The Suwannee River: Looking
for a way to make the kids put down the Game boys for a few days and
spend some time reconnecting with them? I've got just the trip for you.
Rent a houseboat and explore the Suwannee River with your kids on a
trip they will never forget.
The Suwannee River is long, 266 miles long. The Suwannee River is wide;
some parts are over 1/4 mile wide. The Suwannee River is wild, of
all the American Rivers it is the least obstructed and least polluted.
A few days on the Suwannee will fix whatever needs fixing in you. Life
on the Suwannee River is almost the same as when Steamboats traveled up
and down the river as floating stores bringing supplies to farmers and
woodsman who lived along the banks. The Suwannee River begins is
journey in Georgia and is sustained by 55 springs on it's way to the
Gulf of Mexico. In a houseboat you can be part of the last leg of that
journey as you explore the wild side of Florida.
Diary of a Few Days aboard a houseboat on the Suwannee River:
After
a few hours in the car we arrive in the town of Suwannee at Miller
Marina. The kids are ready to go. Suwannee is a small town without a
gas station or a grocery store. They do have a fish camp that looks
like a guys ideas of a fun weekend. Bill Miller and his wife Gloria,
the owners of Millers Houseboats, greet us as we unload our gear.
The
houseboat is like a floating cabin. The wood walls remind me of the
cabins in upper Michigan from my childhood. The boys start a game of
rock, paper, and scissors to see who gets the top bunk. A small kitchen
with a gas stove and oven, fridge, and sink comforts me. I can cook
here. There is a large picnic style table that looks like a good place
for a game of Uno. We load our gear on to the boat. We were told to
bring food, blankets, flashlights, toiletries, fishing gear and
snorkeling equipment. With three boys helping we quickly load up the
houseboat.
Bill ties his boat to the back of the houseboats
and maneuvers the houseboat down a small canal to the Suwannee River.
He goes over everything I will need to know for our weekend aboard.
I
am having a hard time getting the hang of the steering, not really the
steering but find the spot on the steering wheel where the rudder is
straight. It changes with the current. Bill is very patient with me. I
finally feel like I can mange the boat thought I never do figure out
the how to figure out when the rudder is straight. I just keep the boat
in the middle of the river by steering back and forth. Bill unties his
boat and I am alone with the kids on the Suwannee.
Due to a
last minute change of plans my husband couldn't make the trip. We had
to cancel the trip once because of bad weather and I don't want to
disappoint the boys again but quickly I start to feel maybe I bit off more than I
can chew.
The most southern part of the Suwannee River is
53,000 acres of protected land. After the leaving the town of Suwannee
we are alone on the river. No houses, no other boats. Just this amazing
wilderness and us. The boys yell into the tree on the banks and their
voices echo loudly. They love this. They each open a bottle of root
beer and toast each other's good luck.
Relaxing @ Sunset on the roof of our house boat
Simple and Sweet Days on a houseboat on the Suwannee River
After a few hours we find a bend in the river and anchor for the night.
The boys fish while I cook dinner. We are all alone. I brought along a
CD of Tom Sawyer that I put on. Fish are jumping out of the water all
around us but the boys can't seem to interest them in the bait on the
end of their poles. It is a great night. An almost full moon shines
brightly and eliminates the need for flashlights.
At 4am I
awake and look out the window. The moon is gone and all I see are
thousands of stars shinning brighter than I've ever seen. Their images are
reflected in the river. It is breath taking. My ten-year-old wakes up
and we stand on the bow and just stare.
I know he will never forget this moment.
We travel up the
river to Manatee Springs. Bill tied a canoe to the back of the
houseboat before we left the marina and we use it to get to the park
entrance on the river. The boys spend the morning swimming in the springs.
We blow up inner tubes and they ride the current from the springs the
to the steps. The water is crystal clear and 72 degrees. They are
living big and lovin' life.
The day is spent swimming, fishing, and relaxing.
Days
on the Suwannee River are simple and sweet. The worst part of the trip
is returning the Houseboat. If you go tell Gloria and Bill, P.J. and
the boys say "HI" and that the boys have been bugging me to bring them
back to the Suwannee.
