Steve and I are blessed with a friend, Cathy, who owns a home right on the Withlacoochee River in Yankeetown. She rents it out to us on occasion. We’ve just enjoyed a long weekend enjoying the small town charm of Yankeetown and the beautiful Withlachoochee River. Maribeth joined us so she could get a taste of kayaking on this peaceful river and the joys of Cathy’s huge back porch.
The Setting
Cathy’s sweet little house is just across from Winding River Garden. There’s a convenient kayak launch right in the park! It’s a beautiful spot and the ibises were in residence on the dock for most of the weekend.
They shared space with me and Maribeth as she attempted to teach me to play cribbage. I’m not sure I’ll ever be a good player, but I love the intricate rules. Cribbage is a good game for strategic thinkers and fiends. Someday when I’m comfortable scoring Cribbage, I’m going to retaliate by teaching Maribeth to play Canasta. Bumblebees and butterflies enjoyed our banter and the sunshine as they flitted about the water hemlock. I can’t imagine a more peaceful spot.
We also enjoyed using the community grill at the park! Maribeth brought a lamb roast, which she cut into chunks and marinated. When we were ready, we started the charcoal and grilled those chunks along with some veggies. I know the neighbors all wanted an invitation to dinner that night. It has been a long time since we used a charcoal grill, and it was fun hanging out while waiting for the coals to be ready.
Cathy’s back porch is a comfortable space: bright and airy in the daytime, and cozy with just one lamp at night. We love watching the bluebird that visits the back yard occasionally, and trees that the keep the bees busy when they bloom. The room has vinyl windows all the way around, so even though we are indoors it feels like being outside. One year, on a rainy December weekend, we read and read and read and drank coffee until the rain stopped. It was glorious. On this trip, we all enjoyed bringing our morning coffee to the porch, and reading in comfortable and communal silence.
The Kayaking
We took two vehicles on this trip so that we could easily shuttle the kayaks from Withlacoochee Bay back to the house when we finished paddling. Early in the morning, I drove the Explorer with the empty kayak trailer and Maribeth followed in the Escort. We dropped the trailer in the parking area at the Bay and Maribeth drove us both back to the house.
The parking area at the end of Bird Creek Ramp has been improved beautifully! The parking for trucks and trailers has been expanded. Even so, the ramp is crowded and very busy on weekends.
If you’re shuttling with a small trailer, I’d suggest parking at Bird Creek Beach Park, on the right just before the boat ramp. This park is home to a small beach that’s a great place to land kayaks, since it keeps you out of the way of the power boats using the ramp. The park is also home to a restroom and covered picnic tables.
Manatees and Pelicans
What a grand day we had on the Withlacoochee. With perfect weather and good company, it was just a beautiful way to enjoy some sunshine and water.
We followed a trio of manatee for awhile, and then Dave at the Yankeetown Marina introduced us to Rufus the Pelican. If you look closely, you can see the wound on Rufus’s pouch. Dave and the Marina gang have been helping him recover by making sure he is well-fed. Rufus is on his way to becoming a local celebrity.
We found gloriously bright flowers growing in one of the marshes along the river. For a few wonderful seconds thought we saw a flock of spoonbills, but they were ibises. Just as beautiful but not as thrilling (and not pink, either!).
When we landed our kayaks at the end of our trip, we were really glad to load up the boats and get back to air conditioned comfort of Cathy’s place. I can’t remember being that tired when we’ve come off the river before, but all three of us were tuckered out!
The Shopping in Yankeetown/Inglis
I’ve been collecting fused glass art by Donna Coffin, adding a new piece every time we visit Artists In Paradise Gallery on Big Pine Key. On this trip, I had hoped to find a Yankeetown gallery that would allow me to collect a local artist from this area. While that quest was not successful, we did find a nice little gallery in Crystal River, Coastal Art Gallery. This gallery has something for every budget, and I still regret that I did not buy some of the glass swizzle sticks on display in the lobby. We also found a fun thrift store, Firefly Vintage (no website), where I found an anniversary gift for Steve and Maribeth added to her Fiestaware collection.
The Hiking at Withlacoochee Gulf Preserve
We always enjoy visiting the Withlacoochee Gulf Preserve and this trip was no exception. The observation tower provides the perfect opportunity to observe a lovely estuarine system. As fresh water from the Withlacoochee mingles with the salt water of Withlacoochee Bay, this fragile system provides a perfect home for varied aquatic life and cover for fry and other younglings. Seeing so much of it from the tower is an awe-inspiring experience.
You will see several habitats if you explore the system of trails. There is a nice pine upland, an extensive salt marsh, and a pond where we saw so many little crabs and snails we think they outnumber the stars.
Everyone can find something to love in Yankeetown, and some of us love everything about the place.