March 5, 2010, Trailer Estates Kayak trip.

Hi all
We made the trip from Jiggs Landing To Linger Lodge today, the weather was perfect, the distance was about five miles by the GPS averaged two miles an hour and took two and a half hours. We took my van and left it at Linger Lodge and left Dudley's at Jiggs Landing where we started so we did not have to paddle back against the current with a full belly, we planned a big lunch at the Linger Lodge Restaurant, from the lodge to Jiggs Landing. There were three of us Dudley paddling by himself and Dolly and myself, Bill Snyder, in mine.
Bill Snyder.

The following is by Dudley Fort.
This is a beautiful wilderness just 20 minutes from downtown Bradenton. We launched at Jiggs landing and within 5 minutes we had already spotted alligators and turtles. We saw one large alligator and just upstream was a dog swimming in the water. We asked his owner about the alligator. He said it had been there for three months but offered not threat in this cold weather. Two days later I paddled the Myakka river and saw 18 alligators. Some were huge and to say that I was terrified would have been a gross understatement.












Here are some paddlers from Venice, FL paddling on the river in another park that I scouted out for the TE kayak group. Oscar Scherer State Park. Click for more information.

The trip was very restful and pleasant. We met another couple who told us that the Lodge was just an hour away. It took us almost two hours from that point to complete the trip. The other couple told us about The Cedar Park south of Naples, FL and also Shark Valley.

This alligator is hanging in the Linder Lodge restaurant. The previous owner of the Linger Lodge was a taxidermist. He did all of these wildlife preservations and left some of them for the present owners.

These are rattle snakes that were collected locally.

Here is the e.mail Bill sent on March 1, 2010. He was very thoughtful to go out and scout the trip. Had he not come I would not have gone and he said that if he had been there with his wife and no one else showed up he would not have gone this Friday.

...This e.mail was sent Mon, March 1, 2010 11:55:20 PM From: "Snyderwd@aol.com"

Hi All
Sunday Dolly and I took a ride out to Jiggs Landing and Linger Lodge, it looked like a good trip with good ramps at both places. There was a canoe with a motor on it and he was having a tough time as it was windy so I don't think if it is windy at all we want to try it. It is shaded so it might be to cold this Friday to go there as they are calling for a high of 58. We had a nice meal, they are large and start at around $9.00,(1/2 pound burgers), I ask and they said it was not a problem sharing an order. We had Philly steak sandwich and they were very good but ended up bring half home. Open to any ideas as I would like to make that trip when it is warmer because of the shading along the banks.

Bill

We owe a special vote of thanks to Bill and Dolly for their devotion to the club.