Sun - Feb 10, 2008
We got up early and got out of the campground by 7:30 AM because we had no reservations and we knew it was very hard to get into Myakka State Park. We got there by 9 AM to hear the not too helpful clerk say it's fill but people may leave but more people may come and it's too much of a bother to really help you. Wait until 1 PM and then we will know. However whoever is standing here when a site becomes available gets it. I asked can't we just be put on a waiting list so whoever is here first gets the first available site, she said no we don't take reservations in person only on-line at least two days in advance. We decided to drive around to look at empty sites and then go back and find out if they all have people coming in or if any of those sites may be available. She is now getting irritated when I ask, pointing out that she has no confirmation that the sites are truly empty and can't make the effort to see if they are booked. It is extremely frustrating. We were about to give up when Bill starts talking to a camper who is ready to leave of the park. They tell him their site is non-reservable on-line, it's the only site that is not. They have been there about 12 days but are leaving and they will tell the clerk that it's empty. I know she doesn't want to see my face so Bill goes in to check. She knows the site is empty but until the ranger checks over the site to see if there are any bio-hazards and all the utilities are functioning it can't be issued. Bill waits and she hears back that it is now available and we can have it for 3 nights. A real sweetheart. They act like their are doing you a favor to give you a campsite.
So we set-up camp and drove the canoe and kayak over to a launch spot. We will show Bill what really big alligators look like. It was very windy pushing us downstream with the swift current so we made it to the lower lake in an hour. But we didn't even have to paddle to go across the lake. We were being blown across very quickly but then began to worry whether we could make it back. It took us almost 2 hours to get back on out total paddling trip of 7.5 mi. Saw about 10 really big gators who showed no fear of people. Bill hung close to our canoe hoping a big one didn't want to mate with his kayak. Made it back safely, wore Bill out again. He said let's bike tomorrow to let my shoulders recover.

Mon - Feb 11, 2008
Another beautiful day. Clear skies, but a cool morning, still windy with high's in the 70's. We biked all over the main paved roads in the park from the visitor center to the North Gate. Took a canopy walk hike over the top of the trees. Bicycled about 15 miles. Relaxed and had a long cocktail hours with snacks so we skipped a big dinner.

Bill keeping a close eye on the big alligators	Feral Hogs tearing up the park
Peggy & John on the Myakka River

Tue - Feb 12, 2008
We awoke to really cloudy skies but about 10^o warmer than yesterday. It was supposed to storm later in the day. Bill didn't want to paddle but we wanted to try paddling Clay Gully on the North side of the park. We tried paddling upstream and in about a half mile the river was blocked by a tree, we tried paddling downstream in about a half miles we were again blocked. I guess this will be a one hour paddling day. We went back to camp for a lunch snack and Bill realized he may have dropped his reading glasses at the canoe launch spot. We both took a bike ride back. I chose the off road route on Powerline road and All Weather road. It was pretty sandy but I made it. Bill didn't find his glasses so we took the paved road back to camp, about a 13 mi ride total. Just after I got out of the shower a downpour hit but it only rained hard for 10 minutes.

Wed - Feb 13, 2008
Left at 8 AM to head back north about 50 mi to E.G. Simmons County Park on Tampa Bay. We had never been here but were told that it was very nice right on the Bay and they didn't take reservations so it wouldn't be hard to get in during mid-week. We got here after grocery shopping at 9:30 AM. Of course we get another runaround. We can't check-in until after 11:30 AM but at least they put you on a waiting list and take you in order of your arrival. I took the bike down and rode around the two separate camping areas and discovered at least 8 empty camp sites and we were third on the list. We eventually got a really nice site with water access. We expect to stay until at least Sunday. We had a couple of light showers heading North and one hard rain just before supper. A cool front had come in but it was supposed to start warming and be dry though the weekend. We just biked around looking at their beach and picnic areas.

E.G. Simmons Park Map

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