Locals and those abroad know Florida as the canoe capital of the world. Every year, the warmer months see canoes, kayaks, and tubes floating down Blackwater River, Coldwater Creek, and Juniper Creek. However, like local residents and agriculture, businesses dependent on the rivers have been hit hard with this year's unusually rainy weather.
Jean Plowman, co-owner of Bob's Canoes, said the season had a slow start. With temperatures slow to rise, Plowman said, "People assumed the river would be cold and so they went to the beach." Then the rain fell. Plowman also said the rain held up her river cleanup she performs once a week by herself. According to Bill Plowman, Jean's son who works with her, Bob's had to close roughly 14 days so far this season.
Jean Plowman said she’s had an active business for 40 years and relies only on word of mouth for advertisement. She said, "I see second and third generations coming out now," and despite being seasonal work, she said employees return yearly, one for the last 20 years. "We've always been very mom and pop out here," Plowman said.
Marc Vallianos, operations manager for Adventures Unlimited, said he keeps in close contact with Bob's Canoes and Blackwater Canoe Rental. "We help each other out," he said. According to Vallianos, "Memorial Day was great for everyone."
Vallianos said the weather did affect business, but he said, "We do expect rain. We rely on rain to make sure the aquifer is refreshed and healthy." Water levels are the best right now, according to Vallianos, covering more stumps and logs along the river. "This weekend will be great. We have a party 100 deep," Vallianos said. "We're all optimistic."
A rainy start to the season increases danger on the rivers when levels run high. Vallianos said, "A plan should always be made. Check the weather before going out." Vallianos said the Adventures Unlimited website features danger levels divided into four colors. He said, "Green means 'all go.' Yellow means caution. Orange means 'adults only'. Red means 'don't run' at all." He said they've had several days in red so far. For days in orange, Vallianos said Adventures Unlimited has an option for groups with children: whitewater rafts. "We can put 7 to 8 adults with a couple of kids on a raft. Life jackets are required and there's no alcohol allowed," Vallianos said. He also said if the water is high enough he's not going to let a child out at all. The direction of the water level sways the danger level. "I prefer receding water to rising water," Vallianos said. With receding water, the river becomes safer as guests travel down the river, he said.
Vallianos also said if the water levels make the river too dangerous or uncomfortable for guests, the ropes courses and zip-lines are another option. Despite the large amounts of rain, Vallianos said their cabins and ropes courses offset some of the business lost due to the weather. It's happened, he said, where a party arriving at Adventures Unlimited found the water level too high and decided to take advantage of the zip-lines.
This article originally appeared on Santa Rosa Press Gazette: Canoe capital hoping for better season post rainfall