Weeki Wachee River Paddle  Join me for an after nice Saturday paddle. This will be a leisure paddle and if we are lucky we may see a manatee along with other wildlife. We will have a break along the way, so bring a snack or lunch. There is a $5.00 launch fee. Bring one dollar bills as last time if I collected all the money the put-in gave us a discount so I will try that again. If you need to rent a canoe or kayak, for more details on this paddle or directions go to www.floridacanoe.com. Be there at 9:30am sharp to unload and shuttle! Directions see Delorme 77. Host: Kim Joiner. Limit 12 boats. Please email me at trekon12@verizon.net for reservations. Members and invited guest.

Santa Fe River/Camp/Paddle. Come join fellow Trekkers on a 2 day paddle down the Santa Fe River near High Springs, Fl., Gazetteer page 65. We will meet at the Santa Fe River Outpost (386) 454-2050 at 9AM sharp. This will be a 20-mile paddle in 2 days, starting at the Outfitter's launch at US 441 just South of the Santa Fe Bridge. We will paddle upstream for 2 to 3 miles seeing part of the river most people miss. After reversing our course back past the Outfitters, we will stop for the night at Lilly Springs to camp. Nature Ed has an agreement with Santa Fe Outfitters for groups to camp overnight. The cost for the Outfitter will be $22.00/boat (insurance has gone up), and $8.00 per person at Lilly Springs. Nature Ed will provide firewood for the campfire. The group will continue down the river on Sunday morning and take out at the Hwy 47 Bridge. This has been an exciting river paddle and camp in the past. As always stated, this is primitive camping (though Lilly Springs has an outhouse). You will need to provide camping gear, 2 lunches, 1 dinner, and a breakfast. The Outfitter can provide transportation of some camping equipment to Lilly Springs. Reservations are required. Limited to 16 members and their guest. Event Host: Lee & Anita Simmons leedeland@yahoo.com (preferred) or 386-943-8745.

Sebastian River and Turkey Creek Day Paddles -- Enjoy leisurely paddles on these pretty creeks in the Vero Beach/Palm Bay area. The locals tell us they're quite nice. I haven't done the Sebastian in perhaps 15 years. Car camping at Donald McDonald Park? Details tba. Linda Leeds, lindamarie7@juno.com

Hike the Little Big Econ State Forest. Starting at the Barr Street trailhead, we will hike through cypress and oak hammocks to the shore of the Econlockahatchee River along a portion of the Florida Trail. Rather than heading towards the "Boy Scout Bridge", we will take the Florida trail route and head southwest along the Econ, a much less traveled trail. We will have lunch and find a comfortable spot for lunch, before returning to the trailhead. During the hike we will have magnificent views of the river from high bluffs and the possibly the opportunity to view numerous types of birds and wildlife. Cameras are a must for this hike. Reservations required. Members and non-members welcome. $1 usage fee at the trailhead. Event Host: Shelley Claudin Shelley.claudin@cubic.com or 407-758-2633.

Weekend Backpacking. We’ll meet at noon at the bathroom and iron maiden at the entrance to Tosohatchee State Park to backpack into Sabal Palm Campsite.  We may need to shuttle to park our cars.  This is for beginning backpackers, so let the leaders know if you need to share equipment or need to ask for advice.  After we set up camp, we’ll explore some surrounding trails. Smores provided.  Reserve by Feb 22.  East from Christmas on Hwy 50 turn south on Taylor Creek Road.  The entrance is on the left.  No cell phones.  Lynn and Kurth lynnv@oco.net or 407-331-8609.

Bike or hike (leader will be biking) the Orlando Wetlands Park.  Eighteen miles of dikes allow visitors to walk or bicycle trails that wrap around cattail marshes and open water in this artificial wetland designed to treat domestic wastewater. Trails also pass through a hardwood hammock. The open water of the lake attracts wintering waterfowl, including blue-winged teal, green-winged teal, northern shovelers, and American wigeons. Wood storks, white ibis, black-crowned night herons, and other wading birds are also common in the winter. Bald eagles, limpkins, and red-shouldered hawks, black vultures, and turkey vultures can be seen throughout the year. Raccoons and river otters are often seen on the dikes. Be sure to bring your binoculars and cameras. Open to members and their guests. Please contact Judy Campbell: judyreads@earthlink.net or 407-788-8919 and leave a contact number in case plans have to change. Directions: From Orlando, drive east on Florida Highway 50 to Christmas. Go north 2.3 miles on Fort Christmas Road (County Road 420), then 1.5 miles east on Wheeler Road (an unpaved road). The parking area is on the left.

