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

[Punkinhead]

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.

 

[FloridaJohn]

How is the water level in the Peace River? Thinking about paddling it in a month or two.

 

[Punkinhead]

How is the water level in the Peace River? Thinking about paddling it in a month or two.

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.

 

[LostCaper]

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.

 

[gumpus]

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.

 

[snapper]

@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

 

[Punkinhead]

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.

 

[clemency]

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.

No permit required for shark teeth, but plenty of other fossils you might find, so best get a permit.

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

 

[LostCaper]

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.

 

[Microtus]

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.

 

[yellowcanoe]

I had to paddle over a dead alligator
They dont smell much
The channel was about the width of the gator
Only paddled about 6 mi in the Okefenokee
Due to okd age clumsiness fell while getting out in the alligator gathering pool
The alligators were disgusted

 

[Keeled Over]

Gearing up today for what might possibly be my last time downhill skiing. I started 53 years ago, so I wasn't late to the party or anything.

 

[stripperguy]

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.

 

[LostCaper]

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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In NewBrunswick, Canada the club have been out at about 5 times now. There is still snow on the banks and the water is some frigging cold if you go for a dunk. The air temps are around freezing so getting out and changing is not much fun either. Think I am getting old because I am waiting for warmer weather like 50 F. I can't wait to paddle feeling the warm sun on my back. 90 is too hot for us snow mexicians here in Canada but 50 to 70 would be nice.

 

[Glenn MacGrady]

It is always a great pleasure to read the writings of the exceedingly great people who wish everyone well in my favourite online forums namely www.tractorbynet.com . . . and www.canoetripping.net

I just read this thread for the first time ever and don't really know what the topic is, but @LostCaper's 2019 post reminds me of my enjoyable times 20-25 years ago when I was one of the original and most prolific posters on TractorByNet, posting as "glennmac". I recall when one of the members, Harv, was the first to figure out how to embed pictures on that forum—a time when the active membership was less than 100 rather than the putative hundreds of thousands now.

Just as this forum has motivated me to buy canoes, TractorByNet motivated me to buy three Kubota tractors. Maintaining my 11 acres became a fun and beautifying experience—now handicapped, like canoeing, by aged muscle and brain energy.

The two hobbies can combine:

 

[LostCaper]

I just read this thread for the first time ever and don't really know what the topic is, but @LostCaper's 2019 post reminds me of my enjoyable times 20-25 years ago when I was one of the original and most prolific posters on TractorByNet, posting as "glennmac". I recall when one of the members, Harv, was the first to figure out how to embed pictures on that forum—a time when the active membership was less than 100 rather than the putative hundreds of thousands now.

Just as this forum has motivated me to buy canoes, TractorByNet motivated me to buy three Kubota tractors. Maintaining my 11 acres became a fun and beautifying experience—now handicapped, like canoeing, by aged muscle and brain energy.

The two hobbies can combine:

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Technology isn’t always good but one of my favourite uses is connecting to like minded people.

2019 was an old post so I guess we been both around for awhile.

It would be wonderful to be able to go do our thing with lots of energy but time catches up with all of us. I am still doing pretty good but miss my youth. So are you able to get out on tractor or canoe at all?

 

[yknpdlr]

I have inherited a 1951 IH Farmall Cub tractor that I grew up on as a kid, the tractor and I are exactly the same age. it has a sidebar sicle hay cutterr that I waned to use on my own property. It sat unused for over 30 years amd it needed a lot of work, including new tires and severe rusty gas tank cleaning, but I was fortunate to find an older local tractor repair guy who was willing to partially refurbish the most important elements to get it running. Unfortunately the carburator he installed soon failed and still needs more work to be useful, but the gentleman has passed away and the tractor now sits in my shed unusable.

 

[Robin]

I have owned a 1987 John Deere 750 Compact Tractor 4wd for 14 years. It’s a great homeowner tractor, 3 cylinder diesel with plenty of torque. Great for clearing snow, hauling firewood and no computer.
I also have a 1966 John Deere Garden Tractor (aka round fender) I restored.

 

[yknpdlr]

I also have a 20-ish year old John Deere model 2305 compact 4x4 diesel tractor. i mows my extensive lawn, clears by blowing away my over 200 inches of lake effect snow each winter, and performs dozens of other yard tasks reliably for me.