The Shields Painting Difference: Perfection with Every Brush Stroke
Many painting companies in Florida rely on flashy marketing and big promises to try and attract new clients. But when it comes time to work, they fall short of their promises. This is often due to a lack of experience, qualified painters, and a drive to overachieve. At Shields Painting, we do things a little differently than other painting companies in Citrus County. We believe that a professional paint job should be as close to perfect as possible. Our goal is to leave you 100% satisfied, whether we're touching up an old residential paint job or performing a complex commercial project. It might sound simple, but we achieve that goal through honesty, hard work, beautiful results, and reasonable pricing.
As a family-owned and operated painting company in Nobleton, FL, we strive to provide personalized, professional, and friendly service. Shields Painting has been in business since 1968 for a good reason. Whenever possible, we go the extra mile to make sure our customers are happy. Unlike some of our competition, we want to know all about your house or business painting project: your vision, your preferences, your challenges, and your goals. When we understand your needs, we can present you with a fantastic final product - one that you're proud to show off to friends and neighbors.
At Shields Painting, we combine our extensive experience with time-tested, meticulous painting processes, resulting in the highest quality painting results around. As a painting contractor in Citrus County, we can take on a variety of residential, commercial, and industrial projects in Florida.
A few of our most popular painting services include:
- Interior Painting
- Exterior Painting
- Residential Painting
- Commercial Painting
- Cabinet Painting
- Ceiling Painting
- Fence Painting
- Sign Painting
- MUCH More!
Our commercial, industrial, and residential painting contractors take the proper steps to protect your property and belongings while we work. Our team will clean up after ourselves, so your property is left clean and free of debris when we're done. After all, we think there's only one way to do a job, and that's the right way.
Painting Services
![](/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Eco-friendly.png)
Eco-friendly & clean work area.
![](/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/PDCA-Certified.png)
PDCA Certified Member.
![Painting Nobleton, FL Painting Nobleton, FL](/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/painting-company-nobleton-fl-1.jpg)
Your Go-To House Painting Company in Nobleton, FL
Your home is a haven of relaxation and solitude. It is uniquely you - a place where you can express who you are through style and design. Whether you need interior touch-ups for your crown molding or a new exterior coat of paint, hiring a reliable painting contractor is the best way to get quality results.
At Shields Painting, we know how important it is to have a home that highlights your tastes and personality. That's why we offer an extensive array of residential painting services in Citrus County. As tempting as it might be to try a DIY paint job, without the proper skills and experience, there is a good chance that the results will turn out less than satisfactory.
High-quality painting requires skill, experience, and patience. If you're a homeowner who needs residential painting services but doesn't have the time, patience, or skills to handle the job, look no further than Shields Painting. We offer accuracy, precision, and longevity with each paint job we perform. Our customers choose Shields Painting for their home because they receive:
- Free Quotes with Detailed Project Breakdowns
- Affordable Pricing
- Expert Painting Contractors
- High-Quality Paint Products
- Combo of Traditional and Modern Techniques
- Well-Maintained Tools
- Unmatched Craftsmanship
- Friendly, Personalized Service
- Good Old-Fashioned Hard Work!
The majority of our house painting services come in two forms: interior and exterior.
Interior Residential Painting
As an interior painting contractor with decades of experience, our expert technicians have developed an interior painting process that maximizes quality and emphasizes customer satisfaction. We understand that interior painting goes beyond aesthetics. It protects your ceilings and walls and helps you sustain a healthier place to live for your family. When only the finest craftsmanship will do inside your home, Shields Painting is here for you.
Our seasoned team of painting experts and craftsmen is dedicated to respecting your space and providing you with the look and feel you're craving inside your home. Whether you bought a new house and want to make it your own or need minor touch-ups but have no time, Shields Painting is ready to tackle the job, no matter how small or large.
Unlike some painting companies, our interior house painters take the time to get the details right, every time. For instance, color is only one aspect of your interior paint job. The paint sheen or finish is just as important. Certain finishes are better for living rooms and bedrooms than in kitchens and bathrooms. We'll help you find the right finish and paint colors for your home, so you don't have to worry about touch-ups or repainting.
