We quickly learned to pick out camouflaged alligators basking along the banks and spot strange birds in the canopy above. If you are quiet and observant you might even catch a glimpse of a raccoon or deer sipping water along the banks. Fishing for bass, pan fish and river catfish is also a great past time. Fears that there would be nothing to do cooped up on the boat were replaced by exclamations that time was too short. Though alligators sometimes discouraged swimming, the hot Florida sun overcame hesitation, and all of us enjoyed floating listlessly behind the boat in big water tubes.
Freshwater springs are the jewels of Florida's interior.
These large artesian wells bubble up from the aquifer deep below ground and pump up a few hundred to a few million gallons of water to form small streams that lead to the main channel. Larger ones such as Blue Springs, even shelter rare manatees during winter months. On the last morning the crew was unusually glum as we cleaned up from breakfast, took a last dip and prepared to shove off for the marina. That question summed up our first houseboating adventure - and ensures it won't be the last. IE4 can use the faster DirectAnimation version, which this adds.