Go confidently in the direction of your dreams. Live the life you have imagined.

Henry David Thoreau

Final Post

Wednesday February 6, 2019




Many have noticed I've not been blogging for the past 3 weeks.  At first it was because I cannot make the Live Writer "fixes' work for me and I find blogger impossible for all but nearly pictureless posts like this one.

But then also because David's condition began to seriously deteriorate. 

We found out in mid January that there were no more myeloma treatments that he hadn't already tried and eventually failed.   Carrie came to visit and brought baby Colin for 4 days at the end of January.  David went into the hospital the day before she flew home.  Her last visit with him was there.  He died on Sunday February 3.    He had turned 72 years old less than a month before and had battled this horrible disease bravely and without complaint for 7 years.

This blog was started to chronicle The Direction of OUR Dreams.  Without him there is no OUR and no Dreams so the blog will end with this post.

Even though we both knew this illness was fatal neither of us ever gave up hope.   I'm in a fog, attempting to believe this has actually happened and he will never hike or kayak beside me again. I'm just trying to cope with this devastating change in my life.   I have no idea what is next.

Thank you all for your friendship and a BIG thanks to those of you who cared enough to be faithful commentors, some of you for many many years.  You have become my friends and I value you.  I'm so glad we were able to meet some of you in person so you could experience for yourself the kindness, the gentleness, the strength and the love that was David.


Blue Spring- Changes on Snake Creek

Thursday January 3, 2019                                                       Most Recent Posts:
Blue Spring State Park                                                           January Heat Wave in Manatee Country
Orange City, Florida                                                               From Ocean to Spring with a Big Interruption



It’s foggy when I walk down to the boat dock on Thursday morning just after dawn.  The only folks around are a group of black vultures which seem to live in the area just next to the boat launch.

IMG_4750


Before I get in my kayak, I notice a committee meeting of sorts going on just to the left of the boat launch.


IMG_4695



IMG_4697


I notice the buzzards are not the only ones hanging around near the boat dock..   A Limpkin and a Wood Stork were also here in or near the shallows of the water..


IMG_4771


IMG_4776


I get my kayak positioned, take this picture, walk it into the water, get in and off I go.  One lone bird remains at the launch.  The black vulture on the pole seems unfazed by my presence.

Once in the boat I check out the top of the trees where I spot a Great Blue Heron.  They always look so strange, such big birds in the seemingly small branches at the top of trees.

IMG_4780



IMG_4785


I also spot a lone hawk on the snag sticking up.

IMG_4791


Based on the color of his chest, I think he’s a red shouldered hawk.  Gorgeous bird.




20190111_163443

The map is what the kayak/canoe rental place gives out.  The park itself has no map of the waterways unfortunately.  The blue star is where the boat launch is located, at the end of the boardwalk from the spring to the St. John’s River.  I have turned left and see the hawk above me in a tree on the far side of what is known as the lagoon.  It’s that odd shaped thing.  The next picture is what I see when I consider paddling into the lagoon this morning.   It’s beautiful in the fog but goes no where and I really want to head up Snake Creek to the back of Hontoon Island so I keep on going and turn into the Smith Canal.

IMG_4799


The sun still hasn’t made an entry.


IMG_4803


On the way to the Creek I spot this kingfisher.

IMG_4807


There is something ancient feeling and swampy about the birds and cypress knees along the river.

IMG_4818



IMG_4810



At this point, I have to be very careful in looking for the opening to the creek.  It’s nearly hidden if you don’t know where to look.


IMG_4823



While I’m looking along the edge, I get a fly by and an alligator sighting.


IMG_4826


IMG_4830



Does it look like an entry to a creek?

IMG_4833


The entrance is quite narrow but then it widens out a bit.

IMG_4835


The still water shows off the reflection of the Little Blue Heron.

IMG_4840


IMG_4838



The creek widens and narrows repeatedly..   It’s like being in another calmer, gentler world.

IMG_4854


In the tree on the far left is a lone Ibis.  They usually hang out in groups.

IMG_4861



IMG_4862



IMG_4865



I see another limpkin on a snag also off to the left.

IMG_4871


IMG_4873


Nothing but the sounds of the birds, the dark water and the trees.

IMG_4876


An egret flies over my head.


The dark gray in the tree next to the tallest one turns out to be another Little Blue Heron
who apparently likes me less than the last one which was actually closer to my boat.  This one flies off.  Or maybe it’s not me at all just time to move on.

IMG_4891



IMG_4899



I’m quite surpised when I come to an impass of water lettuce and hydrilla.  This was not here last year.  These are among the most aggressive water plants in Florida.  Water lettuce can double in a few weeks.  Hydrilla stems can elongate as much as 6 or 8” per day.  

I can see the open water from here and decide to try to power through the mass.  It is hard and very slow going.  

IMG_4900


Water Lettuce

IMG_4901


I make it through but am not looking forward to the paddle back.

IMG_4903


More great reflections.

IMG_4904


The water plant invasion is encroaching from both sides.  Will the creek soon disappear from kayaking possibilities?

IMG_4915


I reach another and larger mass.  I can’t see any open water even as far as my zoom can go.
Sadly I turn back, defeated by the invasives.  What used to be nearly a day long paddle up to the Hontoon Dead River and the back of Hontoon Island is no more.   I wonder if a motored boat would try cutting through this?


IMG_4926


On the way back an anhinga and an alligator make great reflections in the water.


IMG_4943



IMG_4937




IMG_4945


IMG_4950


The alligator on the bank lets me know that everything along the edge is not water plants.  There is actually some dry ground.   A bit beyond the spot he staked out I pull up for a rest stop.

IMG_4951


Back in the kayak, I notice an anhinga and an Ibis high above me.

IMG_4952


IMG_4953



IMG_4955


IMG_4958


Just after I zoom in, he turns and makes ready for flight. 

IMG_4959


As the morning sun warms things up, the turtles come out to sun bathe.

IMG_4971


The Great Blue Heron hides well in the gray branches, but he doesn’t stay long.


IMG_4979



After battling through the water plant mass I come upon which may be a guided paddle.  Wonder what they will do when they reach the rough going?

IMG_4980


Another kingfisher with a great hair day.

IMG_4982



Perhaps the same heron, perhaps not.  I like his reflection and am able to get a close up.

IMG_4985


It seems to be a day of reflections.   Paddling Snake Creek is a great place to see reflections and to do some personal reflecting as well.   Things are becoming increasingly difficult in our life so I’m grateful for these little get aways. 


IMG_4988




IMG_4987


Back in the St. John’s River I can look ahead and see the tour boat.  It’s wide open paddling here.


IMG_5004


As I approach the put in, the tour boat is on my left and some private boats are anchored on the right. 

IMG_5005


Even the take out is awash in reflections.  

IMG_4794