Feb. 28, 2023 River Forest Bend to Butchers Bend

 Tues.  Feb. 28, 2023  River Forest Bend to Butchers Bend - 19 miles

Anchor up at 10.  Started our trip following the same route we had done the past few days in the dingy towards Hontoon Island.  In the dingy we were able to skim under the Whitehair Bridge, but we would need it lifted to get As You Wish through.  Hailed the bridge tender at 10:10 for an opening and was informed due to the construction on the new high rise bridge he was no longer opening on demand but was on a fixed schedule of opening on the hour.  Putted around on the river a bit, then idled back for the 11:00 opening.  No harm, no foul - on a relaxed schedule today so plenty of extra time.

Waiting for the old Whitehead lift bridge to open

Got around the bend past Hontoon Island Park and into long stretches of No Wake or Minimum Wake zones.   They stretched on most of the day making for a very leisurely pace.  Blue Spring supposedly gets a huge number of manatees during the winter, but the river temps are currently warm enough that they have departed.  No good place to anchor close by for a visit to the spring, plus a pontoon tour boat loaded with people was discharging at the dock.  Maybe we'll stop on the way back.  Found this link to a live steam of the spring.  You can watch some fish.

Underwater Manatee-Cam at Blue Spring State Park | Explore.org

For all of these manatee zones slowing us down it would have been nice to see at least one of them - but no luck for us.  We did manage to see one REALLY big gator sunning himself along with some other wildlife.

Osprey nesting wherever they can find a perch to build a nest

Here's that BIG gator.

These 2 black cows had somehow gotten around the fence
and were happily harvesting the water lily's on that side. 

Wood stork rookery loaded with birds

We considered Emanuel Bend as an anchorage but it simply didn't suit us. We went in to explore but found it too tight, houses along the bank, shallow water and too much encroaching vegetation.   Back out and down to Butchers Bend which was much more to our liking.  All to ourselves.  Natural setting, Open to the south so we caught a little breeze.  Did nothing the rest of the afternoon which is always welcome.

Evening at anchor.  High water marks noticeable on trees

Journey for Feb. 28, 2023  Nebo lost us for a bit