Kayak Trips Of Gene

Snook Haven North On Myakka

2011-08-04T17:10:00.001-04:00

John came by my house at 7:30 am with two computers for the computer club refurbishing along with other equipment. We loaded the kayaks in the truck and then went to Wings & Weenies for breakfast. After breakfast we went to Snook Haven for kayaking. We were in the water at 9:00 am and paddled 3.4 miles in two hours. We went up four tributaries of the Myakka River before heading back. Below is a picture of the spot we launched.

This is a picture of the first tributary that we entered and a scene in this narrow shady water.

While going through the narrow areas we came across three spider webs of this kind. Each with some baby spiders.The tributaries are a nice change from the wide river.

As we came back into the Myakka I took this panorama shot of where the river makes a horseshoe curve at the north end of Snook Haven.

Here we are entering another tributary and a scene back on the Myakka.

We heard some thunder in the distance and saw some dark clouds but they went the other way. There was some cloud cover and some nice breezes.

The dead trees along the Myakka really give it a great look. We saw very little wildlife. We saw this Night Herron about three times.

We did see one alligator in the water ahead of us but it was too far away to get a picture. Just as I realized that we had never seen another boat, four kayakers came around the bend.

They were followed by three more. These are the only boats we saw all morning. We got back to the launch about 11:00 am. John helped me unload the kayaks when we got back to my house and then left. It was a great kayaking day.

First Time On Deer Prairie Creek

2011-07-31T23:26:00.001-04:00

John came to my house at 7:15 this morning. We loaded the kayaks and went to the Waffle House for breakfast. We then headed for Deer Prairie Creek. We traveled less than 2 miles up and back We launched at the north side of the dam. The water was high and was flowing over the dam.

The scenery along this creek is beautiful. This part was fairly wide but got narrow once in a while.

We encountered a good bit of vegetation in the creek.

We finally got to a spot where the vegetation was so thick that we had to turn back. John hadn’t kayaked in about 9 months due to a shoulder problem and I hadn’t in about 2½ months. We decided to call it a day and go home. No sense in pushing it the first time out. It was good to be out kayaking again. On the way home we went by the county Myakka River Park on Laurel road. It is not yet opened.

Checking Out Deer Prairie Creek

2011-06-12T16:31:00.001-04:00

After breakfast I went to Deer Prairie Creek. The road is a dirt one lane road. About 1.1 mile is the parking lot, dam and the north launch.

This shows this road as it is seen from route 41. About 1 mile in is the south launch site. The South launch appears to give access to the section of the creek opening into Myakka River.

The panorama is of the area of the south launch. There is a wide place in the road for launching but the vehicles must then be parked in the parking lot with a walk back to the launch.

The south side of the dam is not accessable as a launch. The north side is shallow and provides a good place to launch.

This group of over a dozen kayakers were returning when I arrived. I watched them to see if there was anyone there I knew. There wasn’t. This path shows the road from the parking lot to the dam/launch and from the dam to the parking lot. The creek is very beautiful and I am anxious to try it.

Sailing On Little Sarasota Bay

2011-04-19T23:08:00.001-04:00

Judy came over at 9 am and helped load the kayaks in the truck. We then went to the Vamo beach launch. We traveled about 1½ in 1½ hours. I had very little wind. Terry Brawley was at the launch renting kayaks and giving a tour to two other people.

The weather was great but there was very little wind. Judy rode alung in the other kayak and took pictures. It was fun but real slow.

We traveled north in the bay awhile and then returned. There were quite a few large boats in the bay today but they slowed nicely when getting close to us. The only wildlife we saw were a few fishing Anhingas and some jumping fish.

The trip back was real slow because we were pretty much going against the wind, what there was of it. When we returned Terry and his people were also coming in.

It was a fun time. Judy was not tempted to sail because of the low wind. Maybe she will next time.

Myakka River and Curry Creek

2011-04-16T22:24:00.001-04:00

At 9:00 am Judy and I loaded the kayaks and headed for T. Mabry Launch on Border Road to meet up with Anne and Karen. This is the first kayak trip that I have made in over a month. It was good to be back. We were in the water at 9:35 am and traveled south .8 miles to Curry Creek and then 1.2 miles west and returned for a total paddle of 4 miles in 2 ½ hours.

Under the Border Road bridge and then the beautiful scenery.

This was the only wildlife I saw all morning, but the trip was still great. Here we are turning into Curry Creek.

The weather was beautiful and and got to use her sun shield again. This part of Curry Creek is known as Blackburn Canal and was dredged in the past to connect to The Myakka River to help with flooding. It connects the Myakka with Dona bay and could flow either west or east depending on the tide.

Here we passed under N. Jackson Rd. and continued on.

Some of had a little snack before turning around and heading back. And then back on the Myakka to head for the launch.

As we passed under the Border Rd. bridge we found this group not only fishing but with a fire to cook it as they caught it. Anne and Karen continued north up the Myakka while Judy and I quit for the day.

Judy helped me unload the kayaks before she went home.

Braden River At Linger Lodge (Trip # 280)

2011-03-13T22:25:00.002-04:00

I met Anne, Lois, Karen, Brian, Carol and Kieran at linger Lodge at 10:30 am. We paddled up river 2.2 miles and returned for a total of 4.4 miles in just under 3 hours. We turned around because there were too many shallow places.

The water seemed high for the little rain we have had. The water was calm and the weather was perfect, in the low 70’s with no clouds.

We saw very little wildlife on our travel up river but more on our return.

The scenery was, as always, fantastic. The water was very clear and we could see the bottom most of the time.

More beautiful scenery along the Braden River.

There were quite a few Egrets along the river today.

This bridge is River Club Drive in Lakewood Ranch. Very few homes can be seen along this route. This bridge is one of the few signs of civilization.

Shortly after turning back I dropped the viewfinder into the water and had to get out of the kayak in waist deep water to retrieve it. The only thing dry was my left arm and the water was still pretty cold. At this point we started seeing more turtles, some pretty big.

This bird is probably a Little Blue Heron. He seemed to be following us.

And more Egrets.

And also more turtles.

