Dodging the Rain
By Jeff Moffitt
@moffittjc (118433)
Gainesville, Florida
June 7, 2020 7:31am CST
We've been getting a lot of rain lately, and with the approach of tropical storm Cristobal, the entire weekend is going to be a wash due to the predicted heavy rains.
So on Friday morning, my son and I decided to take a chance and head out for a fun morning of tubing on the river before the rains moved in. It was chilly and foggy, but we still had a good time. Only a few people were brave enough to be out on the river with the approaching rains.
I've spent a lot of time at the local springs and rivers lately, mostly because I'm still working from home and don't have much to do. It's a good way to pass the time in a safe manner that keeps us away from crowds. We start opening our facilities back up next week, so I'll be back to work at the office and things will start getting busy around here.
The photo is my son and I sitting atop Devil's Eye Spring along the Santa Fe River. The river is in the background. It looks like the water is super shallow, and that we are right on top of the limestone rocks on the bottom. However, the water in the spring is 20 feet deep (6 meters), but because the water is so pure and crystal clear it appears to be super shallow.
The Devil's Eye spring system is one of the most popular and heavily dived springs in the world. There are over 30,000 feet (10,000 meters) of underground caves and passageways that have been mapped so far, and many more that haven't. Divers can spend their entire lives exploring the cave system deep under ground and still not see it all!
How's your weekend going so far? Other than a fun Friday morning on the river, my weekend has been pretty boring so far sitting at home due to the heavy rains outside from the tropical storm.
20 people like this
20 responses
@moffittjc (118433)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Jun 20
No, that's the rocks on the bottom of the spring, 20 feet (6 meters) below the surface. The water is so clear that you can see that far down! It does look like something right on the surface of the water, but it is in reality deep below the surface!
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118433)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Jun 20
@JudyEv See if this photo gives you a better perspective. My friend Dakota was trying out her new standup paddle board and I captured this picture when she was right over the spring. Even from this photo it still looks shallow, but it is really deep. The part where the hole is where the spring water comes out of the underwater caves is probably 12-15 meters deep. But it looks like you could reach down and touch it from the surface.
2 people like this
@JudyEv (325696)
• Rockingham, Australia
8 Jun 20
@moffittjc You did mention the depth and clarity of the water but I didn't appreciate that it was the bottom I was seeing. That's pretty amazing.
2 people like this
@Tampa_girl7 (48927)
• United States
12 Jun 20
I’m so jealous
The water looks so inviting.
The water looks so inviting.2 people like this
@Tampa_girl7 (48927)
• United States
12 Jun 20
@moffittjc it reminds me of the spring in Tampa that I swam in.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118433)
• Gainesville, Florida
12 Jun 20
It sure is inviting! And it’s nice and cold, perfect for a hot summer day! I’m going to the springs again today! Friday’s aren’t too bad, it’s the weekends where it gets crazy busy!
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118433)
• Gainesville, Florida
13 Jun 20
@Tampa_girl7 Was that the one on the Hillsborough River? I wonder if it is still pure and clean nowadays as it was back in the day?
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118433)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Jun 20
Yeah, the superb water clarity makes it look super shallow, even though it's much deeper than it seems. We're very fortunate to have such clear springs and rivers here in north Florida.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118433)
• Gainesville, Florida
16 Jun 20
@noni1959 That's funny that you asked that question, because my son and I were just talking about this yesterday. He went kayaking with a friend in Silver Springs State Park, and that place is crawling with monkeys. Thousands of them. It's only about 40 miles south of where I live. Although there's no evidence of established populations here where I live, from time to time there are news reports about a monkey being spotted locally. I actually surprised that they haven't spread out faster and taken residence here. I'm sure it's only a matter of time. The state is actually taking steps to capture monkeys when they can to keep their population from spreading out of control.
2 people like this
@noni1959 (9886)
• United States
15 Jun 20
@moffittjc Do you have the monkey issue in that area? I read where rogue males are spreading out and hitting Northeast Florida.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118433)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Jun 20
The foggy background where the river is does look a little eerie, doesn't it? That fog cleared up pretty quickly though.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118433)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Jun 20
@DianneN How's life up in Connecticut? Has your weather been beautiful? You kinda left Florida at a good time. We've been getting tons of rain and storms lately. Even south Florida has been inundated with rain.
2 people like this
@LindaOHio (156060)
• United States
7 Jun 20
What a cool photo! I'm glad you were able to get out with your son. Nothing going on here!
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118433)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Jun 20
Thanks. Nothing going on here today either. It’s been pouring rain all day. It’s finally slowed down to a drizzle, but we got more heavy stuff on the way. I’ve just been myLotting and slowly getting all the laundry and cleaning done.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118433)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Jun 20
@LindaOHio the flooding is a given. It floods here when we get an inch of rain. We've gotten over 16 inches today. The flooding is going to be pretty crazy when the sun comes up tomorrow. Thankfully, with Florida's porous limestone and sandy soil, it will all drain quickly.
2 people like this
@LindaOHio (156060)
• United States
7 Jun 20
@moffittjc Stay safe. I hope you don't get any really bad weather or flooding.
2 people like this
@Butterfingers (66585)
• India
7 Jun 20
Take care and stay safe. It rained yesterday but it's sunny today and not hot so it's a nice weather
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118433)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Jun 20
In another day or two, when this tropical storm passes through, it will end up becoming very hot and muggy here. I miss the sunshine, but I surely don't miss the heat! Hope you have a fun day!
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118433)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Jun 20
@Butterfingers No fun day for me. It's pouring down rain! I'm just going to stay inside and clean the house and play on my computer all day!
2 people like this
@sabtraversa (12923)
• Italy
7 Jun 20
Yeah, it does look shallow but I know better. 
It's still beautiful to look at.
I definitely prefer "bad weather" over "crowds".
We'll see what I'm going to do in the next days in terms of walking, here the weather is not going to be nice either. Rain is fine but I'd rather not walk outdoors during a thunderstorm.
It's still beautiful to look at.
I definitely prefer "bad weather" over "crowds".
We'll see what I'm going to do in the next days in terms of walking, here the weather is not going to be nice either. Rain is fine but I'd rather not walk outdoors during a thunderstorm.2 people like this
@moffittjc (118433)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Jun 20
Yes, please be safe! I wouldn't want you to get struck by lightning or anything bad like that!
2 people like this
@simone10 (54189)
• Louisville, Kentucky
12 Jun 20
@moffittjc It doesn't scare you to be in the water knowing there are or could be alligators in it?
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118433)
• Gainesville, Florida
12 Jun 20
@simone10 Only if it's murky water that I can't see clearly in.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118433)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Jun 20
Oh yes, there are plenty of alligators! But because the water is so cold, their metabolism essentially goes dormant, so they don't move much or eat much. I actually got a good photo of an alligator under water, I'll write a post about it in the next day or two.
3 people like this
@DaddyEvil (137145)
• United States
10 Jun 20
Your son looks like he'd rather be anywhere else than tubing!
I'm glad both of you had a good time, Jeff. 
I'm glad both of you had a good time, Jeff. 2 people like this
@DaddyEvil (137145)
• United States
10 Jun 20
@moffittjc 
So... you're telling me your a bad dad.
I see... and I think I even understand. Maybe I should take Pretty tubing. Then she'd quit telling me what a great dad you sound like. *sigh* If/When she contacts you about being her baby daddy... turn her down! 
So... you're telling me your a bad dad.
I see... and I think I even understand. Maybe I should take Pretty tubing. Then she'd quit telling me what a great dad you sound like. *sigh* If/When she contacts you about being her baby daddy... turn her down! 2 people like this
@moffittjc (118433)
• Gainesville, Florida
10 Jun 20
@DaddyEvil I’ll remember that when Pretty comes calling. Do not be a baby daddy. Do not be a baby daddy. Do not be a baby daddy.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118433)
• Gainesville, Florida
10 Jun 20
He "warmed" up to it! I took the picture when we first got in the water, and it was freezing cold! My son has very little meat on his body, so he was freezing cold at first, hence the look on his face!
2 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (95105)
• Marion, Ohio
7 Jun 20
That is very clear water. Hope the storm passes soon.
2 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (95105)
• Marion, Ohio
8 Jun 20
@moffittjc I dont know of any near us that clear. Enjoy
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118433)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Jun 20
@wolfgirl569 We have dozens of springs like this all around this area. This part of Florida has the highest concentration of first magnitude springs in the entire planet, and people come from all over the world to swim and dive in the springs and underground cave systems. And the water is so pure and clean and clear!
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118433)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Jun 20
I love that the water is so clean and clear. It's mostly that way out in the river as well, you can almost see the bottom along the entire stretch of river. I love that there are still places left around here where the water and the nature is still pristine and pure.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118433)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Jun 20
We got caught in a little bit of that rain, but it wasn't nothing horrible. We were already wet from being in the springs, so it wasn't like it ruined our day by raining on us! lol
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118433)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Jun 20
@just4him I don't mind being out in the rain to begin with, usually it's so hot here that the cold rain feels good. But sometimes, like when I'm dressed up for work or something, it's not the right time to be out playing in the rain!
2 people like this
@just4him (306079)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
7 Jun 20
@moffittjc That's good it didn't ruin your day. I agree. When you're already wet, a little rain isn't going to hurt.
2 people like this
@JESSY3236 (18923)
• United States
8 Jun 20
Sorta bad weekend. Friday I had a headache. Saturday morning I had to clean up cat throw up again. And I wasn't feeling good. I went to the grocery store. Sunday I was feeling better and Lily (my cat) was too.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118433)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Jun 20
Sorry you didn't feel so great throughout most of the weekend.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118433)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Jun 20
I wish I was out having fun today! It’s been really boring sitting at home today due to all the rain.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118433)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Jun 20
@CarolDM I can't believe that I am still sitting here, and it is STILL pouring down rain! We were at 16 inches of rain about an hour ago, so it will be interesting to see what our overall totals will be. Looking at the radar, the rain should taper off around 8:15-8:30pm. When it rains like this, the meadow behind my house turns into a lake. I'll have to see how high up it is tomorrow morning when daylight arrives. Hopefully it's nowhere near the edge of my house.
2 people like this
@CarolDM (203454)
• Nashville, Tennessee
7 Jun 20
@moffittjc You will get another chance.
2 people like this
@Lakshman15 (2662)
• India
7 Jun 20
Wow that's great enjoy your day but be careful on your safety too.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118433)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Jun 20
I will be staying inside all day today, so it will be a pretty boring day. It's raining too hard outside to try and go out in that awful weather.
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118433)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Jun 20
@Lakshman15 Does it ever cool down where you live? Or is it hot all year long?
2 people like this
@Lakshman15 (2662)
• India
7 Jun 20
@moffittjc oh enjoy your rainy day..but hear we have hot weather always.
2 people like this
@snowy22315 (169921)
• United States
7 Jun 20
Interesting about Devil's Eye Spring..never heard of it before. Stay dry!
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118433)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Jun 20
There are dozens of first magnitude springs around the area where I live, pumping millions of gallons of ice cold fresh water from deep within our underground aquifer into our rivers. The water is pure and clean enough to drink right from the springs! In fact, Coca-Cola has a bottling plant located by one of the springs, where they get their water for their Dasani bottled water.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118433)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Jun 20
I love the fact that my son enjoys spending time in the outdoors, so we're always doing fun stuff together like camping, hiking, swimming and kayaking. I'm glad he doesn't spend all his time sitting in front of a computer all day!
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118433)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Jun 20
Haha, I always try to take fun photos!
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (129431)
• Israel
8 Jun 20
@moffittjc
Nice tan and love the picture. So did you get home way before tropical storm Cristobal hit?
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118433)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Jun 20
@Hannihar I'm normally much darker than that. As a native Floridian, I generally have a dark tan throughout the year. But I feel like I'm white as a ghost right now, even though to someone like you it looks like I am tan!
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118433)
• Gainesville, Florida
8 Jun 20
Tan? This is the palest I’ve ever been! Haha
Yes, I was safe and sound inside my house when all the torrential rains hit.
1 person likes this
@Hannihar (129431)
• Israel
8 Jun 20
@moffittjc
In the picture it looks like you have a tan. So glad you were safe and sound inside when the rains hit.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (118433)
• Gainesville, Florida
25 Jun 20
Yes, that water is very clear, and pure and clean too. Coca-Cola has a bottling plant nearby, they use the water from the springs for their sodas and bottled water.
1 person likes this
@DocAndersen (54413)
• United States
7 Jun 20
that water is so pristine and clear!
weekend so far, relaxing!
2 people like this
@moffittjc (118433)
• Gainesville, Florida
7 Jun 20
If it loads, here's a photo of me at the surface taking an underwater photo of the sandy bottom of the spring some 20 feet below. It looks like it's only a few feet deep!
Edit: the photo loaded sideways! In the lower left corner of the photo you can see part of the entrance to the spring. It looks tiny, but it's a big enough opening that several scuba divers can swim down into it at the same time.
1 person likes this