Some of our most popular interior house painting services include:
- Ceiling Painting
- Popcorn Ceiling Removal
- Living Room Painting
- Bathroom Painting
- Basement Painting
- Color Consultations
- More
![House Painters Nobleton, FL House Painters Nobleton, FL](/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/painting-company-nobleton-fl-2.jpg)
Cabinet Painting
Citrus County cabinet painting deserves its own section on this page because it requires more time, skill, and quality paint than most sections of your home. If your home's cabinets are built into its woodwork, replacing them can be obnoxiously expensive. Compared to the cost of installing new cabinets, painting your kitchen cabinets is much more affordable.
At Shields Painting, we specialize in transforming old cabinets into new, gorgeous features that are just as usable as they are beautiful. Each step of our cabinet painting process is meticulous and thorough. And we'll take care of the entire job, from cleaning, prep, and sanding to priming, painting, and reassembly. This unique service lets you enjoy a brand-new look in your kitchen without having to go into debt by replacing your cabinets.
Whether your cabinets are new, but you want to change their color or you'd like to transition wood cabinets to a painted finish, Shields Painting has the expertise and experience to give you a new look you'll love.
![Interior Painting Nobleton, FL Interior Painting Nobleton, FL](/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/painting-company-nobleton-fl-3.jpg)
Exterior Residential Painting
Your home - it's a place that not only keeps your belongings safe. It protects your family and loved ones, too. It's one of your largest investments, and like anything else of value, it should be protected. However, Florida weather can take a toll on your home's structure and paint, lowering your home's value and even putting your family at risk.
While it's true that a beautiful exterior affects your house's value, it shouldn't take thousands of remodeling dollars to make a positive change to your home. There's a fine line between reasonable pricing and top-quality painting, and that sweet spot is what Shields Painting aims for. If you want to transform how your friends and neighbors see your home, never underestimate the power of a professional paint job.
Our exterior residential painting services are designed to boost curb appeal, give your home a fresh look, and help it stand up to Florida's unique weather. But we provide more than that. When you hire Shields Painting for your outdoor painting project, you will enjoy peace of mind in knowing that your home is in truly capable hands. Our goal is to exceed your expectations and help bring out the best in your property, whether you need to re-stain your deck or remove old, peeling paint from your siding.
If you're on the hunt for the very best exterior painting contractor in Nobleton, FL, look no further than Shields Painting.
Some of our most popular exterior house painting services include:
- Vinyl Siding Painting
- Deck Painting and Staining
- Stucco Exterior Painting
- Wood Exterior Painting
- Porch Painting and Staining
- Soffit Painting
- Fascia Painting
- Window Painting
- Front Door Painting
- Thorough Painting Prep
- More
![Painter Nobleton, FL Painter Nobleton, FL](/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/painting-company-nobleton-fl-4.jpg)
The Premier Commercial Painting Company in Nobleton, FL
When it comes to first impressions, your businesses' appearance plays an important role. Your commercial property's paint job factors into its overall aesthetics. A great-looking, well-maintained paint job can mean the difference between a customer walking in your storefront and passing by. Conversely, an old, worn-out commercial paint job can send the wrong message to prospective customers. If you can't take the time to keep up your property's appearance, why would a customer spend their hard-earned money on your products?
The same goes for your businesses' interior paint. Would you want to do business with a company that has peeling paint or unsightly crown molding? At Shield's Painting, our goal is to create a beautiful environment that your customers and employees will love inside and out. When you work with our business painters, you can rest easy knowing we treat your business like it were our own. We always clean up after ourselves and know that operations cannot come to a halt just because we're painting. As such, we'll work with your busy schedule to ensure the job gets done right the first time without disrupting your day-to-day commitments.