Anne took this picture of six turtles on one log. I wasn’t quick enough to get them all.

Here is our approach to Linger Lodge and the loading of our kayaks. It was a great trip with a good group.

After the trip everyone but me stopped for refreshments. I was uncomfortable and wet so I left. Shown here from left are Carol, Kieran, Anne, Lois, Bryan and Karen. Everyone had a great time today.

Lido Tunnels With Anne And Sue

2011-02-20T19:58:00.001-05:00

Anne called just before noon and asked if I wanted to go kayaking. She suggested the west end of Ringling Bridge. I called Sue and asked if she wanted to go and of course she said yes. We loaded the kayaks and left my house about 12:30 pm to meet Anne at 1:00 pm. Anne called when she got there and said there was no room to park. We met at Lido Park instead. We went through the three mangrove tunnels, a distance of 2.4 miles in 2 hours 13 minutes. This was the first time Sue and Anne met and the first time Sue had seen the mangrove tunnels.

There were a lot of other kayakers on the water today. It was a perfect day to kayak. Temperature in the upper 70’s and no wind. Sue really liked the tunnels.
We saw quite a few birds along the way like this Snowy Egret. The scenery was of course beautiful.

There were a lot of Cormorants diving for fish around our boats. I thought that this white bird was a Snowy Egret at first but now I am not sure what it is.

These trail walkers waved to us as we went by. And, of course he had to try to impress the girls by going down into the water.
Anne said that this bird was a Night Heron. It was probably a young one. Among the kayakers we are now seeing more stand-up kayaking. I don’t know how you would be able to take pictures paddling this way.

They had to kneel down and paddle in most of the tunnels. This man liked this area. He said it was his favorite swimming hole with it’s sandy bottom.

Here we are exiting the final tunnel and approaching the south tip of Lido Key.

There are always lots of kayakers stopping here for a break. We stayed in our kayaks and didn’t go ashore. We saw more Cormorants today than any other birds.

The bay was busy with lots of boats of all kinds especially this tour boat with the palm trees non deck. Sue was a little nervous about exiting her kayak. I was ready with the camera to get a good shot if she fell in but she didn’t.

It was a good trip and great to be out on the water again. When we got home Sue helped me unload the kayaks before going home.

South Creek Paddle With Sue

2011-02-07T23:08:00.001-05:00

Sue was the only one that showed up for the Bike Ride To The Mall today at noon. We started out on the trip but when we got to Clark Road we decided that it was too windy. We came back home and loaded the kayaks and headed for Oscar Scherer State Park. We mad a 1.9 mile trip in about 1 ½ hours. The tall trees shielded us from the wind. This was Sue’s first kayak trip. She had paddled a canoe before but never a kayak.

The scenery was beautiful as always. Sue loved it and wants to go some more.

The sun was shining most of the time and the temperature was in the low 70’s. We never saw another kayak all day.

We were able to go beyond the stone dam but turned around when the water got shallow. We saw about 4 birds during the trip. I only got pictures of this and one other. I just couldn’t get him out in the open.

On the way back I took this picture of Sue struggling to get over the rock dam. We parked the kayaks by the foot bridge and took a little walk to the museum.

This is just one of the typical camp sites along the way. Before ending our trip we took a detour up the tributary as far as we could go.

This Blue Herron didn’t seem frightened of us and we were able to get quite close. On the way home someone stopped us on Honore for help getting this turtle off the road.

Sue got the turtle over the curb so that he could get back to the water. This was a great trip with beautiful weather. Sue is anxious to go out again. I think that she is hooked on kayaking.

Emerson Point Paddle and Picnic

2010-11-13T23:41:00.000-05:00

Charlotte came by my house at 8:30 am to go kayaking. I already had the kayaks loaded. We arrived at Emerson Point shortly after 9:15 am. I had some problems getting things together so by the time Charlotte and I launched at 9:45 am the rest of them were long gone. We traveled 2.4 miles in 1 hour 45 minutes.
When we got to the start ogf the mangrove tunnels everyone was waiting on us.

The tide was still high enough that we could take the longest tunnel clear to the end. These tunnels are beautiful and plenty wide all the way.

There wasn’t much wildlife here today but I did get close to this beautiful Night Heron. When we got to the lake at the end of the tunnel we got a great demonstration of the kayak roll by one of our members.

On the way back we detoured to the Tampa Bay area.

I separated from the group and went along the shore looking for wildlife. All I found was this Blue Herron. There were many other kayakers out today. This was ideal weather for it.

I finally caught up with the rest just before getting to the launch site. We had a great picnic at the shelter house next to the launch.

Lots of good food and everyone got a prize in the drawing. We all got to meet a few new people we didn’t know. Anne took a liking to the fold-up sun hat left over from the drawing. It gives her an oriental look, don’t you think?

Some of the group played “corn hole”. I t looked like they were doing a great job with it. We broke up about 2:00 pm and went our separate ways.

Today was a great paddle and a great picnic.

Potluck, Party, Picnic and Paddle

2010-10-24T23:28:00.002-04:00

Many of Anne’s friends came to her Potluck, Party, Picnic and Paddle today at 11:00 am at the Turtle Beach Camping picnic area for her birthday. Anne provided the fried chicken, hot dogs and refreshments. At 1:30 14 of us launched our kayaks at the boat launch area and paddled 2.9 miles in 2 1/2 hours. What a beautiful day to paddle.

Anne even had a birthday cake to share with us. Couldn’t keep the candles lit though. Some of them played a game Anne brought called Cornhole Toss. It was a bag toss game and was a lot of fun.

There were lots more kayaks besides ours at the launch area. Today was really a kayak day.

Now there’s a sit-on kayak I have never seen before. Looks top heavy to me. It looked like he got along good though. There’s Karen with some aft the others behind her heading out to the bay.

We went straight to Midnight pass and there were boats everywhere. We walked over to the beach and most of either waded or swam. The water is still pretty warm.

Just relaxing on the beach was fun too. Then back to our kayaks to continue the paddle.

We then headed through the islands to a place called Tree House. It looks like it is used a lot for parties and cookouts. Just a few of us went ashore.

