1/10/2020, Juniper Cr.: Juniper Springs Rec Area to Juniper Run (FL-19)

With: David Bernard, Chris Oberlin, David Blumberg, Merridee Harper, Van Moss, Rhonda McDougall, Joe Pulliam, Lucy Pulliam, Steve Scarborough, Anne Scarborough, Bettina George, Don George, Dan Bertko, Lois Carra
 
We had a long (63 miles) drive to Juniper Springs, a tighly controlled US Forest Service stream, and one of the jewels in the crown of Florida spring-fed streams. By now we had been joined by Dan and Lois, Don and Bettina, and Steve and Anne, so we had 15 people in nine boats stretched out along this tiny creek.
 
That morning Chris and I had stopped at a brand-new Vietnamese Restaurant in Inverness to ensure that they could accommodate 15 people for dinner. They told us "yes," and when we all rolled in at 6:00 PM they had already pushed tables together for us in an otherwise nearly empty restaurant. Service was slow, I imagine because we were the first large group they had ever entertained and they were still getting their system organized. The food was wonderful, however, and I hope this place, the Viet-Deli, is successful, because if I am ever back in Inverness I will eat there.
 
1. Juniper Creek (photo: Chris Oberlin)
2. Juniper Creek (photo: Chris Oberlin)
3. Juniper Creek (photo: Chris Oberlin)
4. Juniper Creek: Bettina and Don
5. Juniper Creek: David
6. Juniper Creek (photo: Chris Oberlin)
7. Juniper Creek: Van and Rhonda
8. Juniper Creek: Van and Rhonda
9. Juniper Creek: Van and Rhonda
10. Juniper Creek: Dan and Lois (photo: Chris Oberlin)
11. Juniper Creek
12. Juniper Creek (photo: Chris Oberlin)
13. Juniper Creek (photo: Chris Oberlin)
14. Juniper Creek
15. Juniper Creek (photo: Chris Oberlin)
16. Juniper Creek
17. Juniper Creek (photo: Chris Oberlin)
18. Juniper Creek
19. Juniper Creek
20. Juniper Creek (photo: Chris Oberlin)
21. Juniper Creek: David and Merridee
22. Juniper Creek: Anne, Lucy, and others at lunch stop
23. Juniper Creek: Van and Rhonda in the only rapid in central Florida