I am doing a short post and providing some pictures of the camping area , I'm sure the guys will have a lot to say and oldyaker has a lot of pictures to post.
As soon as they get home and get all of the sand out of everything.
Chuck.
**********************************************************
March 31, 07 (Saturday)
On the road and off to the Everglades part of the 10,000 Islands. I took out a day early so I could stop at Fisheating Creek and camp then on down to the glades and get the trip permit filed for us.
Fisheating Creek is one nice campground , $10.00 for a night and it is a very clean campground. One problem with the location ... it is 19 miles to LaBelle for any supplies so make sure you have what you want with you. The concession stand has cokes , juice and ice along with a very small supplies of camping foods.
Apr 1, 07 (Sunday)
On the road to Everglades City and picking up the camping g permit for Picnic Key and Rabbit Key , three nights at Picnic and two nights at Rabbit Key. Total back country permit for the four of us was $50.00.
1st a night at the Sportsman's Club who has changed owners and is now the Everglades City Motel.
The Oar House (Restaurant next to the motel) has changed owners and I was having a burger when Jack and Yak walked in the door and joined me.
The restaurant was a good place for a darn good meal in the past, now it stinks just like the new name for it .... The Road Kill Cafe. Everything there has gone down hill in a hand basket, the service, food, everything. Even the cashier did not know how to make change but after about 10 minutes he finally figured it out. If it is possible it is worse then Susies Station where the waitress is 80 years old and everything there is at her speed ....SLOW.
The best place to eat is the BP Gas Station which has a Subways in it. Now that says a lot of a place where the best food is at the gas station.
Apr 2.07 (Monday)
On the water at 10:00 , arrived at Picnic Key at 2:00 after paddling against the tide and wind all the way. Arriving at Picnic Key we had some good seas about 3 feet high and rode it onto the beach, one wave came over the back of the kayak (Freedom) and into the cockpit with me. Dry ground and time to set up camp.
Got camp together and then it was shrimp, scallops with Italian seasoning and some baked beans for supper. Then enjoying a drink while sitting on the beach and watching a full moon come up, cool breezes and everything was perfect.
Apr 3.07 (Tuesday)
Up in the morning to lots of visitors, Sand Gnats or No Seems plus some more kayakers camping down the beach from us.
A day of goofing off around camp, beach coming, and relaxing.
Jack .. Working really hard. :lol:
Our shade tree.........
Tide is in but it has a nice beach when it is out.
Watching dolphins in the gulf along with mantees,sea turtles and mullet jumping. Even had a small hammer head swim by to say HI. Some swimming (Yak) then I am sure one manatee came back looking for him but the was out of the water by then.
Supper, drinks and sitting down by the low tide line to get away from the bugs till the breeze came up and a full moon.
A small island at low tide and looking at the tip of Tigar Key.
Apr 4.07 (Wednesday)
Another day of relaxing around camp, Mac couldn't even go fishing, his boat was high and dry, the tide went out and left it sitting on top of the sand.
Kayak Jack made his cabbage, carrot, onion, olive oil, lemon juice salt a pepper salad for us at lunch. Even had some cheese sprinkled over the top of it. It filled all of us up so when super time rolled around it was just snack time, no one was hungry.
Apr 5.07 (Thursday)
The Gulf was rough so we stayed at Picnic Key instead of going down to Rabbit Key which would be paddling in the open waters of the gulf.
Mac did some fishing and for lunch we had Trout (Spotted Weakfish) and a large Red for a late lunch.
Even invited two of our neighbors of lunch, a young couple from New York down here on a camping a paddling vacation.
We were told that a storm was going to move into the area the next day so we planned on pulling out a day early. This would be our last night on the island.
That night a front moved thru, windy, cooler and rain so we were sure we were going to do the right thing.
Apr 6.07 (Friday)
Back to Everglades City and a hot shower and cold AC without any sand gnats or sand in our food.
Apr 08.07 (Saturday) on the road
Just some Proof that I do camp with some NUT'S. :lol: :lol: :lol:
Chuck.
In Conclusion
1... The Freedom will handle wakes from large boats or from the wind. White caps will donate some water to the paddler when running sideways to them but on a direct intersection with them you do stay dry.
2...When camping on a Island (Key) you do get sand in everything , including your food and sand gnats do bite.
3...Picnic Key is one of the few places you can camp without coon worries so you get a good nights sleep.
4...No matter how much ice you have it never lasts.