You can see it get used a lot but I still can’t understand the structures built up in the trees. Seems like some one at some time out in a lot of work doing that.

The on to some more paddling around the bay. Here is Anne with her great sun shield. It really works well.

The 14 of us then headed back taking the short cut under this bridge. The water was low enough that we could easily pass under.

This is the only wild life shot I had a chance at today. An Egret just as he took flight. Back to the launch we all said our good bys and headed for home. It was nice to meet some new people today. I think Anne was the only one that new everyone to start with.

South Creek With Judy (Trip # 275)

2010-10-23T23:48:00.002-04:00

Judy came by the house at 12:30 pm and we loaded the kayaks and took off for the Shoreland Park Launch across the road from Oscar Sherer State Park. We launched at 1:15 pm and travelled 4.3 miles up South Creek and returned in three hours. This is a nice launch but requires wheels to get from the parking lot to the launch across this field.

This creek starts out wide until reaching the park area. This is the first time Judy had been kayaking since May.

It was my first time in two weeks. It was great to be out on the water again and the day was perfect with lots of sunshine and a nice breeze.

As we approached the Tamiami Trail Bridge we saw these 5 ducks which were few of the wild life we saw all day.

We encountered lots of kayakers and canoeists today. Twelve of the kayakers were camping in the park and had spent the whole morning on Salt Creek and the intercoastal waterway. They had paddled for about six or seven hours. Most of the others we saw had rented boats in the park. They are shown here returning and renting canoes at the dock.

Judy and I headed up the tributary but couldn’t get too far because the water was a little low. Here are the 12 kayakers coming back down river and to their camp sites.

We got to the foot bridge and found lots of action. A lot of people fishing. The stone dam was low enough and the current slow enough that we could paddle past it.

We continued until finally blocked by shallow water. We were just 1/10 mile from the Legacy Trail Bridge at this point.

On the way back we stopped at the bridge and saw all the activity around the swimming area. We have seen these spiders quite often in this part of Florida. Very colorful and probably dangerous.
Back to the wide area of the creek and to the launch. This was a great paddle but somewhat short on wildlife.

Sarasota Bay Sunset Paddle

2010-10-08T23:38:00.000-04:00

I met Jay and Anne at the Vamo launch at 6:45 this evening. We launched our kayaks to watch the sunset at 6:48pm and travelled 2.4 miles in 1 hour 47 minutes. There was a light breeze which stopped when the sun went down.

We paddled east towards Turtle Beach as we watched the sun set. It was a beautiful night for a paddle, not a cloud in the sky.

Here is a shot of the last glimpse of the sun. There were a few motor boats passing as it got dark but no problem with them. Of course we had lights on our kayaks.

Following the sunset we continued east across the bay. There were still a few ducks swimming around and Egrets flying.

We saw a party going on at Ophelia’s on the bay. It was just light enough to get a picture. And then a short distance south we saw this dock lit with underwater lights. Very pretty.

As we continued it did get too dark to take any more pictures. It was a great paddle. Very relaxing and quiet. We got out of the water about 8:30 and headed home.

Braden River From Linger Lodge ,Both Ways

2010-10-07T23:37:00.001-04:00

I met John and Jay at Linger Lodge at 10:am. We launched at 10:20 am and paddled 1.5 miles up the Braden River and back for a 3 mile trip in 2 hours. I then went down river 1.5 miles and back for a 3 mile trip in 2 hours. John and Jay did not join me on the down river adventure.

The day was perfect for kayaking. It never got very hot and there was a nice breeze all the time. We had no current to paddle against. The water level was low. The scenery here is always beautiful.

Picture taking is more difficult on a cloudless day because the sun is so harsh. We ended our upriver paddle at this point because of the fallen tree blocking the way. It didn’t appear to be recent so the higher water in the past must have allowed us to pass over it or go around it.

There was very little wildlife during the start of the trip. To this point I had only seen one bird, an Anhinga. I will have to learn more about the flowers along the waterways, they are beautiful. We finally started seeing some turtles.

Back at linger lodge John loaded his kayak and left. I felt like continuing because I hadn’t been out in over a month.

When Jay got there he also called it a day and left me to go it alone.

I saw a lot more wildlife on the western part of the river. I have seen these ducks before on the Braden River but I don’t know what they are. They are usually alone. I tried to do some of the tributaries but the water plants and brush growth this time of year choke out these waterways.

This route takes you under I75 toward Jiggs Landing at the Evers Reservoir. I saw lots more turtles in this area.

I spotted 2 alligators. One a long way in front of me and this one along the shore. This none seemed to be about 10 feet or so. I continued until I started to come into the residential area and the turned back.

More turtles and more beautiful scenery.

There were quite a few Anhinga. None in the water and none drying their wings. Passing under I75 shows that you are near the launch.

This is the only Blue Herron I saw today.

And here I am back at the launch to end my 4 hour trip. I have to admit I was a bit tired but it was great to be out there again.

Curry Creek

2010-09-06T22:46:00.001-04:00

John came by the house 11:30 this morning to go kayaking. It was sprinkling rain so we decided to get lunch first. We stopped at Subway on Laurel Road to eat and then went to the Curry Creek Preserve launch on Albee Farm Road. We launched at 12:47 and travelled 4 miles in 2 hours. The water was high when we started. It was over the mat at the launch.

The trip started out well but soon John decided to go back ton check to be sure he locked his car. While he was gone I took a little side trip thinking it would come back out to the creek.
When it didn’t, I had to retrace my path and returned to the creek just as john was returning.

We saw a few birds along the route such as this Blue Heron and this Night Heron.

The scenery along this creek is beautiful even though most of it is man made as a flood release for the Myakka River.

One of the neighbors along the way asked if we had seen the 10 foot alligator. We hadn’t on this trip but I had seen him before. Soon we came to the Pine Brook Road Bridge.

We were then in the middle of the Capri Isles Golf Club with it’s golf cart bridges and the Capri Isles Blvd. bridge. This is the point that we turned back.

Here are some of the golfers in their golf cart. You have to watch out for golf balls as you paddle this area.

As we continued on we saw this hornet or wasp nest with lots of activity near by.

