sign: Riverbend Park, Loxahatchee River

The Two RV Gypsies and family
Canoeing with the alligators
on Loxahatchee River in
Riverbend Park in Jupiter, Florida
January 27, 2013

Palm Beach County's Riverbend Park, west of Jupiter, gained national recognition as the 2010 recipient of the prestigious National Association of County Park and Recreation Officials (NACPRO) Environmental / Conservation Award. This award program is presented to recognize an exceptional effort to acquire, restore, preserve, operate, or develop unique and significant conservation and natural areas and programs. Winning entries serve as a model to be shared with parks and recreation departments across the country.
look at the alligator belowA really big Alligator
an alligator at Riverbend Park
two turtles on a log
two turtles on a log
And away they go
Josh, Sam, John and Renee in their canoes
Josh, Sam, John and Renee in their canoes

Below: The two RV Gypsies paddled their canoe under a bridge and over a small dam.
paddling the canoes under the bridge
the dam at Riverbend Park

Below: Josh and Sam did NOT make it over the dam and so into the cold water they went. The red cooler started to float away.
Josh and Sam flip their canoe going over the dam
Josh and Sam trying to upright the canoe

Below: John jumped into the water to fetch the cooler and helped upright Josh's canoe.
John Smythers in the cold water John Smythers uprighting the canoe
Below: Josh and Sam ready for more action.
Josh and Sam are ready for more action.

Below: The scenery was beautiful, but there were a lot of tight corners, and logs to paddle around.
canoeing aroound the logs and corners
Sam, Josh, Renee, and John in their canoes
paddling the canoe around a corner
paddling the canoe around a corner
Josh and Sam
the daughter of the two RV Gypsies and her husband, John Smythers
the two RV Gypsies in a canoe at Riverbend state park in Florida
the two RV Gypsies in a canoe at Riverbend state park in Florida
Below: The two RV Gypsies took a break
the two RV Gypsies take a break from the canoe
beautiful scenery at Riverbend Park in Jupiter Florida
a tight area to canoe through

Below: A girl got out of her canoe to entertain the two RV Gypsies.
a girl balancing on a tree over the River
a girl balancing on a tree over the River

Below: The trip back was much harder, paddling against the current. Sometimes everyone had to paddle with all of their strength and their canoes were barely moving.
trying to canoe upstream is ahrd work

Below: When everyone reached the dam again on the return trip, they dragged the canoes up one side of the boat ramp and back down the other side of the boat ramp to bypass the dam.
taking the canoe around the dam
taking the canoe around the dam
taking the canoe around the dam
beautiful scenery on the Loxahatchee River

Below: Lee Duquette took a short break

Below: Lee ducked as he paddled under a tree.
Lee Duquette in his canoe
Lee ducks as he paddles under the tree.

Below: Back in calm water again, it was time for some fun - but John hit Josh in the head with his paddle (not really, it just looks that way in the photo).
fun time in the canoes
fun time in the canoes
bridge on Loxahatchee River at Rivverbend Park in Jupiter
canoe ready to go under the bridge on Loxahatchee River at Rivverbend Park in Jupiter
Josh Smythers, Lee Duquette
John Smythers and Josh' friend Sam
the two RV Gypsies in their canoe
look below

go to the next adventure of the two RV Gypsies in 2013The two RV Gypsies and their family returned to Riverbend on March 10th, and casually walked along some of the trails.