Peace River Spring Cruise  We’ll paddle from Fort Meade to Zolfo Springs, enjoying the twists and turns on the upper river. The foliage should be in its spring glory and the water level a little higher than it was in October, hopefully. Car camping Friday night at Fort Meade, wilderness riverbank camping Saturday night. Linda Leeds, lindamarie7@juno.com, 561-683-2851.

Hiking/Biking/Kayaking Weekend Found this gem during a recent trip to Faver Dykes State Park. Princess Place Preserve (North Flagler County) offers picturesque sites for primitive camping (no trailers of any kind are allowed by the park). Camp by the water and kayak, bike, hike. I will lead a short noon paddle on Saturday on Pelicer Creek from Highway 1 back to the camp. Plenty of additional kayaking available, as well as 13 miles of hiking and biking trails for additional adventures. Looking for volunteers to lead these or you may be on your own. I have reserved two group camps sites (Moody 2 & 3). Limit 20 adults. Check it out at www.flaglerparks.com/princess/preserve.htm.  Contact: Scott at notboredyet@yahoo.com.

Event Cancelled

Reedy Creek (Sat) and Josephine Creek Exploration or Arbuckle Forest Day Hike (Sun)-- Paddle across Lake Reedy, east of Frostproof, then down a lovely creek, and finish up with a short bit along the shore of Lake Arbuckle. The next day, we'll see what we can do on the rarely-paddled Josephine Creek. The less-adventurous can do a day hike in the forest along the shores of the reedy Creek, or can do some on-road cycling on lightly traveled roads. Primitive car-camping in the state forest. Linda Leeds, lindamarie7@juno.com

Paddle Tomoka River  Leisure paddle upstream and back, no shuttle, 3-4 hours. We'll paddle the dark waters of the lower Tomoka River and a pleasant narrower stream, Strickland Creek. Meet at the boat launch in Tomoka State Park at 8:30 am (entrance fee). Bring snack or lunch. Directions: SR 40 East to Ormond Beach. Just before the bridge over the Intracoastal, turn Left on Beach Street. Go several miles, the park entrance is on Right. No reservations needed. If questions, please contact Host Erica Johnson by March 6, 407-327-4044.

Alafia River Paddle - Please join me for a paddle down the Alafia River. This is a great river and offers good scenery. Depending on water level we may see some shoals. Bring lunch as we will take a break mid-way down on the banks. To locate the put-in see Delorme 92. Please be there and unloaded by 9:30am so we can get the shuttle completed and be on the river by 10am. Limited to 12 boats. Members and invited guests. Host-Kim Joiner. Please email me at trekon12@verizon.net for reservations.
 

Ravine Gardens in Palatka is a unique Florida St Park because its trails are alone a steep ravine near the St. John’s River.  The azaleas should be blooming along the winding trails.  We’ll meet at 11:00 AM at the parking area near the main building.  US 17/SR100, turn south onto Moseley Ave, the east onto Twigg St.  There are good signs to follow.  $4 a car.  From there we will go on SR 206 and right before the Matanzas River at the second Moses Creek secured parking area, we will hike less than a mile into a shaded Florida backpacking site with a bench overlooking the river!   This site is usually cool because of the breeze from the river, so be prepared.  Beginners are welcome, please advise the leaders.  Welcome for day only or overnight.  Smores provided.   Check for car pool.  Reserve by March 22.  No cell phones.  Lynn and Kurth  LynnV@oco.net  407-331-8609

Come paddle to beautiful Caladesi Island State Park.  Tour the mangrove shrouded canoe/kayak trail, then paddle to Caladesi’s white sandy beaches for some sun and surf time. Pack a lunch and bring the sun block. Not recommended for canoes.  Any size kayak is fine.  Rentals are available. We will meet at the kayak rental concession on the Dunedin Causeway at 10 a.m.  Florida Gazetteer, Page 82, D2.  Contact trip host for more details.  Fredmays@yahoo.com. 407-963-4308