With decades of commercial painting experience, we know the demands of a commercial painting project necessitate a disciplined and focused approach from the start. Our team of business painters is committed to delivering quality, on-time results on every project, every time - no excuses
![Painting Company Nobleton, FL Painting Company Nobleton, FL](/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/painting-company-nobleton-fl-5.jpg)
We offer professional business painting services to a variety of building types, including:
![Residential Painting Nobleton, FL Residential Painting Nobleton, FL](/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/painting-company-nobleton-fl-6.jpg)
01
Industrial Painting
A high level of care and finesse are required to effectively paint an industrial property. At Shields Painting, we know that industrial paint jobs involve much more than aesthetics. That's why our industrial services are customized to your specifications, using industrial-grade materials that stand up to heavy-duty operations.
02
Retail Store Painting
Our commercial painters apply effective, yet appealing interior and exterior paint that stand up to the daily rigors of busy retail environments.
![Painting Services Nobleton, FL Painting Services Nobleton, FL](/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/painting-company-nobleton-fl-7.jpg)
![Commercial Painting Nobleton, FL Commercial Painting Nobleton, FL](/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/painting-company-nobleton-fl-8.jpg)
03
Small Business Painting
Do you own a restaurant franchise? Have a small "mom and pop" location that needs a fresh coat of paint? Shields Painting has the resources and reliability to efficiently get the job done the first time. That way, you can focus on serving your customers, not having your business repainted.
04
Healthcare Location Painting
From walk-in clinics to long-term care facilities, Shields Painting is sensitive to your patients' needs. We know you must protect your patient's privacy while maintaining productivity. Our approach to healthcare location painting centers around your schedule to avoid disruptions in care.
![Painting Nobleton, FL Painting Nobleton, FL](/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/painting-company-nobleton-fl-9.jpg)
![House Painters Nobleton, FL House Painters Nobleton, FL](/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/painting-company-nobleton-fl-10.jpg)
05
Apartment Complex Painting
Erase signs of wear and make your apartment complex or multi-family building a more desirable place to live with a stunning, professional paint job.
Florida's Most Trusted Painting Contractor
Shields Painting has been in the business since 1968. In a world where so much has changed, we are proud to uphold the ideals that make us successful: hard, honest work, getting the job done right, and excellent customer service. Providing you with trustworthy, quality work will always take priority over rushing through a project to serve the next customer. That is just not the way we choose to do business.
As professionals dedicated to perfection, we strive to provide a unique painting experience for every customer - one that focuses on their needs and desires instead of our own. Whether you need residential painting for your home or commercial painting for your business, we encourage you to reach out today to speak with our customer service team. Whether you have big ideas about a new paint project or need our expertise and guidance, we look forward to hearing from you soon.
![Physical-therapy-phone-number Physical-therapy-phone-number](/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/lm-phone-blue.png)
Free Consultation
Latest News in Nobleton, FL
Residents keeping an eye on flooded Withlacoochee in eastern Hernando County
Tony Marrerohttps://www.tampabay.com/news/weather/residents-keeping-an-eye-on-flooded-withlacoochee-in-eastern-hernando/1249732/
Get unlimited digital access for $11.75 99¢.Enjoy the many benefits of a Tampa Bay Times digital subscription.tampabay.come-Newspapere-NewsletterAppSupport local journalism and pursue the truth. Access Now!LIMITED-TIME OFFERCancel anytime....
Get unlimited digital access for $11.75 99¢.
Enjoy the many benefits of a Tampa Bay Times digital subscription.
tampabay.com
e-Newspaper
e-Newsletter
App
Support local journalism and pursue the truth. Access Now!
LIMITED-TIME OFFERCancel anytime.
Subscriber Log In | Privacy Policy
RIDGE MANOR — C.J. Siller is watching the Withlacoochee River with a wary eye.
A branch of the river made an island out of his neighbor's mobile home in the last couple of days, swamping Tarzan Street in Talisman Estates, just north of the Hernando-Pasco county line. By Tuesday morning, the tea-colored water had crept beyond Siller's fence and across his driveway, ever closer to the mobile home he shares with his wife and five children.
If the water reaches a light post near the corner of the home, Siller said, he will take his family and valuables to higher ground.
"I'm a little worried," he said. "I don't want to wait until the water comes because I won't able to back a U-Haul in here without getting stuck."
