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  Homassas springs/crystal river 11/9-11

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Author Topic:   Homassas springs/crystal river 11/9-11

Bigshot posted 10-31-2001 03:52 PM ET (US)
Having a big seafood festival in Homassasa that weekend. Gonna go with the Montauk and check out some Manatees, hear they taste like fishy chicken.
noswah posted 10-31-2001 06:48 PM ET (US)

I don't know if a Manatee taste like "fishy chicken" or not, but as an old "Parrot Head" (Jimmy Buffet fan) I can tell you I believe they are on the endangered speicies list.
Jimmy has contributed lots of $$ in their behalf. They are truly gentle giants. Just my thoughts.
Bigshot posted 11-01-2001 02:41 PM ET (US)
Either did or are going to come off the list. Neat animals, have nothing against them(local celibrity is Snooty, he's 53), just hate the manatee huggers who are trying to eliminate boats in FL because of the manatees. They are not even indiginous to FL, came from India. That is another debate. Would not want to hit one, came close once. Could capsize a Montauk easily.
Eric posted 11-02-2001 01:18 AM ET (US)
That's the West Indian Manatee, as in Caribbean. Yes, they're an indiginous animal here, and long established in the fossil record. Exotic species are never listed as endangered, they aren't eligible for such listing.
There is an asian species, known as the Dugong. Different animal.
Highwater posted 11-02-2001 08:12 AM ET (US)
You might want to keep an eye on Hurricane Michelle.
http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/index.html
Bigshot posted 11-02-2001 11:05 AM ET (US)
Thanks Eric. I was just reading something where they stated their origin. That is the new battle. It is amazing and sad about the Manatee situation. I feel bad for the manatees but enough is enough from the dogooders. They have had marinas shut down, waterways banned, etc in trying to save this animal whose population has really grown. There are thousands of them and only like 10 die a year due to boats.
Ed Stone posted 11-03-2001 09:34 PM ET (US)
Hey Nick,
We stayed on the water at a days inn while
building a drugstore there in homassasa.
We never got out on the water because we
worked till dark.There is a lot of good
little places to stay on kings bay.
We just finished a store in Ellenton next
to the river.
Have fun!
Ed Stone
Bigshot posted 11-05-2001 10:27 AM ET (US)
Ed, the Walgreens on 301? Should let me know, I live 2 miles from there, Whaler was in the water!
lhg posted 11-05-2001 02:09 PM ET (US)
Manatees are related to the elephant. What does that tell you about continental drift?
flwhaler posted 11-07-2001 07:24 PM ET (US)
Manatees are under water obstructions.
Save the Glades! Use the money on them instead.
michael
Highwater posted 11-08-2001 12:20 PM ET (US)
Bigshot—Please post a trip report. We will be in that area the following week. We will start at Cedar Key on Nov 17 and will spend a week on the Suwannee, Homassa and Crystal Rivers.
Bigshot posted 11-12-2001 12:09 PM ET (US)
Highwater....had an absolute blast! Weather was great, people were nice, beer was cold and engine was not too hot. We spent friday and most of sat in Homasassa then late sat afternoon and half sun in Crystal river. I would recommend Homasassa and skip the crystal river if only 1 or 2 days. Crystal river is clear at the end, much bigger, and tons of people diving but I did not have as much fun or get the good seafood like in Homasassa. Don't expect south beach miami for either but we had a great relaxing time.
Places of interest(whaler accessable of course): Homasassa wildlife park(where the water is crystal clear and Manatees are abundant(very cool...water is only 72 all year so bring a shorty).
Margaritagrill: OK food but the biggest damn margaritas I have EVER seen.
Monkey island: small island in front of Charlie Browns seafood that has about 1/2 doz monkeys hanging out. Charlie Browns is awesome if you want seafood. Fresh Blueclaws maryland or garlic style, etc. CHEAP
McRaes resort(hotel and tiki bar. Very quaint and pretty happening for a night outside. You can also rent jon or pontoons if too far to Whaler trailer.