As we approached the bridge and our launch we took another side trip through some channels.

And then up the small tributary to the launch.

At this point the water level had dropped about 1 foot from the time we started out. The launch mat was now completely above water.

This was a great trip with good cloud cover and some nice breezes. There was a small current in the creek that was with us on the way back.

Myakka River At Border Road

2010-09-04T21:47:00.001-04:00

I met Anne at the T. Mabry Carlton launch on Border Road at 10:00 am. We were in the water by 10:12 am and travelled 4.3 miles up river in 3 hours and 7 minutes. We met one kayaker exiting the river as we arrived. This launch is on an inlet next to the bridge. It is a good launch but quite a ways to transport the kayaks.

We decided to head north, upriver even though there seemed to be a strong current. As usual the scenery was outstanding.

Shortly after starting clouds formed and it started to sprinkle. Because of the light cloud cover we didn’t think it could last long.

Soon it was a downpour with large rain drops. We went ashore ahead where we saw this sign. It was actually a canoe and kayak launch.

The rain very quickly stopped and we were again on our way. More scenery and more Egrets. There were very few other birds and no turtles.

I finally got my first picture of a Monarch Butterfly and more pretty scenery.

We finally arrived at the Myakka River Park which is now closed until April according to this sign.

At the inlet in this park is the only place we saw an alligator all day. Anne got this great shot of me with him in the background. He looked to be quite large.

We shared a small picnic snack in this shelter house shown here in the trees.

Soon after we left we encountered the only motor boats we had seen all day. Four came by in less then 5 minutes.

Then there were lots more Egrets.

The trip back was quick and easy with a strong current and very often a tail wind.

The scenery here is always beautiful and always changing. We finally arrived at the Border Road bridge and our launch site. It was a great trip today and very relaxing, especially on the trip back.

Sunset Paddle From Bird Key Park (Trip #270)

2010-09-03T23:55:00.001-04:00

I met Anne and Jay at 7:00 pm at Bird Key Park. We launched at 7:11 pm and travelled 7.6 miles in 2 hours 11 minutes. This is an easy place to launch with lots of parking.

This new launch looks great but it is not yet in use. This launch is at the west end of the Ringling Bridge.

This is a busy park with lots of construction going on. It looks like it is really going to be nice.

This was a perfect night for a paddle. This sky was clear with no wind. The sunset was beautiful.

I got this nice panorama of the Ringling Bridge as the sun set.

We saw some wildlife in the water tonight. At first we thought we saw dolphins but decided they were Manta Rays. We saw quite a few of them even after dark.

We also saw quite a few cormorants. We paddled to the Sarasota Sailing Squadron at Ken Thompson Park after it got dark and went ashore and had a little refreshments.

After dark we returned to the launch and I got a night picture of the bridge. This was a really great paddle. I plan to do a night paddle more often. It is quite an experience.

Braden River North From Linger Lodge

2010-08-29T22:08:00.001-04:00

I met Anne, Jay and Karen At linger Lodge at 10:00 am. The water was high but the current was slight. We launched at 10:15 and paddled up river for 3.2 miles in 2 hours 14 minutes. It was a beautiful day for a paddle with a few clouds and a breeze.

The scenery here is beautiful. We saw a lot of Egrets and Blue Heron. The Egrets are so white that it makes them hard to photograph.

Karen and I got a good ways ahead of Anne and Jay so we stopped at a private area that had a hammock and a chair. It didn’t take long for them to catch up.

After continuing on we were stopped by a fallen tree. We could have climbed over but we figured we had gone far enough so it was time to turn back.

Anne climbed out to see if there was a way around the end but no chance so we turned back.

More Egrets but still not a good shot of them.

More beautiful scenery and then we passed this fishing boat. The driver told us that as soon as things settled down in the river he would remove the fallen tree. He helps keep the river clear.

The trip back was much easier because we were going with the current which required very minimal paddling.

More Egrets and finally some turtles. There were quite a few turtles but no alligators.

We explored the tributary across from the launch before returning. We discovered it was soon blocked by late summer growth of the water plants.

We saw these people fishing close to the launch and some more turtles.

Next to the launch we encountered this snake in the water. We then stopped at the restaurant for Margaritas before going home.

This was a great trip and the first time here for Karen. Hopefully the next time the obstruction will be cleared so we can continue further up river.

Myakka State Park

2010-08-28T20:32:00.001-04:00

I met Anne at the bridge in Myakka State Park at 10:00 am. We had planned to launch here but we were afraid we couldn’t get under the bridge because the water was very high. We decided to launch at the picnic area just past the bridge. It was flooded and provided an easy launch. We were in the water by 10:24 am and travelled 7.2 miles in 4 hours and 10 minutes.

We saw a lot of Egrets and Blue Heron along with a lot of smaller birds. We launched here and paddled through the trees to get to the river. We also went through some other wooded areas as well.

The water was as high as we have ever seen it.

There were a lot of flooded picnic grounds.

We saw quite a few other canoes and kayaks on the river. We paddled into the area where we found the Geocache the last time and were able to paddle right up to the tree stump where it was hidden. We could just see the corner of the box.

Besides the Blue Heron and Egrets we encountered about 30 to 40 alligators, all in the water.

As we approached the lake we saw these two kayakers. We ran across them again later. The observation by the dam was empty because the paths to it were under water.

This is a picture of where the dam is. It was so far under water we couldn’t even tell where it was. We came ashore at the main launch at the upper lake. There were some friendly people fishing there.

We ate the lunch we brought on the porch overlooking the lake. From here we returned to the river encountering more kayakers. The trip back was easy because the current was with us and a nice breeze at our backs.

There was nice cloud cover and a nice breeze to keep us comfortable. We saw quite a few other boats out here today.

Even though the alligators were in the water I still managed to get a few good pictures of them.

Also some shots of the birds.

Going back we passed the picnic area where we launched and went to the bridge to check out the clearance.

We found out we could have barely fit under the bridge.

When we left the river Anne wanted to show the flooding of the picnic area. Too bad it was flooded but it made a great launch site.