Siller probably doesn't have much to worry about this time around. As the National Weather Service predicted, the Withlacoochee reached flood stage — 12 feet — at Trilby on Sunday. By Tuesday afternoon, the river was measured at 12.27 feet.
That level of water typically results in minor flooding of areas including Lacoochee, Talisman Estates, Riverdale, River Heights Estates and Nobleton.
Due to small chances of rain over the next few days, the river was not expected to rise much more, if at all, and will likely fall below flood stage by early Friday, according to the National Weather Service.
"We're not expecting anything worse than what (residents) are currently seeing," said forecaster Tyler Fleming.
There were no reports of flooded homes by Tuesday afternoon, said Hernando County emergency management director Cecilia Patella. The river was lapping at the stilts of some homes, though, and had almost swallowed Riverdale's community park.
Heavy rains from tropical storms Debby and Isaac helped etch another notch in the history books for the Withlacoochee, a river prone to drastic fluctuations, depending on weather patterns: Sunday marked the first time the river has hit flood stage since summer 2004, the year of hurricanes Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne.
On Sept. 29 of that year, the river crested at 16.55 feet. Flooding is considered "moderate" between 14.2 feet and 16.5 feet and "major" beyond that.
Eight years is long enough for even longtime residents to become complacent, and for many new residents to move into the area without firsthand knowledge of how quickly the Withlacoochee can rise, Patella said.
Now the river is swollen again and residents need to be vigilant in the coming weeks, she said. Another hurricane, tropical storm, or even several days of heavy rains over the Green Swamp, where the river begins, could result in more serious flooding.
"I would encourage everyone to watch it, at least until we get out of rainy season," Patella said.
Patrick Coney, who lives next door to Siller on Tarzan Street, was hoping to mark the latest flood down as merely a close call. By Tuesday, Coney had to wade to and from his house, the water just two steps below his front door.
"When it gets up to the second step, it's time we start getting stuff up off the floor," he said. "It's time for us to go when it starts easing through the door."
The river isn't the only cause for concern in the low-lying areas of eastern Hernando County. Lakes and ponds that dried up during the drought in recent years are making a comeback.
When William and Lorie Richard bought their single-wide mobile home near the corner of Reynolds Street and Barth Road in January, a nearby pond spanned just 50 feet across and was completely dry a few months later.
Now a full-fledged lake has drowned their fire pit and is seeping toward the corner of their home.
On Tuesday, the Richards were moving some of their valuables to their storage and travel trailers sitting on higher ground.
"We're just going with that good ol' common sense," Lorie Richard said.
Many residents chose to prepare ahead of Isaac, hauling away about 2,400 sandbags from the Ridge Manor Community Center, said center board member John Shoppa.
"Now people have stopped coming to get them," Shoppa said.
Though the county ran out of sand and sandbags at one point after Tropical Storm Debby, the supply has been replenished. The center is at 34240 Cortez Blvd.
Information from Bay News 9 is included in this report. Tony Marrero can be reached at tmarrero@tampabay.com or (352) 848-1431.
At Hollow Point Farm, bluegrass rules
Vicki Deanhttp://ticket.heraldtribune.com/2016/02/22/at-hollow-point-farm-bluegrass-rules/
BUSHNELL — Hollow Point Farm is one of Florida’s best-kept bluegrass secrets.Word is slowly getting out on the private house concerts at Bruce and Jody Watson’s horse ranch.For the past four years, they have opened their spacious home to some of the biggest acts in bluegrass music. All of the money from ticket sales goes to the artists, who stay for free on the couple’s Central Florida ranch where they get a brief respite from winter.The musicians also get a heaping helping of Southern hospitality...
BUSHNELL — Hollow Point Farm is one of Florida’s best-kept bluegrass secrets.
Word is slowly getting out on the private house concerts at Bruce and Jody Watson’s horse ranch.
For the past four years, they have opened their spacious home to some of the biggest acts in bluegrass music. All of the money from ticket sales goes to the artists, who stay for free on the couple’s Central Florida ranch where they get a brief respite from winter.
