Big Shoals State Park in White Springs, Florida 2009 and 2010

Lee and Karen Duquette,
The Two RV Gypsies: Full-Time RVers

	at Big Shoals State Park White Springs, Florida April 1, 2009 (and again on April 24, 2010)
The two RV Gypsies re-visited White Springs, Florida in April 2009 and again in April 2010. This time, they spent a lot of time at Big Shoals State Park on a rainy day in 2009, and revisited Big Shoals State Park again on a sunny day in 2010. They discovered that more than just the weather of the day had changed as shown in both sets of photos below.

Big Shoals State Park features the largest whitewater rapids in Florida. Limestone bluffs, towering 80 feet above the banks of the Suwannee River, afford outstanding vistas not found anywhere else in Florida. When the water level on the Suwannee River is between 59 and 61 feet above mean sea level, the Big Shoals rapids earn a Class III Whitewater classification, attracting thrill-seeking canoe and kayak enthusiasts. Over 28 miles of wooded trails provide opportunities for hiking, biking, horseback riding and wildlife viewing. The Woodpecker Trail, a 3.4-mile long multipurpose paved trail, connects the Little Shoals and Big Shoals entrances to the park. The river offers excellent opportunities for freshwater fishing. A picnic pavilion that seats up to 40 people is available at the Little Shoals entrance.

Big Shoals State Park in White Springs, Florida April 1, 2009
Below: The dirt road entrance to Big Shoals State Park and the bridge at the entrance to Big Shoals Park

A big smile on a rainy day in the woods - this sign was nowhere to be found in 2010	This is what you get when you take your own photo with a real camera

The two RV Gypsies enjoyed a 2-mile hike on a rainy day - This river was not reachable when the two RV Gypsies returned in 2010.

This park claims the largest whitewater rapids in Florida. When the water level on the Suwannee River is between 59 and 61 feet above mean sea level, the Big Shoals rapids earn a Class III Whitewater classification, attracting thrill-seeking canoe and kayak enthusiasts.





Below: Lee Duquette on the beach April 2009 - writing in the sand - the rain had temporarily stopped. (This sand was unreachable by the two RV Gypsies in April 2010)

Below: Lee Duquette wrote in the sand "We were here April 1"

Below: Lee Duquette wrote Karen Duquette's name in the sand - how sweet!

Below: Lee and Karen Duquette enjoyed the beach and the woods.


Below: An Armadillo ran right in front of the two RV Gypsies as they were hiking.

As stated above, the two RV Gypsies returned to this area one year later on April 27, 2010 and found that nature had really changed the area. The path to the beach and the river was no longer accessible. But since this was a nice day without rain, the two RV Gypsies decided to continue on the trail to actually see the limestone bluffs at Big Shoal this time. But after walking the trail for over an hour, they found the trail leading away from the river, so they turned around. It was not anywhere near as enjoyable as the first trip, even though it was pouring rain the first trip.

April 27, 2010
The road into Little Shoals	Lunch area

Below; The Woodpecker Trail, a 3.4 mile long multipurpose paved trail, connects the Little Shoals and Big Shoals entrances to the park. The two RV Gypsies walked part of this trail, then they noticed a small road alongside the trail and decided to drive that road to Big Shoals, so they turned around to get into their toad.

Below: This side road was a bit bouncy, and Karen Duquette was a bit concerned about what to do if a car came from the other direction because there was no room for two cars to pass each other. These first 3 photos were taken through the tinted front window of the truck as it drove along the dirt "road" in the woods.

Below: After taking 3 photos through the tinted front window of the truck as it drove along the dirt "road" in the woods, Karen got out to get a better photo of the truck that would show that only one vehicle fits on the road at a time.

No problem - safe arrival at the parking lot to Big Shoals without meeting another vehicle.

Below: Looking through the trees at the Suwannee River, which was not reachable from this trail on this date.



Below: A swamp area on the side of the trail away from the river.


Below: Karen Duquette photographed a very small lizard.

Below: Lee Duquette photographed a yucky critter in a tree. The park says there are poisonous snakes in the area, so this could be one or not, but whatever it is, Karen Duquette hated the photo, but Lee wanted it posted on this website anyway.

Below: While Lee Duquette looked at the trail map, Karen Duquette took a few photos from the little bridge.