5...The tide will always be against you along with the wind and you should of been there yesterday.
As soon as they get home and get all of the sand out of everything.
Chuck.
**********************************************************
March 31, 07 (Saturday)
On the road and off to the Everglades part of the 10,000 Islands. I took out a day early so I could stop at Fisheating Creek and camp then on down to the glades and get the trip permit filed for us.
Fisheating Creek is one nice campground , $10.00 for a night and it is a very clean campground. One problem with the location ... it is 19 miles to LaBelle for any supplies so make sure you have what you want with you. The concession stand has cokes , juice and ice along with a very small supplies of camping foods.
Apr 1, 07 (Sunday)
On the road to Everglades City and picking up the camping g permit for Picnic Key and Rabbit Key , three nights at Picnic and two nights at Rabbit Key. Total back country permit for the four of us was $50.00.
1st a night at the Sportsman's Club who has changed owners and is now the Everglades City Motel.
The Oar House (Restaurant next to the motel) has changed owners and I was having a burger when Jack and Yak walked in the door and joined me.
The restaurant was a good place for a darn good meal in the past, now it stinks just like the new name for it .... The Road Kill Cafe. Everything there has gone down hill in a hand basket, the service, food, everything. Even the cashier did not know how to make change but after about 10 minutes he finally figured it out. If it is possible it is worse then Susies Station where the waitress is 80 years old and everything there is at her speed ....SLOW.
The best place to eat is the BP Gas Station which has a Subways in it. Now that says a lot of a place where the best food is at the gas station.
Apr 2.07 (Monday)
On the water at 10:00 , arrived at Picnic Key at 2:00 after paddling against the tide and wind all the way. Arriving at Picnic Key we had some good seas about 3 feet high and rode it onto the beach, one wave came over the back of the kayak (Freedom) and into the cockpit with me. Dry ground and time to set up camp.
Got camp together and then it was shrimp, scallops with Italian seasoning and some baked beans for supper. Then enjoying a drink while sitting on the beach and watching a full moon come up, cool breezes and everything was perfect.
Apr 3.07 (Tuesday)
Up in the morning to lots of visitors, Sand Gnats or No Seems plus some more kayakers camping down the beach from us.
A day of goofing off around camp, beach coming, and relaxing.
Jack .. Working really hard. :lol:
Our shade tree.........
Tide is in but it has a nice beach when it is out.
Watching dolphins in the gulf along with mantees,sea turtles and mullet jumping. Even had a small hammer head swim by to say HI. Some swimming (Yak) then I am sure one manatee came back looking for him but the was out of the water by then.
Supper, drinks and sitting down by the low tide line to get away from the bugs till the breeze came up and a full moon.
A small island at low tide and looking at the tip of Tigar Key.
Apr 4.07 (Wednesday)
Another day of relaxing around camp, Mac couldn't even go fishing, his boat was high and dry, the tide went out and left it sitting on top of the sand.
Kayak Jack made his cabbage, carrot, onion, olive oil, lemon juice salt a pepper salad for us at lunch. Even had some cheese sprinkled over the top of it. It filled all of us up so when super time rolled around it was just snack time, no one was hungry.
Apr 5.07 (Thursday)
The Gulf was rough so we stayed at Picnic Key instead of going down to Rabbit Key which would be paddling in the open waters of the gulf.
Mac did some fishing and for lunch we had Trout (Spotted Weakfish) and a large Red for a late lunch.
Even invited two of our neighbors of lunch, a young couple from New York down here on a camping a paddling vacation.
We were told that a storm was going to move into the area the next day so we planned on pulling out a day early. This would be our last night on the island.
That night a front moved thru, windy, cooler and rain so we were sure we were going to do the right thing.
Apr 6.07 (Friday)
Back to Everglades City and a hot shower and cold AC without any sand gnats or sand in our food.
Apr 08.07 (Saturday) on the road
Just some Proof that I do camp with some NUT'S. :lol: :lol: :lol:
Chuck.
In Conclusion
1... The Freedom will handle wakes from large boats or from the wind. White caps will donate some water to the paddler when running sideways to them but on a direct intersection with them you do stay dry.
2...When camping on a Island (Key) you do get sand in everything , including your food and sand gnats do bite.
3...Picnic Key is one of the few places you can camp without coon worries so you get a good nights sleep.
4...No matter how much ice you have it never lasts.
5...The tide will always be against you along with the wind and you should of been there yesterday.