The musicians also get a heaping helping of Southern hospitality from Bruce and Jody, who feed them during their stay.
On a recent weeknight, the Watsons welcomed a capacity crowd of 65 guests to see the Gibson Brothers, the two-time International Bluegrass Music Association entertainers of the year.
Concerts at this private venue kept cropping up on social media feeds, piquing my interest. After an email exchange, Bruce called and said that if my husband and I wanted to see the Gibson Brothers, we would have to commit quickly.
We had seen the Gibsons several times at the 5,900-seat Red Hat Amphitheater and most recently as hosts of the IBMA Awards Show last year in Raleigh, North Carolina. But nothing compares to seeing a top-tier bluegrass group up close and personal.
Dressed to the nines, the band played two acoustic sets in the Watsons’ living room.
The brothers’ tight tenor harmonies were amplified only by the home’s soaring wooden ceilings and log beams. Guests could literally feel the rich tones of the band’s fiddle, guitars, banjo, mandolin and 1939 upright Kay bass. The setting was perfect for the Gibsons’ pared-down sound.
Watson said he started bringing bands in during the economic downturn after so many festivals went under. Bluegrass musicians were hurting, and Watson said he wanted to help by providing a warm-weather stop in the lean winter months.
“Thanks for supporting live music ” he told the crowd. “It means a lot to these musicians.”
The artists
The Gibson Brothers were one of the first bands to play at Hollow Point Farm about four years ago. Since then, the band has soared to the pinnacle of the bluegrass music world, twice earning IBMA top band honors and multiple Song of the Year awards.
They could make a lot more money at bigger venues, but the Gibsons always schedule a stop in Bushnell when they head south to the Sunshine State. This year, they added a second show, and both sold out quickly, Watson said.
“We always smile when we see this date come up on our calendar,” Eric Gibson said. “We always have a good time here.”
Out back under the live oaks sits a storied picking cabin, a former trapper’s shack that Watson spruced up after moving it to the property. The walls are signed by some of bluegrass music’s biggest stars who have stopped by to play over the past three decades. Music history oozes out of the cabin’s wooden walls and floors.
In the rustic cabin, musicians sit in a circle and jam, harkening back to a simpler time.
The Gibsons and their band spent several hours picking in the cabin and worked up new material for their next recording project.
“Thank you for giving us that space, Bruce,” Leigh said.
They played a handful of new songs for the enthusiastic Hollow Point audience, including “In the Ground,” Leigh Gibson’s autobiographical tribute to the struggles faced by farmers. He speaks from the heart, recalling the struggles of their late father, who ran the family’s dairy farm in New York.
Have bluegrass, will travel
On show nights, rabid bluegrass fans roll in from all over the state. The concerts are only offered during Florida’s snowbird season, and most of the regular attendees winter in the Brooksville area.
“Half of Upstate New York is here tonight,” Watson said when introducing the Gibson Brothers. “The other half is going to be here tomorrow night.”
Chuck and Joyce Carter of Maine made the two-hour drive up from their winter home in Venice. They brought a jar of fossilized shark’s teeth scooped up at some of South Sarasota County’s best beaches.
“We’ve known these guys ever since they started,” he said of the Gibson Brothers.
“I got my hug!” Joyce said of her pre-concert greeting by Eric, the older, banjo-picking brother.
During a break between sets, the brothers sold and autographed CDs and T-shirts. They shook hands with fans and embraced old friends.
One of their English teachers attended the show, so the boys were on their best behavior.
“Which one was the best student?” Leigh asked.
“Erin!” she said, citing Eric and Leigh’s younger sister, who is a schoolteacher in New York.
Spreading the word
Getting the word out on the concerts remains a challenge. Watson has no online presence. This year, friend and songwriter Mark “Brink” Brinkman shared homemade fliers on social media with various groups dedicated to bluegrass music fans.
Bruce Watson does most of the ticket sales by calling reservation-only concertgoers on his flip phone. Attendees send their checks in via snail mail, or pay cash on the barrelhead in advance at the ranch. The low-tech approach works for him, and he said he doesn’t want the hassle of maintaining a website.