We also found other changes in the river. This late in the summer some of the alternate river paths were completely overgrown and impassible. High water time in the river is a completely different experience.

South Creek – Oscar Sherer State Park

2010-08-22T21:39:00.001-04:00

I met Anne and John At the kayak launch by the Oscar Sherer State Park entrance at 11:00 am. We traveled up river for 3.2 miles in 2 hours 21 minutes. This is a very easy place to launch but requires admission to the park.

The weather was great. We had had some showers this morning so there was still a little cloud cover and a nice breeze.

We soon passed the main picnic area of the park and then took a side trip up a tributary. It soon came to an end at this storm drain.

The scenery here is great. Lots of overhanging trees to provide shade as well.

We then came to the bridge over the river providing access to the campgrounds on the right side.

At the foot bridge we found that the water was high enough that the dam was completely submerged allowing us access to the upper waters.

This part of the creek is narrower with more obstructions but still navigable.

I was able to go about .1 miles beyond our furthest trip until I encountered this fallen tree. I then turned back but could see more waters ahead. Back at the foot bridge we beached the kayaks and went ashore.

We encountered both bikers and swimmers in the area.

After a short break we continued on our way back to the start.

A good shot of Anne enjoying the voyage. These buzzards were the only wildlife we saw all day. There were also no other boats of any kind.

And then back at the launch we loaded the kayaks and were on our way satisfied with a great kayak trip.

Snook Haven With John And Julia

2010-08-12T23:52:00.001-04:00

John and Julia came by my house at 9:15 am and we both drove to Snook Haven with our kayaks. We launched into the Myakke River at 9:44 am and traveled 4.4 miles in 2 hours 35 minutes. We went up a few tributaries during our paddle. The Myakke River is always beautiful. We saw our one and only small alligator out in the water as we started out.

At the north tip of Snook Haven we started the first tributary detour. At this point we also tried to find a Goucache that was supposed to be hidden here especially for kayakers. We didn’t find it or the other one a little further up.

The is the typical end of a tributary. It just stops a lot of times. We then continued up more similar routes.

More beautiful Scenery and another dead end.

Julia enjoying the paddle and more beautiful Myakka River.

John tried his hand at fishing with his new collapsible fishing pole, but no luck. Not much wildlife today. Only this little grasshopper swimming to shore and a couple of turtles.

This was the point we turned around and headed back. It was just before the I-75 bridge.

This was the first turtle we saw although we heard some splashing into the water before we could see them.

The only boat we saw was this rental canoe from Snook Haven as we were heading back. The only birds we saw were high in the sky. Another turtle as we reached the launch.

It was a good trip but we did get a little warm even though there were some clouds and a little breeze. We stopped in the restaurant for lunch and music before heading home.

On The Legacy Trail (Bike Not Kayak)

2010-08-07T23:28:00.000-04:00

About 3:00 pm I loaded my bike in the truck and went to Laurel Park in Venice. I started on the Legacy Trail at 3:17 pm and road 6.5 miles in one hour.

This park is about .5 miles north of the bridge over Dona bay that was opened last week. Here are shots of me approaching the bridge and on the bridge which is over Shakett Creek.

Here is a panorama picture taken west from the bridge. I then stopped at Nokomis Park and took a panorama of it.

I went as far as the Venice Train Station and then returned.

Back at Nokomis Park I took a picture of the new kayak and canoe launch there. This last picture is a drawing of the proposed pedestrian bridge which cross over the route 41 bypass along the legacy Trail.

Manatee River From Fort Hamer (Trip #265)

2010-08-01T21:40:00.002-04:00

I met John and Julia at Fort Hamer at 10:00am. We launched at 10:09 am and travelled 5.7 miles in 2 hours 38 minutes. We explored the Manatee River West of Fort Hamer. It is the first time we paddled this section of the Manatee.

The scenery here is beautiful with lots of large trees but the river is quite wide here.

There was very little wildlife here today. A few birds, mostly Egrets and Anhingas.

There was a little relief from the sun most of the time with slight cloud cover and some breezes. Julia really seemed to enjoy the kayaking and did a great job of paddling.

It wasn’t until on our return trip that we saw boaters. The second one was pulling a water skier.

The open water like this is difficult on these hot days. We stopped at this beach to look for a Geocache but couldn’t find the treasure. If you don’t know what Geocaching is the go to www.geocache.com and learn all about it. It is a fun little hobby.

As we approached Fort Hamer these two girls were enjoying their time on a jet ski. This was not a real interesting paddle but it was nice seeing what the lower Manatee looks like.

Myakka State Park River

2010-07-31T20:27:00.001-04:00

I met Anne at the bridge over the Myakka river in Myakka State Park at 10:00 am. We launched just west of the bridge and travelled 6.7 miles in 4 hours. We travelled north to the upper lake dam and back. This is a nice place to launch with plenty of parking. There were signs of other kayakers launching here today.

As we started in the small lake adjacent to the river we could see the tower at the Canopy Walk close by.

We passed under the bridge and travelled along the most beautiful part with lots of tall trees.

After about 2 hours we stopped at a Geocache location I had put in my GPS and found a treasure. Geocaching is a fun little hobby that goes well with kayaking.

This cache was concealed in a tree stump. Anne is standing where we came ashore to find it.

The scenery here is beautiful. We encountered 2 or 3 alligators. They were all in the river and all we got to see were the eyes and nose. We saw a few birds. Not as many as usual. Mostly Anhingas and Egrets.

There were a few other canoes and kayaks as we got closer to the lake. This Anhinga is drying it’s wings in the wind so it can again fly.

More canoeists and a Blue Heron. These two girls paddled with us the rest of the way to the dam.

The water level was high today but not to the top of the dam shown in the distance. I took this shot of Anne and the two girls coming ashore.

This is a close up of the two girls as we were leaving back down the river and they were continuing across the dam. The scenery in this area is completely different with low vegetation.

I was not able to identify these birds.

About half way back we saw these kayakers. We then stopped at a picnic table and had some sandwiches that Anne brought along for lunch. This was a nice place to eat but the table was right in the sun.

Anne is standing where we came ashore for our lunch. This turtle picture is not very clear but it is the only turtle we saw all day.

