Ichetucknee Memory
My Ichetucknee Story
by Hal Lawlor
I grew up in South Florida. In 1969, a good friend allowed several of us younger guys to go on a trip up to the Ichetucknee River. This was before it was a park and it seemed like a secret piece of paradise to us, in fact you had to be shown how to find it. It was unbelievable. The water was so clear you didn’t need a mask and when you put one on, it was like looking through clear glass. Even the air seemed supercharged with life. Right out of Middle Earth!
We would camp at O’Leno, spend the first day picking all the trash out of the water and then spend as much time as possible in the water and by that river.
Hal Lawlor has lived on North Florida area lakes for 45 years.
That began a yearly river trip for us for the next six years. This was when you could park one van at the head spring, another at the bridge and spend the day on the river, often without seeing anyone else, only one place to rent a tube. Truly a gift! We would camp at O’Leno, spend the first day picking all the trash out of the water and then spend as much time as possible in the water and by that river.
It was a magical time and truly a sacred place. I really feel privileged to have known the river back in that time. It was one main reason I moved up here for school. My heart aches to see the damage being done to all of our springs and lakes. My family and I have lived on the area lakes here for the last 45 years.
The Ichetucknee River and surrounding springs are truly a treasure to be protected by all Floridians. Beloved Blue River indeed.