Jonathan Dickinson State Park, Topic Five–January 28 to February 8, 2013

We stayed at Jonathan Dickinson State Park for 11 days. Gin and Syl arrived a day after us. Unfortunately, they both contracted “The Flu” at Disney World;o(( So they just stayed put and spent several days kicking the bug!! A little later in the week, Dan and Tricia arrived. Rather than do a day by day account, we will cover our stay here by topics. Click on any topic to go there directly.

 
TOPIC  ONE:  THE CAMPGROUND…
TOPIC  TWO:  SUNRISE and SUNSET…
TOPIC  THREE:  BIRDS and CRITTERS…
TOPIC  FOUR:  FLOWERS and TREES…
TOPIC  FIVE:  PADDLE  to  TRAPPER  NELSON  SITE…

 

Trapper Nelson was a very interesting character.  We need to thank him for being one of the early wilderness lovers, who spent his time and money trying to preserve the natural beauty of the Loxahatchee River!!!

(click to enlarge any photo)

 

You can take a guided river tour to visit his historical homestead or you can paddle yourself.

With Dan and Tricia, we decided to enjoy a beautiful day on the river and paddle it ourselves!!

 

We launched our kayaks at the River Campground Launch, south of the State Park boat dock.

 

I believe Trapper Dan is ready to get going;o))

 

 

We picked a beautiful day and the river is spectacular!!!

 

Completely natural and undeveloped once you pass the State Park Dock.

 

 

Heading into the wilderness;o))

 

 

We have paddled very few rivers that have been untouched by development.

 

This four mile stretch of the Loxahatchee River was amazing!!

 

NESTING  OSPREY

  

 

 

GREAT  BLUE  HERON amongst the Mangrove Roots

 

 

BELTED KINGFISHER  and  A  JUVENILE  WHITE  IBIS

                        

 

 

ALLIGATOR

 

 

BROMALAIDES were blooming everywhere!!

  

 

 

Beautiful new green growth on the CEDAR  TREES:o))

 

 

However,

the REAL star of the paddle was THE RIVER!!!

 

Completely natural and untouched!!!

 

 

Approaching Trapper Nelson’s boat house, where we were able to tie up our kayaks.

 

 

There is a Work-camper Volunteer who gives interpretive tours to the people who arrive on the tour boat.  Fortunately for us, a tour boat arrived just as we did and we were able to join in on the tour.  Once the tour is over, they get back on the boat to head back down river. 

 

We got to stay and enjoy our lunch.  The Volunteer sat and had his lunch with us.  We all sat in the Picnic Area that Trapper Nelson built for the tourist many years ago!! 

 

Picnic Area and Animal Cages

It was a delightful lunch as we learned a little more about Trapper Nelson and our interesting Volunteer. He and his wife started full-timing four years ago. They started work-camping in Florida and basically have not left the state yet. They did fly out west and rented a car for 5 weeks to tour the major National Parks. But for them, work-camping along all of Florida's coastline is what they really love.

 

 

Newest Cabin, Water Tower and Citrus Grove

 

 

 

Original Cabin

 

 

 

Cages for the Wild Alligators Trapper Nelson would wrestle;o))

 

 

Tricia was checking out the HUGE bamboo growing near the boat house.

 

 

We had a lovely paddle up the river, an interesting tour and a nice lunch.

 

Now it was time to head back down river to the Campground.

Heading down river was with the current so basically, we floated home:o))

 

 

We passed a tour boat headed back to Trapper Nelson’s Site. 

 

 

This Alligator just kind of floated along with us for some distance;o))

 

 

It was a lazy float on a beautiful river!!

 

We would highly recommend this paddle or take the tour boat to the Trapper Nelson Site.

 

It was a beautiful trip and very interesting tour!!