We saw folks fishing by the picnic area close to the bridge. The river got real narrow here with swift current.

I took a self portrait using my camera mount on the kayak. And then the bridge indicating the end of our journey.

And here we are back at the launch. We were tired after the almost 4 hour trip. We hadn’t planned to go quite that long but sometimes you just want to keep on going. This was a great trip but the sun at times was brutal. Earlier trips this time of year are much better.

Upper Braden River

2010-07-29T17:57:00.001-04:00

I met John and his granddaughter Julia at Linger Lodge at 10:00 am. We traveled 1.8 miles up river and returned in 1 hour 53 minutes for a total distance of 3.6 miles. This was Julia’s first time kayaking and she got along just great. I think she wants to go again.

The scenery here is great and the weather was beautiful. The over hanging trees and some clouds helped keeps out of the sun much of the time.

We saw very little wildlife but lots of great scenery. We turned around at the point where there was some blockage in the river which would have been difficult to get around.

We only saw one turtle. Not a hint of an alligator.

We saw only two birds. A Blue Heron and this Night Heron pictured as he flew away. There were some nice wild flowers too. I haven’t learned their names yet.

Back at the launch in less than two hours, there was almost no current which was noticeable by the debris in the river. This was a beautiful and relaxing trip on a nice warm day.

Robinson Preserve With John

2010-07-25T20:14:00.001-04:00

I met John at Robinson Preserve about 10:20 am and we launched our kayaks at 10:40 and traveled 5.5 miles in 2 hours 36 minutes. It was 2.5 miles to the Palma Sola Bay but we missed a turn which added about 1/2 mile. There were lots of kayakers here today.

We headed south and passed the observation tower but didn’t stop this time.

We saw a lot of wildlife today. Here are two white Ibises. We saw a lot of them.

Here is an Osprey and another White Ibis in flight.

Two more Egrets with some smaller birds in the background.

There were quite a few bridges to go under. I didn’t see as many kayakers as I had expected.

We saw this one vey large Eagle just before entering Palma Sola Bay. We didn’t venture into the bay but turned around at this point and headed back.

There were quite a few fishermen by the entrance. We had to watch out for spiders like this one across the narrow areas.

I took this self portrait with my new camera mount. It works a lot better. Some more kayakers passing us.

I think these are both Blue Herons.

Another Ibis and then the tower in the distance is a sign that the trip is coming to an end.

After passing the tower we returned to the launch. Even now there were still kayakers heading out.

It was a great day for kayaking. There was a nice breeze most of the time but a few more clouds would have really helped. That Florida sun can really be hot.

Myakka River Alone

2010-07-24T22:21:00.001-04:00

I went to the Myakka River Park in Venice at 10:00 am and launched into the water at 10:20 am. I paddled north about 2.5 miles and returned for a total distance of 4.5 miles in 2 hours 22 minutes. I took my Hobie and the new camera mount I had made. It was a little crude but it worked.

The park is still open. It is supposed to close for 4 months to install a pipe line across the Myakka. The scenery here is always beautiful. I went alone today because I could not find anyone to go with.

I also found some tributaries to explore along the way.

The first one went a little further but I didn’t want to plow through this mess. The second one was a loop which was interesting.

I saw very little wildlife. A couple of birds I couldn’t get pictures of and a few egrets. I only saw two boats the whole day. This was the first one with two guys fishing.

My camera mount made it easy to take my own picture. Other than that I can come up with something better. There were a few homes along the way, very few.

Here are a couple more egrets.

It never got too hot today. There was about a 50% cloud cover and a nice breeze. Another boat with a family aboard.

More beautiful scenery and then the construction area where the pipeline will be after crossing the river.

And finally the entrance to the park area and the launch. There was a little threat of rain but I didn’t see any until I was on the way home. It was a good trip but no turtles or alligators this time.

Catfish Creek (Trip #260 )

2010-07-22T18:25:00.001-04:00

I finally got out on the water today after being off almost 5 weeks. I went by myself to the Vamo launch about 10:00 am. I only did Catfish Creek which was 3.2 miles in one hour fifty two minutes. As I was leaving the launch I saw these people launching. Before I entered the first tunnel I waited on the three at the left who, I learned later, were Mona, Lisa and Vick.

They were new to kayaking and had never been up this creek so I asked them to come along with me. Here we are entering the first tunnel into the lake area. When we got through the tunnel we encountered a fisherman that said he was having no luck.

After going the length of the lake we came to the second tunnel. These are very nice mangrove tunnels that very few people know about.

I tried to get a picture of all three of them behind me but only Mona got in the picture. The scenery here is very beautiful.

We went under two bridges, one private road to the condos and the bridge under Vamo Way. Many of the homes toward the end have banana trees along the water’s edge.

This creek ends at route 41. We turned around at this point. Here is the bridge at Vamo Way.

We saw very little wildlife. This Yellow Crowned Night Heron was hiding in the trees. We then returned to the lake area.

I asked them if they wanted to go up North Creek but they had had enough for today so we continued back to the launch. This is the pilings from the Route 41 of a long time ago. The weather today was ideal. There were a lot of clouds and, at times, a refreshing breeze. We were also in the shade a lot.

As we exited into Little Sarasota Bay I took this movie of the last tunnel we went through. That is Lisa, Mona and Vic exiting at the end.

Frog Creek

2010-06-19T22:55:00.001-04:00

I went by Anne’s house and picked up her and her kayak and then met Jay and Karen at the route 19 bridge between Terra Ceia Bay and Terra Ceia Bayou. We put jay’s kayak in my truck and left his car there. We then went to the Bishop Harbor Road launch. We were in the water by 9:30 am and we traveled 5.7 miles in 3 hours and 20 minutes. This is a nice launch, although somewhat muddy, with adequate parking.

The scenery on this part of the creek was outstanding with lots of big trees and lots of color.

It soon turned to smaller trees and lots of mangroves as we approached the tide water area.

Our first side trip was “Adam’s Hole”, the only entrance to this lake.

We continued down Frog Creek to these mangrove tunnels which led to a large lake area with a good bit of wildlife.