Word-of-mouth is bringing bluegrass fans to the ranch, which was marked only by a handwritten 2-foot-high white sign by the side of County Road 476 in Sumter County.
All of the shows sell out, and more and more music fans are discovering Hollow Point Farm.
After the concert, Jody and Bruce Watson thanked their appreciative guests for coming, shook their hands and invited them to come back for future shows.
By offering such a magical music experience, the challenge just might be getting their newfound friends to leave.
INTERESTED?
Only two shows remain this spring.
March 5: John Cowan featuring Darin and Brooke Aldridge. The lead singer of the New Grass Revival performs with the popular husband-and-wife duo. (See an interview with Cowan in the March 3 Ticket magazine)
May 1: Darrell Webb Band, contemporary bluegrass band headed by the West Virginia native who is a stellar mandolin player and singer.
Info: Call Bruce Watson at 813-375-2517 for ticket prices and information.
Last modified: February 22, 2016 All rights reserved. This copyrighted material may not be published without permissions. Links are encouraged.
Florida Braces for Possible Tornadoes Amid Gulf Coast Storm
Jason Fieldshttps://www.newsweek.com/florida-braces-possible-tornadoes-amid-gulf-coast-storm-1834021
Parts of northern and central Florida have been warned that tornadoes could develop later Wednesday and on Thursday as a Gulf Coast storm whips through the state.The storm has been generating since early October but hasn't developed into a strong enough system to garner a name. It traveled north in the Gulf of Mexico before moving along the Gulf Coast on Tuesday. Weather experts also previously...
Parts of northern and central Florida have been warned that tornadoes could develop later Wednesday and on Thursday as a Gulf Coast storm whips through the state.
The storm has been generating since early October but hasn't developed into a strong enough system to garner a name. It traveled north in the Gulf of Mexico before moving along the Gulf Coast on Tuesday. Weather experts also previously warned residents in southern parts of Texas, Louisiana, Alabama and Georgia that their areas on Wednesday could receive several inches of rain and face a risk of flash flooding.
By Wednesday afternoon, rain had begun falling in the Florida Panhandle. The National Weather Service's (NWS') Tallahassee office said the intensity and scope of the rain "should slowly increase" Wednesday evening, with "severe" weather not expected until Wednesday night.
Earlier Wednesday, Tallahassee forecasters said possible tornadoes would be one of the storm's "main threats." If the tornadoes did materialize, they were expected to do so Wednesday night or Thursday morning.
Newsletter
The Bulletin
Your Morning Starts Here
Begin your day with a curated outlook of top news around the world and why it matters.
I want to receive special offers and promotions from Newsweek
By clicking on SIGN ME UP, you agree to Newsweek's Terms of Use & Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time.
Farther east, weather experts in Jacksonville also issued warnings about the potential for tornadoes, saying there was a "medium" chance, from 7 p.m. Wednesday to 10 a.m. Thursday. The NWS office in Jacksonville reminded residents that tornadoes can be tough to spot at night and urged people to ensure they have more than one way of receiving emergency alerts and other weather-related warnings.
In central Florida, the NWS warned those in the Tampa Bay area that tornadoes and waterspouts could pop up as the storm moved in. The local NWS office later issued a tornado warning for Lake Panasoffkee, Bushnell and Nobleton Wednesday afternoon. Further northeast, the Melbourne NWS office also issued a tornado warning that covered parts of Brevard and Orange counties.
Florida's worst tornadoes tend to occur in the spring and summer months, though the "most destructive" kinds of tornadoes are "virtually nonexistent in the state," according to Emily Powell, assistant state climatologist at Florida Climate Center. While tornadoes and waterspouts are "very common" for Florida and "can happen at any time of year," they are least likely to occur in the winter months.
"October falls somewhere in the middle in terms of tornado frequency," Powell told Newsweek. Tornadoes that occur this time of year "are often associated with tropical systems, which tend to form closer to land in the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico in October."
Florida "also tend[s] to see stronger tornadoes during strong El Nino years," Powell added. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration announced the arrival of El Nino in June, which is expected to strengthen as winter approaches.
