RiverMadness!
What It Is...
Fun
& Festivities on the Ichetucknee, Suwanee & Santa Fe Rivers in Florida!
without pause beneath the limestone
the healing waters rise to the light of the day
percolating forth from crystal caverns
stopping for no one on its way
a river is born in northern florida
pristine and unimpeded
a gift, a dream, a quirk of fate
from whence the ice receded
a liquid ribbon highway
amongst the ancient cypress trees
let's trade our cars in for canoes
and hang out with the manatees
it's time to gather in the woods
and leave our cares behind
rivermadness calls to you
come down and ease your mind
RiverMadness Musings by Tom Smith
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The name "Ichetucknee" is an
Indian word meaning "pond of the beaver". The Park was purchased by the state
from a phosphate company in 1970. A Spanish mission was once located on the banks of the
river. In the late 1800s, a grist mill was operated on the river.The park is 2,241 acres.
The head spring was declared a National Natural Landmark in 1972. The springs produce 233
million gallons of fresh water each day.
RiverMadness
a condition in which possible symptoms include lethargy,crassness,
apathy, rural drunkeness, nocturnal chanting, regression, amorous behavior toward
strangers, appearance of vestigal gill slits, and an inexplicable desire to don
loincloths. Often concommitent with philosophical ranting about the "power
structure", and how "I ain't buyin' into that bullshit no more!",and
declarations of "chucking it all"...whatever that means.
 So, what it is:
A VERY informal weekend gathering in
the woods of North Central Florida,next to the pristine waters of the Ichetucknee and
Santa Fe Rivers
- A
no frills setting
- Usually some good cooking
- Always some good tunes
- A place to get jiggy with it
- An agenda that is created daily, but always
involves a river or a spring
- Some very heated competition at the
horseshoe pit and volleyball court
- Strangely "Woodstockian" in a communal,
tent-strewn landscape
- An opportunity to test your ideas
for
"a brave new world" on a new audience
- Endless adult beverages
- The Yin to the Yang that is your "other-life"
- A PRIMITIVE setting, as in no room service,
or for that matter, no ROOMS
- A bunch of fun people, who learned as kids how
to share and to play well together
- Buffet style eating...although the menu has
expanded considerably from Spam
- Activities...Paddling, swimming/snorkeling,
contemplating the universe, horseshoes,
volleyball, musical entertainment, drinking and
carousing.
- Free Admission
- Non-Judgmental (or at least as long as you're
present, we WILL talk about you when you're
gone)
- Communal living...in that you are expected to
participate and contribute...even if its just
storytelling
- A place where you get to pump your own well
water...by hand
- A place to grow new friendships and cement old
ones
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RiverMadness III
May 17, 2001 |
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RiverMania I
November 17, 2000 |
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RiverMadness II
May 25, 2000 |
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updated: |
| 09/03/01 09:59 PM
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