Living Along the Ocklawaha

Captain Erika Ritter gives tours along the Ocklawaha River on a pontoon boat, in large part because of her unique attachment to the river. She grew up along it, and it was as she was growing up that the Cross-Florida Barge Canal was planned and partly constructed. It was ultimately stopped, in – as she put it – her front yard. She reflects here on what it was like growing up along the river, and in the midst of such a major project.