‘Happy’ times on the Withlacoochee
Sue Cockinghttps://www.miamiherald.com/sports/outdoors/article5276019.html
At 77, Tom McLain says he has to give up paddling because it’s too hard on his knees to get in and out of a canoe or kayak. For his self-proclaimed final paddling trip, the Georgia hay-truck driver spent the Thanksgiving holiday weekend exploring 27 miles of west-central Florida’s Withlacoochee River with about a dozen of his friends from the Broward-based “Happy Hoofers” chapter of the Florida Trail Association.The journey was bittersweet for McLain — not just because it was to be his last but because he...
At 77, Tom McLain says he has to give up paddling because it’s too hard on his knees to get in and out of a canoe or kayak. For his self-proclaimed final paddling trip, the Georgia hay-truck driver spent the Thanksgiving holiday weekend exploring 27 miles of west-central Florida’s Withlacoochee River with about a dozen of his friends from the Broward-based “Happy Hoofers” chapter of the Florida Trail Association.
The journey was bittersweet for McLain — not just because it was to be his last but because he had already paddled the “other” Withlacoochee River, which originates northwest of Valdosta, Georgia, and merges with the Suwannee near Live Oak, Florida.
“I grew up with the Georgia Withlacoochee River. I live within a half-mile of it,” McLain said as he relaxed beside a campfire in the Withlacoochee State Forest near Nobleton. “I like this river because it brought back good memories. It’s a little lower and swampier than the one where I grew up. I love Florida and I love Georgia.”
Florida’s Withlacoochee originates in the Green Swamp east of Polk City and runs crookedly northwest for more than 140 miles to empty into the Gulf near Yankeetown. Fed by pre-holiday downpours from a strong cold front, the river flowed at a steady 3 miles per hour past a resplendent autumn landscape during the Happy Hoofers’ visit.
The party of three canoes and three kayaks embarked on the first day at Lacoochee Park under a cloudless sky and a cool 50 degrees, steering easily with the help of the current. The lead paddler surprised a deer reclining beside the river, and it dashed off into the forest.
For the first couple of miles, the group encountered no signs of civilization — just a forest of oak, pine, red maple and cypress displaying various stages of seasonal changes with leaves of red, orange, brown and green. Revitalized green resurrection ferns coated the broad tree trunks that lined and toppled into the river.
But as the paddlers continued north, the thick woods were pierced by railroad tracks, then a series of roads and highways — CR575, U.S.301, U.S.98 and SR50.
Hunting camps and single-family homes lined the riverbank. Several pet dogs dashed down to the water to bark at the group.
Overhead, anhinga dried their wings in the trees as great blue herons squawked and hawks circled and cried.
In about six hours, the group covered 17 miles to arrive at the Crooked River Campground in the state forest in late afternoon.
Four more kayakers joined the Happy Hoofers for the second and final leg of the trip — some 10 miles from the campground north to the Nobleton Canoe Outpost.
Amid warmer temperatures and skies just as sunny as the previous day, the group made a brief detour onto the Little Withlacoochee River — a narrow, shady tributary — before crossing broad Silver Lake and passing under I-75. After leaving the highway behind, the paddlers were pleased to encounter almost no development — only a couple of campgrounds and day-use parks interspersed with cypress, oak and maple as far as they could see.
“It’s lovely,” said Kathy Bonvouloir of Margate, kayaking the river for the first time with husband Rene. “There are some bends we went around that took my breath away. The cypress trees are so majestic.”
One paddler reported seeing a small gator, while nearly everybody spotted several turtles sunning themselves on deadfalls.
The group lunched at Hog Island Campground and continued north through vast cypress swamps before encountering civilization once again at CR476.
They reached the take-out spot in Nobleton in early afternoon.
“I thought it was a pretty good paddle,” said trip leader Dave Denham, a retired Miami engineer who celebrated his 70th birthday on the river. “With that current, we had an easy time of it.”
The Bonvouloirs said they really want to make a return visit, and not just to paddle but also to hike a portion of the Florida Trail and bike the Withlacoochee State Trail — the state’s longest rail trail at 46 miles — that parallel the river.
