This morning's walk along Upper Myakka Lake in Myakka State Park yielded 10 deer, 6-7 wild turkeys, 12 sand hill cranes, one wild sow and 5-6 young'ens, a couple of hawks and hundreds of ducks. A few egrets and Ibises were flying around but most were still hunkered down awaiting dawn's early light. I could just make out the pink of a few rosette spoonbills among the Ibises and egrets.
I drove the 25 miles along FL 72 to Arcadia which seemed to be the closest or rather, the quickest route to a paddle for me. This river is noted for its fossils and Indian artifacts as reported in an Eastern Sea Kayaker article. Sure enough, when I pulled up to the boat ramp a prospector from New Jersey was out in the middle of the river with his little sieve and bowl.
An ATV was running back and forth across the river, the driver kneeling on the seat, in about a foot of water. That's the first time I've ever paddled with an ATV. The fact he could scoot across the river didn't bode well for the water level.
The river is about 50-75 feet wide at this point and as I moved upstream it kept shoaling so I didn't know how much farther I'd be able to progress. The shores were sandy beaches or banks up to 10 feet tall for the most part. Limestone lined the banks in some stretches. Live oak, palm trees, palmettos and cypress with their many knobby knees decorated both sides of the river.
A road apparently follows one side of the river because I could see 10-12 campsites all filled for the Thanksgiving holiday. I didn't see any big rigs but did see one 20 foot trailer and several truck campers. I give thanks for being alive and well on this day of thanks and for being able to pursue the kind of life I've chosen.
I passed the Peace River Campground and found another half dozen prospector's out there in the water. A couple of kids were digging into the sandbank which is probably a no no. I paddled up past a railroad bridge and beyond, working my way around the limestone shelves that tried to hamper progress.
A few small blue herons and a couple of great egrets seemed to be finding enough food. Eventually the constant shallows became too much. I got tired of looking for water and working my way up river so gave up and let the .5 knot current carry me back downstream.
I kept my eye on the bottom in the off chance I'd spot an arrowhead or shark's tooth or something on the way back. Nada! The prospector was still at it when I got back to the boat ramp.