Florida or bust!

[Ghazanfar Ghori]

Ok - time to start pulling together this Florida field trip.

So what's the deal? Basically - we call pile up into a car/van/bus
and drive down to Florida.

We did this a couple of years ago with the following highlights:

Snorkeled at several 'planted' springs - the Ichtuknee was like
swimming down a 2 mile planted tank - AMAZING.

Tour of Florida Aquatic Nurseries by Brad (the owner)

Collected several 'aquarium' plants from the wild.

Dip net and seine net collection of native / introduced species of fish.

Driftwood - ton's of it!

This year, I think we'll include a couple of pit stops at bogs to
invsetimagate carniverous plants etc.

Tons of fun!

Dates - we're thinking early June. Trip would probably be for 5-6
days. Last year we left on a Thursday and drop back up on Monday.

This is totally open to suggestions etc.
So - who's interested?

[krisw]

I'm interested. Sounds like a good practice run for my Peru trip in August!

[Ltrepeter2000]

I am out as much as I want to go. Thats too in the middle of my Garden season to be out of the store that long.

[rodcon00]

Road Trip Road Trip Road Trip!!! Any chance we can get the immortal Ricky Cain to get to Florida around the same time?

I've still got the sein net and added the lead line to the bottom as suggested by Sean.

Other highlights of the trip included seeing all the plants and even the native fish in the springs while snorkeling. I'll have my underwater digital camera for this trip so hopefully I can get some good shots of the blue fin killies we saw down there last time. Some terrestrial highlights included banana spiders and ant lions!!!

Most unexpected find of the trip for me was finding Blue Crab in the freshwater springs and wolfia at FAN.

Early June looks good for me. Count me in.

Oh and one more thing Ghazanfar no Gar this time.

Would also be a good time for me to practice netting techniques for my Peru Trip in August.

[SCMurphy]

If Rodney is going I may have to. Although, my wife is reminding me that I just went to the Netherlands/Germany/Switzerland.

[Ghazanfar Ghori]

This is just a drive - no flying involved - all in the same timezone. Just tell you
got a little lost coming home.

[krisw]

Aren't there crypts down in Florida? You have to come, otherwise, everything will be identified as wendtii "green", wendtii "purple", wendtii "by the river bank", wendtii "underfoot," etc...

[DelawareJim]

Rainbow river baby! The Rainbow and the San Marcos in Texas are supposed to be chocked full of Crypts. beckettii in both, and undulata and wendtii in the Rainbow.

Also hoping to score some Coqui and Cuban grreenhouse frogs.

June should be easier for me than May.

Cheers.
Jim

[Jeff120]

You arent going to Texas!

[Ltrepeter2000]

The Rainbow River is in Florida.