“You get a triple hit here,” Rene Bonvouloir said. “We always like new places, new experiences.”
If you go
? For paddling information, rentals and shuttles on the Withlacoochee River, call the Nobleton Outpost at 352-796-7176.
? For camping information in the Withlacoochee State Forest, call the Recreation Visitors Center at 352-754-6896.
Canada Wins Nations’ Cup in Wellington, Florida
Horse Sporthttps://horsesport.com/horse-news/canada-wins-nations%E2%80%99-cup-in-wellington-florida/
Wellington, Fl – Canada won the FEI Nations Cup before an unprecedented sellout crowd of more than 8,000 spectators at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center Friday night. Great Britain and Ireland tied for second.The only Nations Cup held in the United States was held under the lights of the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival as fans cheered the eight teams that started the event.It was the fourth victory for Canada in the seven years of the event.The Canadian team was made up entirely of Ontario residents: Ke...
Wellington, Fl – Canada won the FEI Nations Cup before an unprecedented sellout crowd of more than 8,000 spectators at the Palm Beach International Equestrian Center Friday night. Great Britain and Ireland tied for second.
The only Nations Cup held in the United States was held under the lights of the FTI Winter Equestrian Festival as fans cheered the eight teams that started the event.
It was the fourth victory for Canada in the seven years of the event.
The Canadian team was made up entirely of Ontario residents: Keean White of Cambridge, on Celena Z, Yann Candele of Nobleton on Mustique, Eric Lamaze of Schomberg on Hickstead, and Ian Millar of Perth on In Style.
The event was marked by drama.
The Canadian team experienced drama when the nose band on the stallion Hickstead broke during the first round by Olympic gold medalist Eric Lamaze and the pair incurred an unusual six faults. But anchor rider Ian Millar, nicknamed ‘Captain Canada’ and a veteran of nine Olympics, rode In Style to two clear rounds to clinch victory for the 2008 Olympic silver medal team.
The USA finished fourth after a last-minute rider change agreed to by all the teams as a result of Todd Minikus of Wellington rushing to be with his mother who was injured in an accident hours before the start of the event. His place was taken by Kent Farrington of Wellington on Up Chiqui. The other U.S. riders were Lauren Hough also of Wellington on Quick Study, Christine McCrea of Suffield, Conn. on Vegas and Laura Kraut of Wellington on Cedric.
Hunter Harrison, CEO of CN National Railway Company that sponsored the FEI Nations Cup, said the event “was a milestone for Wellington, I have never seen a turnout like tonight, the sport is starting to move to another level. It was a great night for show jumping and a great night for the sport.”
The first round of competition was neck and neck between Great Britain and Ireland with Hickstead’s broken nose band helping to drop Canada to third place.
“His noseband broke over the water jump,” Lamaze said of the incident. “He’s a very sensitive horse and was quite unhappy with what was going on and he let me know it.”
Canada’s luck turned around thanks to a double clear round delivered by Millar.
Millar said he did not know he had to go double clean for the win if Ireland had a rail until he got to the ingate. He said of the pressure, “You know you really feel alive doing this work and I really enjoy doing it.”
Terrance Millar, chef d’equipe of the Canadian team said of the win, “we had a hard time believing we were in contention, we backed into the win. Its good to be lucky sometimes.”
Great Britain, on the other hand, was not so lucky.
Peter Charles reflected on the event, “It was a good competition tonight. I would like to thank Frank for a magnificent course and not killing anyone tonight. Nick Skelton’s horse couldn’t come back in the second round, so we had a bid of bad luck tonight, we could have won it.”
Lauren Hough, who was double clear, said of the result for the U.S., “It’s always an honor to ride for your country. We didn’t have high scores just fours and eights. My horse jumped great, even better the second round. I’m very honored and proud I could deliver a double clear in front of my home country.”
Disclaimer:
![Local Magic SEO - Charleston SC](https://shieldspaintingfl.com/wp-content/plugins/local-magic/assets/images/local-magic-logo.png)