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Good Morning . Idle chat about your morning, your weather, your plans for the day.

After a week in the 90's its finally cooled off with a high of 74 predicted today. Last week we spent most days paddling the Peace River in Central Florida but we'd wait until almost dusk since the sun was so brutal. This week we're in a county campground with 4 smaller lakes to choose from. Hopefully there are some bass in them. There are certainly plenty of gators and they must be eating something.
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FloridaJohn said:
How is the water level in the Peace River? Thinking about paddling it in a month or two.
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We covered from a few miles upstream of Brownsville Park down to Arcadia and levels were fine. There were some shallow places, but nothing you'd drag on. Last winter we did some sections up near Wauchula/Zolpho Springs. It was narrower and deeper but not a lot of good places to get out and stretch your legs.
 
kahel said:
As far as canoeing is concerned, I'm meeting up with friends at the end of the month to plan the coming season ...
and we hope to have a great time together and try to catch the rainbow like last time.

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My canoe/fishing partners are my best buddies for 25 years. We talk online everyday but getting together especially for a planning session is a special event. We usually coordinate a planning session with the outdoor show in Moncton, NewBrunswich but not much planning gets done. Outdoor show, dinner, craft beer and commodery is a distraction from the planning process. Usually nothing gets planned so we will need another planning session. More of an excuse to get together then planning anything.
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Here in SW Michigan I'm getting anxious to paddle regularly again. Our winter weather is unpredictable and this winter has been relatively mild. December was great for paddling and January was pretty good. Although we're having colder than normal temps for a few days (well below freezing) I think my local river will stay open because the shore ice on Lake Michigan is gone now so surface ice on the river can escape.

So I'll be spending time at the YMCA exercising today (and all week) and baking treats for neighbors.

i was on the water last Saturday and pieces of surface ice were getting tangled in fallen tree branches and doing amazing things like standing up on edge before finding a way under or around obstacles and the crinkling sounds from the ice were quite special on an otherwise dead silent, windless day.

Couple of pics from last Saturday plus a recent pic of Lake Michigan and one taken in January with much more surface ice.
 

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@Punkinhead - Years ago my in-laws wintered in Arcadia. Every other year we'd travel down to stay with them for a week in February when the kids had off from school. One year my wife & I were able to get away to paddle a stretch of the Peace River and really enjoyed ourselves. We were alerted by a local that there are numerous fossilized sharks teeth along the bottom of that stretch of water. At one point we did pull off for a break. While there we raked through the stream bed below the water line and had some success. I still have a couple of those teeth that we found on that trip. Always a nice memory.

That's all for now. Take care and until next time....be well.

snapper
 
Apparently looking for sharks teeth and fossils is a huge thing on the Peace. We didn't encounter many people on the river but most that we did had shovels and sieves they'd made out of mesh, PVC, and pool noodles. If we return to that area next year I'll probably make one although I don't know what I'd do with a bunch of sharks teeth. Maybe give them to some neighbor kids.
 
Punkinhead said:
Apparently looking for sharks teeth and fossils is a huge thing on the Peace. We didn't encounter many people on the river but most that we did had shovels and sieves they'd made out of mesh, PVC, and pool noodles. If we return to that area next year I'll probably make one although I don't know what I'd do with a bunch of sharks teeth. Maybe give them to some neighbor kids.
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No permit required for shark teeth, but plenty of other fossils you might find, so best get a permit.

www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu

Florida Fossil Permit

Florida Statute 1004.57 Florida Statute 1004.57 sets forth the State of Florida's declared intent to protect and preserve vertebrate fossils and vertebrate paleontology sites. All vertebrate fossils found on lands owned or leased by the state belong to the state with title to the fossils vested in
www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu
 
I'm faced with mixed emotions about the forcasted warming trend and rain. I don't like how everything will turn to ice making for slippery driving and walking but there is a hint of excitement in the air. There will be a break in the ice on the rivers which is a testament that spring is coming and within two months there will be warm sun on my back and the canoe will be in the water. restigouche us with gilles st pierre our guide.png
 
Another beautiful day, negative 4 this morning, blue skies and fresh snow from yesterday. Taking my Brittany for a hike in the woods this afternoon. Rivers and lakes are still iced over, probably another month or so.
 
KO, just curious, why would you stop downhill skiing? I’ve been alpine skiing for nearly 50 years myself, the last 20 or so with back country skinning mixed in, and hope to continue for another couple decades, if possible.
Is it the crowds? The cost? Physical issues?
One of my ski buddies continued to teach at Mad River Glen far into his 70’s, so I’m hoping for something similar.
 
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