq, 09:58:18, 30.4490433, -83.2211629
Many boats by jsq, 09:59:11, 30.4490433, -83.2211629
What is in those roots? 09:59:13
Bend to the right by jsq, 10:07:14, 30.4476943, -83.2173599
Yellow kayak by jsq, 10:07:17, 30.4476000, -83.2173600
Looking upstream by jsq, 10:07:29, 30.4473134, -83.2174949
Someone made a bunch of markings with pink tape, 10:11:22
Stairs, 10:12:38, 30.4460083, -83.2186667
For sale, 10:14:20, 30.4451083, -83.2198028
For Sale, 10:17:15, 30.4433500, -83.2207111
Onwards
Turtles on a log
Stepping along
Steps and climbing fern by jsq, 10:29:57
Unnamed tiny shoal
Curiosities
I couldn’t tell what this was on the leaves. Saw it several places, 10:51:41
John S. Quarterman and Julie Bowland paddle downstream, 10:52:01
Pontoon boat at steps, 10:52:20
Suwannee Riverkeeper at fancy dock, 10:54:08
Fancy platform with paddler, 10:54:29
Lunch
Rest stop and a snack, 10:55:36
Beach on left bank across from NE Withla Bluffs Way by jsq, 11:01:20, 30.4235500, -83.2218000
A second group photo, 11:05:49
Shirley Kokidko gives some instruction on how to pass the shoals, 11:09:18
Swimmers consulting by jsq, 11:10:00, 30.4235000, -83.2218000
After the banner picture by jsq, 11:10:03, 30.4233471, -83.2214917
Battery Shoals
Sandy is stuck and JSQ helps — with John S. Quarterman, 11:26:53
Getting a boost off the rock, 11:26:56
Our paddler from furthest away today — Rob from South Africa, 11:28:35
Passing the peanut gallery, 11:30:22
jsq selfie by jsq, 11:32:53, 30.4200000, -83.2191667
Structure or just rocks? 11:36:57 by jsq, 30.4184196, -83.2167389
Round the bend
Guess what is around there by jsq, 11:37:08, 30.4184196, -83.2167389
Dan Coleman explains it all, 11:39:13
These are some experienced paddlers — with Conn Cole and Trudy Cole, 11:41:05
Wipe-Out Shoals
Gretchen in the green boat by jsq, 11:42:10
Something on the left
Bunch of boats by jsq, 11:44:20
Double Window Spring
Steve and Cathy looking out the window — with Steve Shaw, 11:45:26
And out he comes from the spring — with Steve Shaw, 11:46:08
Getting back in by jsq, 11:46:58, 30.4198649, -83.2144634
Karst with invasive exotic Japanese climbing fern, 11:49:52
Deer Shoals
Morgan Spring Run
Looks like water runs here by jsq, 11:58:22, 30.4196593, -83.2077785
Karst on the side by jsq, 11:58:29, 30.4196593, -83.2077785
Overhanging oak by jsq, 11:58:33, 30.4196593, -83.2077785
Contemplating by jsq, 11:58:36, 30.4196593, -83.2077785
Deer Shoals
Sementha Mathews by jsq, 12:05:55
The laid-back professor by jsq, 12:19:21
Really keep right, 12:16:14, 30.4158000, -83.2074000
Shoals, 12:16:18, 30.4146528, -83.2072750
Willow Bend
Tree reaches middle of river, 12:21:11
Mericle residence
Beyond Willow Bend
SW 76th Blvd Power Line
Pylons by jsq, 12:22:08, 30.4152495, -83.2022450
Rocks by jsq, 12:22:10, 30.4152495, -83.2022450
More coming by jsq, 12:22:17, 30.4150000, -83.2022222
Powerline Spring
Probably there by jsq, 12:23:29
Corbett Spring
Clearly spring water by jsq, 12:26:39, 30.4157000, -83.1992000
Spring swimming by jsq, 12:26:41, 30.4157500, -83.1992000
Spring snorkeling by jsq, 12:26:45, 30.4158000, -83.1990000
Steps by jsq, 12:26:51, 30.4159000, -83.1992000
Green water by jsq, 12:27:07, 30.4159000, -83.1992500
Snorkel by jsq, boats, swing, 12:28:26, 30.4158100, -83.1992039
Snacks before shoals
Convenient pullout by jsq, 12:41:29
Melvin Shoals ahead by jsq, 12:41:38
Tannic acid water by jsq, 12:42:13, 30.4159236, -83.1936734
Let’s get serious now by jsq, 12:46:58, 30.4155653, -83.1933826
Line of boats, 12:55:03, 30.4157528, -83.1934278
Avocado? 12:56:17 by jsq, 30.4155653, -83.1933826
Swimming and snacks by jsq, 13:02:36, 30.4155700, -83.1933826
Wish I had a photo of the painting. Today she had brushes with her with Julie Bowland, 13:12:30
Melvin Shoals
There it is by jsq, 13:11:31, 30.4144010, -83.1909744
White water by jsq, 13:11:37, 30.4144010, -83.1909744
Who will go first? 13:11:46 by jsq, 30.4144010, -83.1909744
Party tent beyond by jsq, 13:12:33, 30.4144010, -83.1909744
Watching by jsq, 13:12:38, 30.4144010, -83.1909744
Pulled out in the shoals by jsq, 13:23:23, 30.4134501, -83.1889990
More coming by jsq, 13:23:25, 30.4134501, -83.1889990
Why to always wear your PFD, 13:47:10, 30.4137278, -83.1896889
Fine now, 13:47:24, 30.4137083, -83.1896278
No hat means fell in, 13:52:04, 30.4135722, -83.1893778
Professor back in boat, 13:52:24
Looks not all that bad from below, 14:01:00, 30.4129667, -83.1866389
Famous sign
Paddle faster, I hear banjos, 14:06:12, 30.4114333, -83.1835111
Old CR 141 bridge piling
CR 141 bridge in distance, 14:06:52
Old bridge pilings upstream from new bridge, 14:07:17
Chair on top 3797, 14:08:15, 30.4110361, -83.1825028
SE 44th Ave. Power Line
Fancy pylon, 14:09:59, 30.4109028, -83.1811139
CR 141 Bridge
With paddlers and edifice beyond bridge, 14:11:26, 30.4104306, -83.1802750
Odd old tank
Suwanacoochee Spring
Sementha at Suwanacoochee, 15:04:28
Spring gushing through wall, 15:04:36
Debarking at Suwanacoochee; Note that Dan Bowland is emptying water out of his kayak oops, 15:05:59
Upstream to Suwanacoochee Spring, 15:08:37
Green boat, Withlacoochee Confluence, 15:07:33
Withlacoochee River Confluence, 15:07:39
Shirley in her element, 15:08:46
Dan Phillips in the spring pool, 15:09:20
Movie: Splashing in the spring, 15:11:30 (5.1M)
The water was chilly — with Sementha Mathews, 15:11:31
Daniel Phillips says the water was very chilly, 15:11:32
Suwannee River
-jsq, John S. Quarterman, Suwannee RIVERKEEPER®
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