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Touring the Famed Ocklawaha River


Upon deciding to take an excursion up the famed Ocklawaha River, we make our arrangements with Col. Hubbard Hart who, by far, owns the most highly recommended steamboats. We are told this river journey is the most unique in all of Florida, perhaps the entire world.

Ocklawaha River Steamers.

 

Palatka, Fla. Steamboat Landing.

Palatka, Fla. Steamer "Hiawatha" leaving Palatka.

Ocklawaha River Boat "Hiawatha" leaving Palatka.

We chose the "Hiawatha" and begin our voyage from the harbor. Before we depart, we gather on the decks for a portraiture. Our staterooms are spacious, yet we spend most of our time on deck taking in the deeply interesting sights.

 

Here we are on the steamer entering the narrow Ocklawaha River. I am standing on the top deck to the right. The gigantic cypress trees tower above our steamer. One cannot believe their massive girth.

Steamer entering the narrow Ocklawaha River, Florida.

On the Ocklawaha River, Florida.

 

We take in the sketches of life along the narrow, winding river. The flora with palmettos, lilies and massive vines are like none I have seen before. We observe alligators and snakes and limpkins and cranes. The men take shot at birds and alligators. They promise me a plume for my velvet crimson hat!

The "William Howard" on the Ocklawaha River, Fla.

Home of the Alligator, Ocklawaha River, Florida.

 

Gigging from Steamer, on the Ocklawaha River, Fla.

These fish, covered in a delightful orange sauce, are served at our evening meal, of which no one found complaint. We retire to the upper deck as night falls. The captain steers his way through the narrows by the fire light kept bright by the boatman. The eerie silence is broken only by the night noises as insects, reptiles and birds sing in concert.

 

At day break, we must move aside in the narrow channel as we encounter the log rafts floating down the river on their way to Wilson Cypress Company in Palatka, one of the world's largest cypress mills. The cypress timber, so popular in the north, is cut in great quantities on the Ocklawaha and rafted out.

Ocklawaha River, Fla. Running log rafts.

 

Tourists by the Hart Line Steamers are permitted to visit P.T. Randall's Orange Grove at Connor Landing, Ocklawaha River, Florida.

We visit Mr. Randall's Orange Grove at Conner Landing. Mr. Randall graciously gives us a tour of his grove and permits us to pick his oranges and grapefruits. Everywhere the sweet smell of orange blossoms permeate the air. I weave the blossoms in my hair.

 

More scenes from the river . . .

Ocklawaha River, Fla. Florida Crackers and House boat.

In Florida. Orange boat on the Ocklawaha River.

Ocklawaha River, Fla. Steamer leaving Eureka Landing.




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