Rivers of the Nature Coast

Today I traveled to one of my favorite places in Florida, Homosassa.
I was there with my parents, meeting a friend that only visits once a year. Homosassa is a personal favorite destination for a few reasons:

The Venue

The river itself is almost 8 miles long and less than 100 m across at some points. The majority of the river is brackish (part salty, part fresh water) but the uppermost reaches are crystal clear springs. The riverbank is dotted with attractions and points of interest. One of the most unique of these is Monkey Island (pictured above) , a man-made island in the center of the more developed parts of the river. It is home to about 5 spider monkeys and one lighthouse. A viewer might see these animals pacing the shore or snacking on fruits and nuts.

The Wildlife

Manatees have to be one of the most iconic animals of Florida. They are about 10 ft long at adulthood and can weigh up to about half a ton. As I have had very close interactions with the creatures, I can confirm that they are beautiful and peaceful animals. Lazily paddling through Florida's many rivers, its curious nature can lead it into danger. Boat propellers pose a huge threat to the animals. Because of this, many rivers impose an idle speed law to prevent injuries.

The Market

This single store and those like it is one of the most compelling reasons to visit the place. Shelly's Seafood is home to some of the freshest seafood on the west coast of Florida. The fish are actually mostly caught during the filming of a spearfishing show on the Weather Channel called "Catching Hell", where the catches are dropped off at the end of the show to various vendors. I have had fresh fish from this and I've never been more impressed with the taste of wild fish.

That's all for know (my fingers are exhausted) so stay tuned for more posts!

I dont own the pictures

shout out to Jon and his dad @nidolabz @jonny-clearwater