About 4 other waterfront hotels and bars, etc so you can go everywhere by boat(we did). Hotels are roughly $50 night so it is cheap but don't expect a mint on your pillow.
Great time for a couple days. Anymore than that and severe boredom might set in. Have fun kids and don't drive angry.
triblet posted 11-12-2001 08:28 PM ET (US)
Bigshot, at Crystal River, did you got to
Three Sisters?
Chuck
Highwater posted 11-12-2001 11:15 PM ET (US)
Bigshot—Thanks for the report. I am now thinking that we will start with a hotel on the Homasassa then camp on the Suwanee. We will have two Whalers with us, and will be in the area for 7 days (Saturday to Saturday). The kids will love the manatees and monkees, and I like the description of that margarita. I will be sure to pack my Jimmy Buffett _Changes in Latitudes_ CD!
Bigshot posted 11-13-2001 03:10 PM ET (US)
Where was 3 sisters? Over by Pete's pier right? I am not sure where it was. The dive guy said there were 3 poles. There were a lot of places with 3 poles, plus I was a bit loaded when he explained it to me the night before. It was too cold for me to swim w/o a suit but I might have driven over it, etc. Can you give me more details for next time?
triblet posted 11-13-2001 07:02 PM ET (US)
Three Sisters is a spring about a quarter
mile back up a canal. It was by far the
best spot for Manatees at Crystal River.
Fewer boats (esp. if you got there real
early). Decently clear water coming out
of the spring. The cattle boats turn up
now and then, that's the time to get out of
the water and have a hot toddy or whatever.
When the cattle boat leaves, check for lost
gear (Admiral Linda has been using the mask
I found for three years ;-)
A dive buddy of mine (really good UW photog
-- has been published in Nat Geo) had been
to Florida several times to photograph
manatees, and went to Three Sisters after I
recommended it. He really raved about it.
The jon boat rental place has maps.
http://www.tfn.net/Museum/Springs/ThreeSisters.htm
Chuck


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Author	Topic: Homassas springs/crystal river 11/9-11
Bigshot	posted 10-31-2001 03:52 PM ET (US) Having a big seafood festival in Homassasa that weekend. Gonna go with the Montauk and check out some Manatees, hear they taste like fishy chicken.
noswah	posted 10-31-2001 06:48 PM ET (US) I don't know if a Manatee taste like "fishy chicken" or not, but as an old "Parrot Head" (Jimmy Buffet fan) I can tell you I believe they are on the endangered speicies list. Jimmy has contributed lots of $$ in their behalf. They are truly gentle giants. Just my thoughts.
Bigshot	posted 11-01-2001 02:41 PM ET (US) Either did or are going to come off the list. Neat animals, have nothing against them(local celibrity is Snooty, he's 53), just hate the manatee huggers who are trying to eliminate boats in FL because of the manatees. They are not even indiginous to FL, came from India. That is another debate. Would not want to hit one, came close once. Could capsize a Montauk easily.
Eric	posted 11-02-2001 01:18 AM ET (US) That's the West Indian Manatee, as in Caribbean. Yes, they're an indiginous animal here, and long established in the fossil record. Exotic species are never listed as endangered, they aren't eligible for such listing. There is an asian species, known as the Dugong. Different animal.
Highwater	posted 11-02-2001 08:12 AM ET (US) You might want to keep an eye on Hurricane Michelle. http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/index.html
Bigshot	posted 11-02-2001 11:05 AM ET (US) Thanks Eric. I was just reading something where they stated their origin. That is the new battle. It is amazing and sad about the Manatee situation. I feel bad for the manatees but enough is enough from the dogooders. They have had marinas shut down, waterways banned, etc in trying to save this animal whose population has really grown. There are thousands of them and only like 10 die a year due to boats.
