Rainbow River

Getting up was a chore because after a full day spent on the water kayaking and scuba diving our bodies felt like a piece of meat that had been tenderized with a hammer. Still, we managed to get all our gear together and set off for Rainbow River. On the 45 minute drive northeast to the river we were flirting with big ugly gray clouds that seemed like they were following us. If it does rain we are going to be in the water so what's the difference? It's not like it matters if we get wet! Arriving at the river we were pleasantly surprised to find very few people. After paying our entrance fee into the park and being handed a list of rules we prepared the kayaks for the trip up river. Because the river is so clear they make every effort to ensure that the river maintain its clarity. They do not allow any type of container that is considered disposable. So, no cans, plastic bottles, zip lock bags or paper are allowed on boats or your person. The fines are pretty big if you dare break them. The head spring is about a mile upriver from where we are putting in. Once we get there we would jump in the water and snorkel back down river letting the currents push us along. I have never seen water so clear. I thought the water in the Bahamas was clear but there is something about fresh water being so crystal clear. You can see every detail on the river bottom. We paddled our way up river and stopped occasionally to look at the turtles swimming by and even an alligator swimming along the edge of the river. The river had many turns until we finally arrived at the spring head. The area is one big spring. The rock bottom has numerous cracks where water is gushing out. This spring pumps out over 400 million gallons of fresh water a day!I have to admit that I took a little taste of the water and it tasted so good. Clean and cold. I made sure I wasn't around all the people swimming when I did it!

We jumped into the river after we attached a leash to the kayaks and tied them together for our journey downstream. Wearing our wetsuits, because the water is a constant 72 degrees all year, we floated with the currents over top of white sandy bottom, grass and fish that were curious to see what we were doing. Certain parts of the river were only 4 feet deep with the grass rubbing our stomachs as we floated by. Other area's were about 20 - 25 feet deep. At the bottom of some of these deep area's you could see the sand boiling. There are springs all along the river and at these points the water is coming out of the ground and causing the sand to boil. At other locations there would just be a hole the size of a basketball and when you would swim down and put your hand in it you could feel the pressure of water being pumped out. The cold water would fill my wetsuit as I would try and stick my head in some of these holes for closer inspection. About half way down Rainbow river the clouds that had been flirting with us earlier couldn't hold back anymore. The skies opened up. First with loud thunder followed by buckets of water. What an experience to be swimming in crystalline water and having this hard rain come down. One boater passed us as the storm was at its most intense downpour, smiled at us and said "Looks like you're going to get a little wet!" The best part was to free dive down about 10 feet and just look back up at the surface and watch this intense storm hit the surface of the water. It almost looked like popcorn. The sound of the rain was another thing that I will never forget. I'm sure you've all heard rain hitting the surface of water but the sound from the other side, from underwater, is something that I can't describe. I told Reta that our experience yesterday is what this trip is all about for me. Not the swimming or snorkeling or even the rain storm But the combination of being in a place that isn't a tourist trap and somewhere that I have never heard of before. Experiencing all these elements of nature in one moment is what Road Hazard's journey is all about. Experiencing something that can't be bought or planned. Living the moment.

We took pictures underwater with our newly purchased underwater disposable camera but have to get the pictures developed. Hopefully within the next week we can stop by one of those one hour places and get it done.

Amazingly, with some energy remaining when we got back we decided to explore our campground while on wheels. We haven't been rollerblading for several years now but it's like riding a bike. What a workout it is to push yourself along on eight wheels. We will have to do this again.



Today we woke up and I prepared a good breakfast, if I may say so myself, of pancakes and fruit. Afterwards, as every American has or will do before April 15th we will prepare our taxes. Hopefully Uncle Sam will send us a check. Then we will hang out around RH and start putting things away for our journey that will continue tomorrow morning. Our destination is Destin, FL. Tomorrow afternoon we will officially be in the Central Time Zone. Yes, we're getting closer to leaving the Great State of Florida.