The mangrove tunnels were beautiful and quite wide which made the paddling easy.

We saw quite a few birds in this area. We stopped at a strange sight of many stakes in the ground. We decided that it was an area of newly planted pine and palm trees.

As we left there we entered another long channel which led to a very large lake area. Jay and I would like to explore this area on a future paddle here.

This lake leads to an area called “Moses Hole” and to Tampa Bay.

We then returned to Frog Creek and our journey southward.

The creek soon widened as we approached Terra Ciea Bayou.

Our first bridge was I-275.

We passed under the second bridge which was the north end of Terra Ceia Bayou, where we could have exited the water. We also started seeing more birds like this Night Herron.

As we crossed Terra Ceia Bayou toward the bridge where we exited the water we saw 3 dolphins. This young dolphin swam right in front of my kayak as we approached the bridge.

After passing under the bridge I saw this bird. The water here was far too shallow for our kayaks judging by him standing on the bottom.

At this point we got out of our kayaks and walked them to the beach.

Anne found this horseshoe crab but it didn’t appear to be alive. Jay loaded his kayak on his car and drove Karen and I to the launch to pick up our vehicles while Anne stayed with the kayaks. When we returned we loaded the kayaks and left. It was a great trip. Karen said it right when she said “this is what kayaking is all about”.

Gap Creek & Braden River

2010-06-17T21:55:00.001-04:00

John and I arrived at the Braden River Park shortly before 8 am to launch our kayaks. We were in the water by 8 am and traveled 6 miles in 2 hours 45 minutes. We launched a little further east from the designated launch site. This was a much easier place to put in.

This appears to be a drainage inlet but makes a very easy launch.

Gap creek starts out as a narrow canal which goes a short distance east to the Braden River.

A short distance north we entered the branch parallel to the main river. We had never been in this section of the river before.

The scenery here is very beautiful. We saw very little wildlife and not a boat the whole morning.

We tried quite a few channels but most, like this one, were dead ends.

We found this nest high on a power pole which contained what looked like a family of Eagles. We then returned to the main channel of the Braden River.

We continued north on the river taking in a few side trips along the way.

This river is quite wide in this area but it is beautiful as well.

Not sure what this bird is but it was large. Probably an Osprey. We then headed back south on the river toward the launch.

As we got to Gap Creek we met a family swimming at the mouth of the creek and having a lot of fun. Back at the launch we loaded our kayaks ending a good morning of kayaking.

Jigg’s Landing To Linger Lodge

2010-06-12T21:44:00.001-04:00

I met Lois, Brian and Carole at Jigg’s Landing shortly before 8:00 this morning. We put our kayaks in the water and then Carole stayed with them while Brian, Lois and I took Brian’s car and my truck to Linger Lodge for a one way kayak trip. We were in the water by 8:20 am and travelled 4.4 miles in 2.5 hours.

We started up the Braden River and saw lots of birds. We also saw three alligators and some turtles.

The weather was perfect and the water was calm. In the trees we saw these Anhingas drying their wings and right next to them Vultures looking for the next meal.

The scenery along this river is great when you get away from the homes. There are lots of homes along here.

I don’t know what these birds are but theyy let me get close.

This river west of the interstate is wide and beautiful. It narrows a lot on the east side of I-75.

Another Anhinga drying it’s wings.

And here is an Egret hiding in the tall grass.

We encountered quite a few boats today. Some fishing boats and some canoes and kayaks. I thought that this bird was a Night Heron but it was much bigger than the ones I’ve seen before.

Coming to the I-75 bridge means coming to the close of our journey. Another good shot of an unknown bird.

More and more boaters as we approached Linger Lodge.

As we brought our kayaks ashore others were arriving and leaving as well. I put Lois’s Kayak in my truck and took her and her kayak to her vehicle parked at Jigg’s Landing. This was a great paddle and just a good distance for a one way trip.

Shakett Creek

2010-06-10T20:54:00.001-04:00

I went to the Loreto Ct. launch this morning alone. I launched at 9:30 am and travelled 3.5 miles in 2 hours. I got to see the progress on the Legacy Trail bridge and explore the mangrove area of the creek. This is a very good launch with ample parking and easy access.

This Egret is the only bird I saw the entire time. I didn’t see any other wildlife or for that matter any boats of any kind. I watched the workers on the bridge awhile and the main structure seems to be complete. They still have to install the railings. Probably will be ready by the end of this month.

From there I went along the shoreline of the mangrove trees. There are no tunnels here just lots of canals. Everyone I tried was a dead end. It was still interesting and pretty in its own way.

I kept thinking I would find some small tunnels or at least a shortcut.

After heading north east awhile I returned through a canal between the mangrove water and Shakett Creek.

As I came to the end of this canal I was fortunate to find a connection back to the way I came without having to retrace my path.

I then got back to the creek and continued north east attempting to find another path back.

I took a route that would take me beneath a bridge. When I got to the bridge the tunnels under it were only about 12 inches high. No way to get through so I had to retrace my path. I then went to the other side and also took a picture of the tunnels.

After that I returned to the launch and ended my trip. This was a perfect day for kayaking. There was a refreshing breeze most of the time I was paddling and the sun never got too hot.

North Jetty & Roberts Bay (Trip #255)

2010-06-06T22:21:00.001-04:00

Seven of the Kayak Explorers met at the North Jetty at 9 am to go kayaking. We paddled 4.1 miles into Roberts Bay in 2 hours 30 minutes. Terry was there too but on business not paddling with us.

The 6 beside me were Lois, Brian, Carol, Bonnie, Jay and Bette. There were a lot of people at the launch. A really busy day.

We decided to head south. Most had never been in that direction. We travelled through Roberts bay toward the intercoastal waterway.

There was not much wildlife today except for a few birds like this egret and then the excitement of 3 dolphins. Some spotted a manatee as we were ending our trip but I didn’t see it.

The weather was great with a slight cloud cover and a little breeze now and then. The sun was still pretty hot most of the time.

We went to the Venice Marina and stopped for a break from the paddling.

It was the perfect place for a stop. After about 10 minutes we were again on our way.