Ed Stone	posted 11-03-2001 09:34 PM ET (US) Hey Nick, We stayed on the water at a days inn while building a drugstore there in homassasa. We never got out on the water because we worked till dark.There is a lot of good little places to stay on kings bay. We just finished a store in Ellenton next to the river. Have fun! Ed Stone
Bigshot	posted 11-05-2001 10:27 AM ET (US) Ed, the Walgreens on 301? Should let me know, I live 2 miles from there, Whaler was in the water!
lhg	posted 11-05-2001 02:09 PM ET (US) Manatees are related to the elephant. What does that tell you about continental drift?
flwhaler	posted 11-07-2001 07:24 PM ET (US) Manatees are under water obstructions. Save the Glades! Use the money on them instead. michael
Highwater	posted 11-08-2001 12:20 PM ET (US) Bigshot—Please post a trip report. We will be in that area the following week. We will start at Cedar Key on Nov 17 and will spend a week on the Suwannee, Homassa and Crystal Rivers.
Bigshot	posted 11-12-2001 12:09 PM ET (US) Highwater....had an absolute blast! Weather was great, people were nice, beer was cold and engine was not too hot. We spent friday and most of sat in Homasassa then late sat afternoon and half sun in Crystal river. I would recommend Homasassa and skip the crystal river if only 1 or 2 days. Crystal river is clear at the end, much bigger, and tons of people diving but I did not have as much fun or get the good seafood like in Homasassa. Don't expect south beach miami for either but we had a great relaxing time. Places of interest(whaler accessable of course): Homasassa wildlife park(where the water is crystal clear and Manatees are abundant(very cool...water is only 72 all year so bring a shorty). Margaritagrill: OK food but the biggest damn margaritas I have EVER seen. Monkey island: small island in front of Charlie Browns seafood that has about 1/2 doz monkeys hanging out. Charlie Browns is awesome if you want seafood. Fresh Blueclaws maryland or garlic style, etc. CHEAP McRaes resort(hotel and tiki bar. Very quaint and pretty happening for a night outside. You can also rent jon or pontoons if too far to Whaler trailer. About 4 other waterfront hotels and bars, etc so you can go everywhere by boat(we did). Hotels are roughly $50 night so it is cheap but don't expect a mint on your pillow. Great time for a couple days. Anymore than that and severe boredom might set in. Have fun kids and don't drive angry.
triblet	posted 11-12-2001 08:28 PM ET (US) Bigshot, at Crystal River, did you got to Three Sisters? Chuck
Highwater	posted 11-12-2001 11:15 PM ET (US) Bigshot—Thanks for the report. I am now thinking that we will start with a hotel on the Homasassa then camp on the Suwanee. We will have two Whalers with us, and will be in the area for 7 days (Saturday to Saturday). The kids will love the manatees and monkees, and I like the description of that margarita. I will be sure to pack my Jimmy Buffett _Changes in Latitudes_ CD!
Bigshot	posted 11-13-2001 03:10 PM ET (US) Where was 3 sisters? Over by Pete's pier right? I am not sure where it was. The dive guy said there were 3 poles. There were a lot of places with 3 poles, plus I was a bit loaded when he explained it to me the night before. It was too cold for me to swim w/o a suit but I might have driven over it, etc. Can you give me more details for next time?
triblet	posted 11-13-2001 07:02 PM ET (US) Three Sisters is a spring about a quarter mile back up a canal. It was by far the best spot for Manatees at Crystal River. Fewer boats (esp. if you got there real early). Decently clear water coming out of the spring. The cattle boats turn up now and then, that's the time to get out of the water and have a hot toddy or whatever. When the cattle boat leaves, check for lost gear (Admiral Linda has been using the mask I found for three years ;-) A dive buddy of mine (really good UW photog -- has been published in Nat Geo) had been to Florida several times to photograph manatees, and went to Three Sisters after I recommended it. He really raved about it. The jon boat rental place has maps. http://www.tfn.net/Museum/Springs/ThreeSisters.htm Chuck