TITLE: PADDLE AND "KORKLE" THE RAINBOW RIVER
TRIP LEADERS: Jill Lingard (352-665-1776), Scott Jantz (386-853-5159)
DESCRIPTION: Come paddle the colorful Rainbow River, where spring-fed waters remain 72 degrees year-round! We'll paddle Blue Run Park up to the state park and then return downstream. Along the way, there are opportunities to explore beautiful Gissy Spring Run as well as see a diverse array of wildlife above and below the water's surface. Otters and waterbirds are always abundant on the Rainbow. Of special note this time of year are Longnose Gar. We often see dozens of them during winter months, many of them 5 feet long or more. To see these impressive fish up close, we can engage in an activity we've dubbed "korkling"...or snorkeling from our kayaks. Donning a mask and hanging onto the bow of a fellow paddler, you can turn your boat upside down and look around. Or put on a mask, snorkel, and fins, jump out of your kayak and pull it by your bow line as you float downstream enjoying Rainbow's breathtaking underwater world. If all this sounds nuts, you're welcome to paddle your kayak like a normal human being and scoff at us wetter explorers.
LOCATION: Our launch and take-out will be Blue Run Park of Dunnellon, located at 19680 Pennsylvania Avenue in Dunnellon.
SCHEDULE: Meet at Blue Run of Dunnellon Park at 9AM for launch at 10AM. We should finish up around 2-3PM. There may be an opportunity for post-paddle nosh at Leo Burns' home in Hernando or, if folks prefer to stay closer to the river, Swampy's restaurant.
DIFFICULTY: Level II due to roundtrip distance of ~10 miles and upstream paddle for the first half, but it's a gentle current.
REQUIRED/SUGGESTED: As with all TBSK trips, paddlers are required to wear properly fitted PFDs. Bring plenty to drink and snacks. A dry bag with some extra warm layers to put on might also come in handy if it's a chilly day. If you want to give korkling a go, bring a mask, snorkel, and fins and attach a line to your kayak's bow. A paddleboard leash also works well.
OTHER PLANNING NOTES: See TBSK's Skills Self Assessment Chart and contact trip leaders with any questions. Please register (or cancel) on the trip web page or email trip leaders with any changes in your plans.
FOR SPRINGS SUPERNERDS: The Florida Springs Institute recently published video footage of Longnose Gar spawning in the vegetation of spring-fed streams. It's fascinating! The Rainbow River offers ideal habitat for this.