The return rout seemed a lot quicker with a little tailwind and a more direct path.

We saw quite a few Cormorants but none spreading their wings to dry. As we approached the launch site some said the saw a large manatee. I paddled around the area but never saw it.

Back at the jetty we ended a great trip and the all went to the kayaking party at Kate and Bill’s

Kayak Explorers Party

2010-06-06T21:43:00.000-04:00

After the kayaking at the north jetty we all went to Kate and Bill’s for our Kayak Explorer’s Party. There were over a dozen there. The pool was just waiting for the fun crowd. There was always someone in the pool having a great time.

It was good that Anne brought her dad to enjoy the fun. Those not enjoying the pool enjoyed a great time visiting.

Many took to the pool and to the visiting as well.

Bill passed out hats which really added to the fun. Great idea Bill.

We also had great pizza and plenty of things to drink. Even cookies for desert. And still more fun in the pool.

And still more visiting around the pool.

And thank you Anne for help with getting the pictures.

This was a great party and thanks to bill and Kate for the use of the hall.

Myakka River With John & Doug

2010-06-05T21:25:00.001-04:00

John and Doug, John’s son, came by my house about 8:30 am to go kayaking. We drove to T. Mabry Carlton launch on the Myakka River. We launched at 9:06 am and padded 3.2 miles to Snook Haven and 3.2 miles back in 4 hours.

As soon as we started a cable snapped on my pedals and I returned them to the truck. I then had to resort to paddling. This was the first time kayaking for Doug. He used my sit-in kayak and I used my Hobie.

The scenery here was great. We had a nice breeze going to Snook Haven. We only averaged 2 mph on the first half of the trip partly because of the headwind and partly because the Hobie is more work to paddle and slowed me down some.

On the return trip we averaged 3 mph because we then had a tailwind and I had Doug paddle the Hobie.

We never saw any wildlife the whole trip. We only saw a few boats going the opposite direction.

When we arrived at Snook Haven we tied the boats up and had lunch at the lodge. John treated us both. It was a great lunch. We then headed back the way we came.

Doug really enjoyed the scenery and the trip. I think he’s hooked on kayaking. And more boaters enjoying the outdoors.

Because of the tailwind instead of a headwind the return trip was a lot warmer as well as faster. Here we are at the I-75 bridge. We had thought that we might get some rain but the weather held out great.

We took a little side trip I had never tried before. It was nice except for the bridge. These tunnels were barely high enough for us to fit through. We really had to hunker down to get through.

This was a nice little offshoot and then we were back on the Myakka.

More great scenery.

Finally the bridge by our launch came into view which signaled the end of our journey.

We thought we would at least see the alligator we always see at the entrance to the launch but he was not around today. This turned out to be a great trip even though there were no turtles, alligators or a single bird.

Jigg’s Landing To Linger Lodge

2010-05-31T23:50:00.000-04:00

I met Anne and Bonnie at Linger Lodge about 8:30 am. We put Ann’s kayak in my truck and left her car there. We then went to Jigg’s Landing and launched our kayaks. We were in the water at 8:52 am and traveled 4.4 miles in 2 hours 23 minutes ending up at Linger Lodge.

The launch was quite busy this morning. We saw lots of birds around the launch but fewer as we traveled.

The scenery was beautiful when not obstructed by homes and boat docs. We saw some wildlife like these ducks on a tree trunk.

There are a lot of homes along this rout but still some beautiful scenery.

We saw one small alligator in the water but didn’t get a picture. We saw a few turtles and of course a few boats.

The weather was great for a relaxing paddle. Most of the time we had cool breezes or paddled in the shade.

More turtles but no more gators.

I saw a few birds like this hiding in the foliage. And then more boats, but they did slow down for us.

There were also some nice flowers along the way and finally we came to the I-75 bridge which meant we were close to Linger Lodge.

More birds hiding in the grass and then the approach to the lodge.

At the lodge we exited the river. We loaded Anne’s kayak on her car and she took me to Jigg’s Landing where I got my truck while Bonnie waited with the kayaks.

I went back to Linger Lodge and loaded Bonnie’s and my kayaks in the truck and went back to Jigg’s Landing and transferred Bonnie’s kayak to her car and departed. Shuttling the cars is never simple.

Emerson Point

2010-05-30T22:33:00.001-04:00

I picked Anne and her kayak about 9:15 and went to Emerson Point where we met Karen, Lois and Anne’s friend Karen. We launched at 10:23 and travelled 5.1 miles in 3 hours 40 minutes.

We first traveled the open waterways and saw these Osprey high in their nest. They looked like babies ready to fly.

We then got to the first tunnel and the water level was just right for going through.

The second tunnel was way too low in the water. As we returned we discovered a mangrove tunnel we had not seen before leading to a small lake.

After exploring this we went back through the first tunnel under the road.

We soon entered the main mangrove tunnels.

We took the narrow tunnel by the entrance to the bay north to the small lake.

We then continued through the mangrove tunnels to the other open area.

We talked to some of the park visitors on the bridge and then saw this osprey in flight holding a fish.

We took this time to share our snacks and take a break from paddling. We then headed back through the mangrove tunnels.

When we got to the opening to the bay we went out into the bay.

Someone suggested we paddle across the bay to Rattlesnake Island. The trip was about 1.5 miles each way. We paddled toward a little beach we could see in the distance.

We took this time for a relaxing swim in the bay. Karen found a horseshoe crab and held it so we could get a good picture of it.

The two ladies picnicking on the beach welcomed us and we had a nice visit.

Before heading back we paddled east along the shore looking for some inlets to inland lakes. I discovered this Egret hiding in the brush.

We did find a couple of inland lakes to explore.

We then headed back across the bay. There was a little more wind on the return trip which made paddling harder and we got a little wet from the choppy waves. We finally made it and re-entered the mangrove tunnels.

I got a picture of this Ibis hiding in the mangrove trees in the tunnel. And the back to the inland waterways and to the launch site.

When we arrived at the launch we saw that the tide had come in and there was about 4 inches of water over the dock. This was a very good trip with lots to see and beautiful weather to see it in.