Dave's Yak Tales: Myakka River State Park

Impressive zoom on the new camera. Canon Powershot Elph 115 IS. Spending Easter Weekend at Myakka River State Park. “Myakka” being the Calusa word for “many alligators” As George Washington said, “Don’t believe everything you read online

Arrived at the Park just before it opened at 8 AM. There was a line to get in. 8 cars. As usual, I got a Wilderness Permit so I could go south of State Highway 72. Half the cars were at the Park Road Bridge when I arrived there. I do not think I have ever seen more than one car this early. A guided tour outing. The outfitter offered to help carry my kayak to the water. I, of course, declined. I may have mentioned, and even posted a photo my last visit to Myakka, showing the road crumbling at this launch point. It has been stabilized with rocks. Resulting in tricky footing to the water’s edge. I accepted the gentleman’s second offer when he saw me looking for a spot to place my feet as I gingerly walked with the yak on my shoulder;

On the River at 7:28

I have a new camera as the old Powershot Elph 100 HS has been malfunctioning. White blobs were alligators and whatnot should be. Does not happen all the time, but I have no way of knowing when it will happen. Still under warranty, I have to mail it to Canon. In Virginia, not Tokyo. I will do it when I get home. For now, I had two cameras around my neck.

First gator of the day

I had been concerned about the water level. Last year around this time, the Myakka had been too low to paddle. I asked the ranger when I obtained my Wilderness Permit. “It’s high. So high we are not seeing a lot of wading birds’ “High” is relative. No where near as high as it was last August. And, as you can see, I was seeing wading birds.

Some of the wading birds, in trees

More often than not, I paddle the Myakka on windy days. Not by choice, it just seems always to be breezy. Today was no exception. Out of the south. A good thing, as it would be at my back when I paddled up stream

Approaching the Myakaa Wilderness

As I was using two cameras, some of these photos may be out of order

The numbers are photo numbers, so if you see them, this Tale is incomplete

This has to be with the new camera

The channel is narrow from the 72 Bridge to Lower Myakka Lake

Red winged blackbird

Pay attention. If you see matted down vegetation, the alligator that was there may be around the next bend. Or, below you

Lower Myakka Lake

Coming out of the channel I went right, and up a slough. Saw spoonbills here, once. None today, but I did see a pair of deer deep in the marsh grass .

Wood storks

Glossy ibis

Turned around, headed into the Lake. As I did, a bald eagle flew overhead.

Now exposed to the wind. I wanted to paddle to Deep Hole, the sink hole at the south end of Lower Myakka Lake.

As the Lake is high, I could stay close to shore, and somewhat out of the wind. And have a better opportunity to see glossy ibis, snowy egrets, and more.

Another bald eagle, this one a juvenile. Unlike the earlier one, I got a photo

The Lake narrows at the south end. Alligators lined both banks. The welcoming committee to Deep Hole.

I did the video with the old camera. A precaution against being bumped, and splashed by a gator. More likely, me bumping a reptile. Collisions were avoided.

Deep Hole

I would have liked to keep paddling south, out of the Wilderness. The farthest I have gone is just past Downs dam. To it twice, past paddling over the submerged structure, last August. The wind convinced me to turn back. Now at my back.

Saw an adult bald eagle again. Once again, no photos. Spotted, and got photos of, youngsters

And, a black necked stilt

As usual, it took me awhile to find the River channel and get headed the right way on the River.

Back on the River, I saw 2 pairs of paddlers. Darn crowds.

Green heron

State Road 72. Last August, I waited out a thunder storm near the embankment. The background in this photo. On the water. What you see in the foreground was underwater.

Turkey

Speaking of crowds, I did not stop for lunch until 1:40 because the 1st two places I wanted to stop were occupied.

Not that I could not have shared with picnickers and an angler, but why intrude?

Paddled past the bridge, looking for roseate spoonbills. Just gators. And osprey

Canopy Walkway tower

Landed at 2:40

A sign of the wind.

Blew the strap out of the eye hole. Or what ever you call it.

Went to the ranger station to turn in my Wilderness Permit. And ask if my cabin was ready. It was

Outside

One of 5 cabins This is for disabled people, so all the counters are low. But anyone can rent it. I am very glad my back, which was hurting during the week, cured in time for the weekend. I did all my food prep atop the microwave.