Sunday, February 27, 2022, RM 127.6 to Dowling Park RC, RM 113.2, 14.5 miles with a short ice cream run.

Another beautiful day! On the water before 9:00, and paddle up the Withlacoochee to Suwannacoochee Springs, where an old foundation is all that remains of the mid-1800s spring development. Next we paddle a short distance up the Suwannee to Suwannee River State Park for water (another dry camp tonight) and to check out another spring and a utility pole with markers showing historic flood levels. Our walk to the spring is lined with more Atamasco Lilies.

Back on the water, Day 4:

Old foundation, Suwannacoochee Springs: Little Gem Spring: Emerging Atamasco Lily: Historic flood levels. We're standing about 20' above the river. Top marker is from 1948:

We're soon back on the river and moving downstream. Morning paddling is quieter and calmer than afternoons—no wind and fewer motorboats. Riverbanks are getting steeper and there are fewer sandy rest stops. We lunch at one of the rare rest stops. Back on the river we pass a beautiful clear spring bubbling right into the river's edge, but are past it before I can dig out camera gear.

When we made river camp reservations, we were told that the Dowling Park RC was closed because of problems with the water system, so we may have to poach a campsite on public lands near the river camp. When we reach Dowling, however, we see a crew we've shared a couple camps with and learn that while the water system is still down, the screen shelters are available. No showers, but there's a portable toilet in the camp and we brought water, expecting to dry camp. We've have also learned that just a few hundred yards downstream is a boat ramp with a nearby convenience store with ice cream. We paddle to the ramp, get ice cream and a liter of spring water (NOT Florida spring water!) , then paddle back to Dowling Park RC for the night. Here the screen rooms are on stilts!

Elevated screened shelter: