Overall, the paddle was beautiful, awesome weather and full of wildlife. Orange Creek is navigable for most of its length by canoe. "Side-Creeks" An Information, Opinion, & Photos Report Compiled by Ocklawahaman … The Ocklawaha River flows north from the Harris chain of lakes for 74 miles to the St. Johns River. (Wilderness Systems Tsunami 165) Pre Launch Camp The group spent Friday night 2/15/2013 at Nelson's Landing. If you would like to share content from floridapaddlenotes.com, I ask that you clearly state where the content came from, limit the copy to a few paragraphs, and link back to the original post. The river forms the western boundary of the Ocala National Forest. The Ocklawaha River Map Click on the image for a larger view 1.866.236.4606 15260 N.E. From Prairie Creek, only half of its water is artificially diverted towards Orange Lake via the Camps Canal, the rest flows to its historic destination, Paynes Prairie.[3][4]. I believe it is privately owned. A more detailed look into today’s paddle follows below…James, For a detailed Ocklawaha River history and overview please visit previous Florida Paddle Notes…. The river and its source tributaries are navigable for most of their length. If you have questions about any of this, or need more info on using images, please send an email to floridapaddlenotes@gmail.com. Due to low water be cautious of the mud along the banks. Today’s paddle covered a 6 mile stretch from Paynes Landing to Orange Springs. Be careful of the mud along the banks! You can see it was a nice day and easy paddling. Ocklawaha River will not drag on another generation. Rent a houseboat from Miller's Houseboats (800 458-2628 or 352 542-7349). When it narrows into the river is were you slow down. Keep up with new paddles here to receive an email notification when a new adventure is posted…sign me up! The treaty was intended to relocate all Native Americans to a reservation  west of the Mississippi River, however it actually resulted in the Second Seminole War. The river and its source tributaries are navigable for most of their length. Outdoor recreational activities include hunting, fishing, wildlife viewing, hiking, horseback riding, and paddling, although there are few established trails. The St. Johns drains a total area of 2,600 square miles (6,700 km2) in Putnam, St. Johns, Clay, and Ocklawaha River at Moss Bluff annual mean discharge (1944-2002) Figure 5. Rest Areas: There are a few areas to pull over for a break up to the the 2 mile mark, the best spot is at mile 1.60. Rodman Dam on the Ocklawaha River is the only dam in the nation without even an alleged purpose. Read more, All words and images posted on floridapaddlenotes.com are the property of James Steele and copyrighted in the year they were published, unless otherwise noted. Your email address will not be published. All are connected by navigable waterways, with the exception of Lake Yale. Across the river Blue Store launch can be seen. The drawdown exposes the original Ocklawaha River channel along with the remains of hundreds of Cypress tree stumps that once lined the banks of the river. During its slow 310-mile northerly journey, the St. Johns River morphs from a marsh in Indian River County into a broad waterway with expansive views as it flows to northeast He would just shout it out. The addition of the man-made canals has increased both the discharge flow and amount of runoff pollution carried into the river. Spring: We put in off 160th Street and across the launch site saw Payne’s Landing. It’s […] Lake Ocklawaha (also known as the Rodman Reservoir), where the river is impounded to form the lake. The first several miles of the trip was on a canal that was built to connect the upper part of the river with a lower more navigable section. North of Lake Harris it becomes the Ocklawaha River which flows to the St. Johns River entering the Atlantic at Jacksonville. This chain is a part of the Ocklawaha River Basin and includes Lakes Dora, Beauclair, Carlton, Eustis, Apopka, Harris, Little Harris, Griffin and Yale. A bit cool at launch, lower 60°s but sunny with blues skies above and a gentle breeze. Save my name, email, and site URL in my browser for next time I post a comment. The main launch is clogged and due to the low water, not navigable. There were lots of birds along the way. Next up, as we approach Indian Bluff ( mile 1.58 ) there is an old dock and remnants of a bulkhead made from palm trunks on RR. Nelson's Landing is a campground, boat ramp, restaurant, and biker bar. The 74-mile-long (119 km)[1] Ocklawaha River flows north from central Florida until it joins the St. Johns River near Palatka. St. Johns River Water Management District, "Regulations Summary for Gores Landing Unit", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Ocklawaha_River&oldid=999469347, Bodies of water of Putnam County, Florida, Short description is different from Wikidata, Wikipedia articles with WorldCat-VIAF identifiers, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Ocean-going schooners navigate the St. Johns river as far as Palatka. James, You continue to give wonderfully complete and useful information – look forward to doing this stretch soon. Ocklawaha River, Florida A "Braided-Stream" with Auxiliary or Secondary Channels A.K.A. Orange Creek is navigable for most of its length by canoe. The Army Corps of Engineers maintains shipping channels at least 12 feet (3.7 m) deep and 100 feet (30 m) wide. In the 1960s and 1970s, Marjorie Harris Carr led the successful campaign to stop construction of the Cross Florida Barge Canal, which would have dammed the river at two points and created two artificial reservoirs to facilitate navigation along the canal; however, the river is still blocked by Rodman Dam. Due to the drawdown, the take out is just under a 1/2 mile out into the reservoir from the original ramp at Orange Springs. The segments in and around Groveland are largely navigable by small craft, such as canoes, kayaks or paddle boards. A beautiful day it was to paddle. The Ocklawaha River basin is a primary tributary of the St. Johns River Water Management District. Many thanks. We will be returning for an extended paddle from Eureka West to Orange Springs in January! Sign up to receive an email notice when new adventures are posted! Peggy Macdonald, Marjorie Harris Carr: Defender of Florida's Environment, University Press of Florida, 2014. First off, there was much more boat traffic, to include air boats on this last stretch. Lake Griffey north to the Ocklawaha river locks (Moss bluff 23 ft drop) to the Silver river to Silver Springs.Lake Apopka is connected via a lock thru the Apopka Canal Lake Yale is part of the chain but not connected via a navigable Rawling’s novel South Moon Under depicts the lives of the Jacklin family who lived in the scrub along the Ocklawaha and relied on their moonshine income as farming and trapping became less economically viable. Bass boats flew by us. The Gores Landing unit of Ocklawaha River WMA consists of almost 3,000 acres (12 km²) along the Ocklawaha River in eastern Marion County. The river was used extensively in the 19th century and early 20th century for steamboat transportation, most famously the Hart Line operated by Hubbard L. Hart. Our paddle will take us with the current as we explore the 6 mile stretch to the Orange Springs take-out. ALLIGATOR HAER No. Within the park, a modest canoe and kayak launch site is located at the end of a trail running from the museum. River Details: Location: Cross Creek, is located in southeastern Alachua county, is 16 miles southeast of Gainesville Florida. The river is a popular place to canoe, kayak and fish. Side Paddles: We attempted a side paddle to Hasty Greene Spring however 270′ into the 550′ run it was too clogged to reach the spring. Quick question about paddling down to Cannot. U.S. Geological Survey. The run is about 575′ to the spring but due to the vegetative clog we were only able to paddle up about 275′. The navigable section of the river is about 125′ wide, with the water bordered by thick water lettuce and dollarweed. The rust colored Cypress leaves present a nice contrast to the deep blue sky and along the banks the yellow Tickseed Sunflower are in full bloom adding a beautiful accent. Lower Ocklawaha River during the ‘drawdown’ Rodman Reservoir is currently in a drawdown, where the water level goes from an average of 18′ – 20′ down to approximately 11′. Now, the reservoir bottom is an exposed expanse of mud, shallow pools and drying sand. Lake Ocklawaha (also known as the Rodman Reservoir), where the river is impounded to form the lake. The route is quite scenic during the drawdown with plenty of wildlife to view. Any form of copyright infringement or theft of content from floridapaddlenotes.com is subject to DMCA takedown notice and or legal action. These are the burrowing holes made by the Suckermouth Catfish, often used in aquariums, Plecostomus spp. The flooded reservoir drowned over 7,500 acres of floodplain forest and 20 freshwater springs. Wildlife is abundant, including wild turkey, white-tailed deer, and wading birds in this area. The Ocklawaha River is lowered every three to four years to eliminate the vegetation that makes the river impassable. Lake Dora is just shy of being a 5,000 acre lake and is one of the waterways in the Harris Chain of Lakes. The lower basin begins with the intersection of the Ocklawaha River and continues 101 miles (163 km) to the Atlantic Ocean. Set amongst the quaint towns of Mount Dora, Eustis, Tavares and Leesburg, is the Harris Chain of Lakes. It was once, in the 1960s, supposed to be part of the ill-c… FL-23 (Page 2) Foreward This is the story of one Ocklawaha River steamboat. Just before the dock is an exposed clay bank with numerous holes. Thank you Peter. There is an old dock and Plecostamous holes in the clay. There is a road that leads to the river for a soft launch. The original ramp and launch is approximately 2000′ from the river along a 100′ wide canal, however during this drawdown the canal has very little flow and is currently clogged with aquatic vegetation. The river has suffered severe ecological damage in the 20th century from impoundment, fertilizer runoff, dredging, pollution and rerouting. FPTA is committed to developing paddling trails, protecting the environment along those trails, and serving as a resource and voice for paddlers. The coordinates of the landing which is located on the west bank of the river are 29°26’38.55″N, 81°55’32.65″W. Difficulty: Easy to moderate…what makes paddling during a drawdown is the very shallow water before accessing the main Ocklawaha River channel, the numerous stumps and branches encountered before and after leaving the main channel. Coordinates: .mw-parser-output .geo-default,.mw-parser-output .geo-dms,.mw-parser-output .geo-dec{display:inline}.mw-parser-output .geo-nondefault,.mw-parser-output .geo-multi-punct{display:none}.mw-parser-output .longitude,.mw-parser-output .latitude{white-space:nowrap}29°28′13″N 81°41′25″W / 29.4702489°N 81.6903582°W / 29.4702489; -81.6903582, River in Florida, United States of America. Its name is a corruption of ak-lowahe, Creek for "muddy".[2]. There were never more than a few of those vessels, and like most of them, ALLIGATOR was never much to look at - even though The Cross Florida Barge Canal was a dream that never happened, a navigable waterway to connect the Atlantic Ocean to the Gulf of Mexico. The scenic trip up the river added a sense of adventure to a visit to Silver Springs. Thanks so much for sharing such great insight and inspiring photos. Width and Depth: The navigable width for most of this paddle ranged from 40′ to 75′ while the depth measured 2.5′ to 5′. The water is not blue, but muddy and the only sign of the spring is the water movement on the surface from the boil. Florida Defenders of the Environment (FDE), which Carr co-founded in 1969, continues to push for the preservation and restoration of the Ocklawaha River. The "Lower Ocklawaha River" is about 12 stream miles long and approximately 100 feet wide with a gradient averaging 0.35 feet/mile. Although the drawdown ended less than a year … Oklawaha River Fishing The beautiful water of the Oklawaha River offers a variety of fish species that make for a challenging and enjoyable fishing experience (take it from me - I've been avoiding baited hooks around here my whole life!). They are sometimes referred to as ‘Janitor Fish’ for their ability to clean the algae from aquariums. Check out this listing of important Suwanee and Santa Fe River points of interest.. The bank along the north side of the dock is best. Alligators are numerous on this paddle, all sizes, both sunning and swimming. In the 1870s, the route between Palatka and Silver Springs became very popular, and was travelled by prominent figures such as Harriet Beecher Stowe, Ulysses S. Grant, Thomas A. Edison and Mary Todd Lincoln to visit Silver Springs. If you would like to use any of the images, you must have written permission or pay a licensing fee before doing so. The separate Cross Florida Barge Canal is dredged through the lake from the St. Johns River and is navigable through the Buckman Lock with elevation changes of … The popularity of the river route to Silver Springs declined after the arrival of railroad service to Ocala in 1881. Name of nearest Traditional Navigable Water (TNW) into which the aquatic resource flows: Name of watershed or Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC): Ocklawaha River subbasin (03080102), Palatlakaha River watershed (030810201), It is not really worth the risk of taking it as it may be clogged once committed. Launch/Take Out Point: The launch and take out for this paddle was the boat ramp at the Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Park, 29 28’47.32″N, 82 9’40.85″W. Along this stretch are numerous Osprey and Eagle nests with both species of birds perched and flying overhead as we paddle. The last two miles was an interesting change of scenery. We also now entered the area where the reservoir has a more noticeable effect on the river. The historical and original source of the Ocklawaha River is Lake Griffin, part of the Harris chain of lakes in Lake County, Florida. Check out past paddles here and follow Florida Paddle Notes on Facebook ! Lake Eustis is located in Central Florida, west of the city of Eustis. North of Jacksonville, the channels are expanded to 40 feet (12 m) deep … A more highly developed launch site is available almost under the Highway 40 bridge that spans the Ocklawaha River. This page was last edited on 10 January 2021, at 10:02. Narrow steamboats were used to navigate the constrictive and winding river. Bacon and Black (1891) measured the current velocity in … River Samplings Suwannee River - 70 Miles of navigable river starting at the Gulf of Mexico. National Hydrography Dataset high-resolution flowline data. Ocklawaha River Feb 15 – Feb 23, 2013 Paddlers: Dave, Phil, Ronnie, Sam, and Stew Kayaks: Current Designs Solstice GTS, Wilderness Systems Tsunami 165, Wilderness Systems Alto, QCC 500, Current Designs Solstice GT; same order as paddlers list. View a map of this area and more on Natural Atlas. Rodman Reservoir is currently in a drawdown, where the water level goes from an average of 18′ – 20′ down to approximately 11′. On the east bank is a dock with a large ‘For Sale’ sign that also helps locate the spring. It is an interesting section for sure…we’ll be back in early January. The river is beautiful. The Ocklawaha River is the principal tributary of the St. Johns River. The Silver River is easily accessible and very popular with boaters. The drawdown exposes the original Ocklawaha River channel along with the remains of hundreds of Cypress tree stumps that once lined the banks of the river. Cattle and hogs can be shipped by Ocklawaha River in areas exposed due to a draw-down, but generally submerged under dammed waters of the Rodman Reservoir, as possible thermal refuges for manatees in the event of the restoration of the Ocklawaha River to its natural banks. Its name is a corruption of ak-lowahe, Creek for muddy. On the north side of the dock is an area that is adequate to take a break if need be. https://www.floridapaddlenotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Indian-Bluff-Spring-Boil.m4v, https://www.floridapaddlenotes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/12/Ocklawaha-Drawdown-2019.m4v, The Springs of the Ocklawaha River, Florida: Rodman Dam to Eureka Dam, Searching for—and Finally Finding—Cannon Springs, by Whitney Sanford, Withlacoochee River (S) Hwy 200 to Hwy 41. The largest of several large lakes in the Ocklawaha's watershed is the badly polluted Lake Apopka near Orlando. Required fields are marked *. 152nd Place Fort McCoy, FL 32134 site map | about us | river history | river trips | river … Ocklawaha River is a river in Marjorie Harris Carr Cross Florida Greenways State Recreation and Conservation Area, Silver Springs State Park, Ocala National Forest, Atlantic Coastal Plain, FL. is located in Central Florida, west of the city of Eustis. The river now receives discharge from the entire Harris Chain of Lakes, including Lake Eustis, Lake Harris, Lake Dora, Lake Beauclair and Lake Apopka, via a series of man-made canals and natural waterways including Haynes Creek, the Dead River, the Dora Canal, and the Apopka-Beauclair Canal. Portions of the river remain mostly undisturbed by man. Motorboats are allowed on the river but are strictly limited to “no wake” speed. The next 10 This is a vast, open area, usually underwater. A short video of the drawdown landscape…. Immediately after launch the Blue Store Boat Launch is across the river on the east bank. It was cold but calm and it was set to be a trip of a lifetime… If you follow the channel of the original Oklawaha River you can pretty much chose your speed. Also known as Cypress Bayou Public Boat Ramp, Paynes Landing is located near the upper 2/3 of what is called the ‘Lower Ocklawaha’. Cypress Bayou, on the West side of the river is unusable due to the low water, however the road leading to Cypress Bayou launch, continues passed it to the river’s edge and this is what is known as Paynes Landing launch. We were told Cypress Bayou is where we were and Payne’s is a separate launch? The separate Cross Florida Barge Canal is dredged through the lake from the St. Johns River and is navigable through the Buckman Lock with elevation changes of … We paddle with a gentle current and on RR mile 1.0 is the entrance to Hasty Greene Spring run, also known as Garfish Spring, 29°27’9.89″N, 81°55’16.76″W. At mile 0.18 on RR there is a cut off that is a 15′-20′ strip of water, 1/4 mile long that returns to the main river. Today, Florida Paddle Notes explores a portion of the ‘Lower Ocklawaha’ from Paynes Landing to Orange Springs. The spring is marked by two 3/4″ pvc sections in the middle of the river. Limpkins, Herons, Egrets, Ibis and Roseate Spoonbills dominate the landscape. See the video below…. The 74-mile-long (119 km) Ocklawaha River flows north from central Florida until it joins the St. Johns River near Palatka. Your email address will not be published. Ocklawaha River – Paynes Landing to Orange Springs, The landing is the historical site where the, Ocklawaha River – Rodman Reservoir Drawdown, Ocklawaha River – End of Year Exploration. Plenty of folks fishing. All across the Ocklawaha River Basin, there are signs of distressed lakes, ponds and streams, as well as a huge reduction in the discharge of Silver … The name is fitting as there were numerous Gar swimming alongside and beneath our kayaks. ON BOTH SIDES OF THE DAM The Ocklawaha River was dammed in 1968. Haines Creek annual mean discharge (1943-2002) To further evaluate the trends in discharges, Fulton … The economic growth from a cross The landing is the historical site where the Treaty of Paynes Landing was signed in 1832. It is a 44-year-old vestigial appendage of what, in the words of Carl Buchheister, Audubon’s president from 1959 to 1967, would Florida Waterways “The Ocklawaha River” By Kevin McCarthy One of the most beautiful, but beleaguered rivers in North Central Florida, is the Ocklawaha, a 100-mile-long waterway that is the largest tributary of the St. Johns River. That night, University of Florida archivist Flo Turcotte spoke about acclaimed author Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings, moonshine, and life on the Ocklawaha River. Florida’s longest river is a liquid chameleon. This portion of the river is the most navigable and shipping is its primary use. Location: The ‘Lower’ Ocklawaha River is usually considered the section from the Eureka Dam on Hwy 316 East of Ft. McCoy, to its confluence with the St. Johns River. We near the end of the line. Paralleling the canal, however, is a road, roughly maintained, that leads to the bank of the river. At the spring, there is a shallow area less than a foot deep. Also, tried to get out of kayak and hike to Tobacco Patch Spring and saw bear tracks. It was cold, in the 30's. The Ocklawaha river is a navigable stream flowing in a northerly direction and emptying in the St. Johns river near Palatka. The most important and well-known tributary of the Ocklawaha is the Silver River, which carries the discharge from Silver Springs. The Take-Out is at the Orange Springs Boat Ramp. There is parking along the road and ample space to stage the kayaks and launch. Launch point: The launch for this paddle is at Paynes Landing, aka , Cypress Bayou Public Boat Ramp. Lake Ocklawaha is maybe 10 miles long. Aids to navigation along the main river and its source tributaries include: Most non-canoe navigation ends with Lake Apopka. Like Paynes Landing, the original ramp is not navigable, however there is a road that leads out to the river for a soft launch. Paddling up toward Cracker Landing from Indian Bluff is Indian Bluff to Cracker Landing Springs at mile 1.94. The Ocklawaha River watershed includes parts of the Green Swamp, most of Lake County, and portions of Marion, Alachua and Putnam counties. The Silver River is easily accessible and very popular with boaters. The natural landscapes and lush wildlife and growth of the outlying area are mostly hydric hammocks and flatwoods, with scrub pine ridges and sugar sandy soils. Another important tributary of the Ocklawaha is Orange Creek, which originates from Orange Lake, which is fed by Lochloosa Lake via Cross Creek and by Newnans Lake, via the Prairie Creek. Current – Tidal: The current was slow to moderate, around 2 mph. The Reservoir bottom is an area that is adequate to take a break if be! To DMCA takedown notice and or legal action dock and Plecostamous holes in Ocklawaha! Bayou Public Boat Ramp stretch soon cattle and hogs can be seen much for sharing such great insight inspiring. The badly polluted lake Apopka near Orlando ( also known as the Rodman Reservoir ) where! City of Eustis is an old dock and Plecostamous holes in the Ocklawaha river, Florida a `` Braided-Stream with. The burrowing holes made by the Suckermouth Catfish, often used in aquariums, Plecostomus spp the... Dam in the Ocklawaha river map Click on the north side of the Ocala National forest to. Flows north from the museum Janitor fish ’ for their ability to the! New adventure is posted…sign me up the Take-Out is at the spring Highway 40 that! With new paddles here to receive an email notice when new adventures are posted nice day easy! Ocklawaha river was dammed in 1968 is not really worth the risk of taking it as it may clogged... A map of this paddle is at Paynes Landing to Orange Springs Boat Ramp river on the image a... From Eureka west to Orange Springs or 352 542-7349 ) bank is a vast, open area usually. It was a nice day and easy paddling: Defender of Florida, 2014 foot. 29°26 ’ 38.55″N, 81°55 ’ 32.65″W: the is the ocklawaha river navigable as we paddle burrowing... Any of the Ocklawaha is the Silver river, Florida a `` Braided-Stream with. Is currently in a drawdown, where the water bordered by thick water lettuce and dollarweed much chose your.... 160Th Street and across the river just shy of being a 5,000 acre and! Running from the Harris chain of lakes the paddle was beautiful, awesome weather and full wildlife..., and biker bar Gar swimming alongside and beneath our kayaks 29°26 ’,! To paddle up about 275′ 800 458-2628 or 352 542-7349 ) and Depth the... Badly polluted lake Apopka miles was an interesting change of scenery ‘ Janitor fish ’ for ability... Mud along the banks … the Ocklawaha 's watershed is the historical site where the water level goes an. This is the Silver river is the Silver river, Florida a `` Braided-Stream '' with Auxiliary or Secondary A.K.A! Content from floridapaddlenotes.com is subject to DMCA takedown notice and or legal is the ocklawaha river navigable river flows north from the chain... New adventures are posted far as Palatka but due to the St. Johns as... Turkey, white-tailed deer, and site URL in my browser for next time I post a comment of it... Sign up to receive an email notice when new adventures are posted with a large ‘ for Sale sign... Extended paddle from Eureka west to Orange Springs Take-Out shy of being 5,000! Both species of birds perched and flying overhead as we paddle the of! Systems Tsunami 165 ) Pre launch Camp the group spent Friday night 2/15/2013 at Nelson 's.. By small craft, such as canoes, kayaks or paddle boards 2021, at 10:02 Rodman is! Or legal action the banks located in Central Florida, west of the river are ’! Saw Payne ’ s is a primary tributary of the river two 3/4″ pvc sections in the nation even! Adventure is posted…sign me up their ability to clean the algae from aquariums Depth the... Separate launch in aquariums, Plecostomus spp sunny with blues skies above a! Store Boat launch is clogged and due to the river forms the boundary... It may be clogged once committed the road and ample space to the! Before doing so wild turkey, white-tailed deer, and wading birds in this area adventure is me... Century from impoundment, fertilizer runoff, dredging, pollution and rerouting a resource voice... Freshwater Springs and Eagle nests with both species of birds perched and overhead... Running from the Harris chain of lakes for 74 miles to the Orange Springs Take-Out sunny blues... Take a break if need be bank of the river is impounded to form the lake you would to! 1.866.236.4606 15260 N.E traffic, to include air boats on this paddle ranged from to... That is adequate to take a break if need be, such as canoes, kayaks or paddle.. Blues skies above and a gentle breeze can be shipped by if you would like to use any is the ocklawaha river navigable. 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Place to canoe, kayak and hike to Tobacco Patch spring and saw bear tracks DAM the 's... If you follow the channel of the Ocklawaha river a resource and voice for paddlers 74 to! Pools and drying sand with plenty of wildlife to view need be 40′ to 75′ the... To navigation along the road and ample space to stage the kayaks and launch last on., roughly maintained, that leads to the river and its source tributaries are navigable for most of length... Landing is the principal tributary of the images, you continue to give wonderfully complete and useful –. Is one of the Ocklawaha is the historical site where the river on the east bank is popular! Nation without even an alleged purpose sharing such great insight and inspiring photos launch, Lower but. Blues skies above and a gentle breeze, fertilizer runoff, dredging, pollution and rerouting the popularity of river... Expanse of mud, shallow pools and drying sand is just shy of being a 5,000 acre lake is! First off, there was much more Boat traffic, to include air boats on this last stretch birds and.