Kayaking the Myakka

Sunday January 22, 2012
Myakka State Park  Site 80

We are out before sunrise

At dawn, we go up to the bird walk on the lake.

The early morning fog over the water and land gives it an
other worldly feel. 
It is so wonderful being out in the early
morning quiet with the birds.
We see the same folks,
wood storks, spoonbills, egrets, herons
and today a group of sandhill cranes.

The Light is perfect.

As we walk back, the light is just right
for seeing clearly a display of spider weavings
in the grasses along the board walk
They are such artists.

 

 

Breakfast is calling so we head back for Winnona.
I’m reading The China Study aloud as David
cooks.

We spend a little time on the computer
but the temperatures are climbing, the high
forecast is 77 and that seems perfect for a kayak
of the Myakka River.

The river water level is low.

We’ve seen many cars come in with
kayaks and canoes but almost none in the water.
However,  almost doesn’t mean no one and
we decide to take a chance.   We can always
portage if we have to.

I just want to be on the water
and drift away.

There is a put in at a picnic area just down
the park road from us so
we pull the kayaks over on carts
and launch.

So many birds are along the river.

They are in the trees, on the banks, in the water.
They seem to be everywhere, around every curve.

We see a kestrel in the water

watch an osprey eat a fish in a tree

and later see another in the water.

We paddle lazily along.

The birds are so close.  They don’t move as
we drift by.  They too seem
mesmerized by the day.

The river shows many different faces as
we paddle

up

and back

This day so warm and lovely

So full, so peaceful.
This is what I love and exactly where I want to be.

On Our Own

January 21, 2012
Myakka River State Park
Site 80

Today was our first day without our events coordinator so
our plan wasn’t too creative.
We’d take our bikes starting at the entrance station and
go down every road we hadn’t already been down.

David wanted to check out all the CCC buildings of course.
So we stopped at this restroom for pictures.

Further down we found the cabin road.
All of these buildings were built by the CCC
out of local Cabbage Palms. 
They are very interesting.

We rode on down and crossed the bridge
where we found a lot of gator activity.

I took these as one swam under the bridge
and I was looking down.

On the far side of the bridge was a small parking area
we thought was for folks wanting to walk out on the bridge. 
But further inspection showed
it also had an unnamed trail that turned
out to be a wonderful walk along the river.

We pulled in, locked up the bikes and were off
down the path

 

With birds and more gators

See him over on the far bank?

And there were others on our side as well.
Like these two that we spied as we walked along
the shore.  We altered our route and went
along the inside trail to get these
pictures through the bushes.

Looking pretty well fed I’d say.

Back out on the park road, a short way further on,
we decided to take the bikes
down Ranch House Road.

 

 

Where we learned about Sweet Meadow Pastures,
a 19,000 acre farm owned by Bertha Palmer.

Bertha had 13 farm hands including her farm manager
She raised Brahma Bulls and fenced in her land,
the latter an unknown practice at the time.
Pretty unusual occupation for a single woman
at that time.
Way to go Bertha!

 

Further on down the road we met a group
of hard riding young men.

We turned around at that point as
the trails became more suitable for
the mountain bikers

We biked back toward the park road.

 

The beginning part Ranch House Road
that appears to have been the
farm entrance was a lovely ride.

 

Next stop was back at the Outpost for Butter Pecan
ice cream.  We split a cone this time.  We’ve
now had 4 of their 8 flavors.
We were both eating, so no one was taking pictures.
J

 

While there, we enjoyed the birds in the boat canal
which the Outpost Overlooks.

The Roseate Spoonbill and the Heron

 

The wood stork and the Egret

 

 

Somehow I’m always surprised that the stork
doesn’t have a more attractive face.

If this is the one they told us brings babies,
I think the babies would all be scared.

 

We walked along the shore line to the weir
and found a group of a dozen storks.

 

one of whom was sneaking up on this fisherman

 

Did you know they had pink feet?
Wonder what that’s all about?

A handsome couple??
Guess they think so.

 

The sun was getting low in the sky and
it was time to call it a day.
Before we got back on the bikes to
ride home, we checked out the
under renovation kiosk next to the weir

 

where they had this information posted.
I’ll leave you with these thoughts.
(click the photo to make it larger)

Dog owners and dog lovers take heed.