MoonLight Tours
Every month, near
the full moon, we lead moonlit tours down the
Santa Fe river. These trips entail a two hour paddle ending at
Poe Springs where
a warm bonfire, refreshments and a cool swim in the spring awaits
us.
Unlike our day trips, where scenery and animal watching are the
main focus,
moonlight paddles are more about relaxing, checking out the stars
and enjoying
good company. But, don't rule out animal observation altogether.
Our arrival on the river is usually heralded by a rousing chorus
of green tree frogs and
cicadas. Before long, as you settle into the quiet pace of the
river, you'll slowly become
aware of the more subtle creatures of the night. Focusing your
attention on the sky,
you might glimpse a bat or a swift working hard to free the world
of mosquitoes
and other airborn munchables. Occasionally, a pair of barred owls
will call out to
each other, sometimes from a quarter mile away. With any luck,
you'll hear their
conversation degenerate from a civil exchange of hoots and
hooty-hoo's to a
raucous bout of cackling that sounds like a Chihuahua with a duck
stuck in it's throat.
During the dark hours there is as much, if not more, wildlife
moving around than in
the day. With the help of your flashlight, you might see a family
of raccoons, rooting
armadillos or an occasional deer feeding at the riverside.
Fishing spiders perch at
the waters edge, dangling a leg in the water waiting to detect an
approaching
fish on which to jump. Listen and you'll hear owls, frogs,
crickets or the eerie call of a limpkin.
We also see a beaver or two on many of these moonlight trips.
Northern
visitors, who are often giddy at the thought of visiting
Orlando's famous,
big-eared, lederhosen-clad mouse, aren't so impressed with our
beavers.
Apparently, these huge rodents are still holding there own in
northern
regions. But here in Florida, where beavers were wiped out by fur
trappers in the 1800's, we celebrate their return in recent
decades. They're always quick to announce their return to Florida
riverscape with a sudden, loud slap of the tail on the water
surface as it
dives out of sight. It's a stunt that's intended to startle
potential predators,
but it's pretty effective on paddlers as well.
Cost - $35.00 per
person. Reservation required.
Check the
calendar
for dates