Trad Gang
Main Boards => PowWow => Topic started by: gregg dudley on March 02, 2017, 07:13:00 AM
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For five years now, i have been blessed to host tradgangers on an annual kayak trip that is offered as an auction item on the St. Jude's Auction. I say blessed, because I have truly been lucky to meet awesome people and share terrific memories on some of my favorite Central Florida waterways. This year Ken Gettman (Elkken on tradgang) and his wife Pam, travelled all the way from their winter home in Arizona to relax with Renee and I. The Gettmans proved to be fantastic people and we truly had a great time.
Photobucket is ridiculous. Stay tuned for pictures tonight...
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:thumbsup:
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Here are some pics of Ken and Pam right after we hit the water.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/DSC_0664_zpsam9yxz5v.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/dudleyg/media/DSC_0664_zpsam9yxz5v.jpg.html)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/DSC_0663_zpslimohy92.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/dudleyg/media/DSC_0663_zpslimohy92.jpg.html)
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More, more.
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I've been thinking about acquiring a kayak to paddle, maybe fish the local creeks. You're pushing me over the edge.
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The first day we kayaked the Ocklawaha River and it didn't take us long to get into wildlife.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/DSC_0796_zps6rfzj0mn.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/dudleyg/media/DSC_0796_zps6rfzj0mn.jpg.html)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/DSC_0687_zps0jc5worp.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/dudleyg/media/DSC_0687_zps0jc5worp.jpg.html)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/DSC_0674_zps8hqdds5i.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/dudleyg/media/DSC_0674_zps8hqdds5i.jpg.html)
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Kenny started catching panfish right away. He wore that ultralight rod and reel out over the next several days and caught tons of panfish and small bass on a black and yellow beetle spin.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/DSC_0716_zpsjjb9ox8z.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/dudleyg/media/DSC_0716_zpsjjb9ox8z.jpg.html)
Kayaking for my wife, Renee, on the other hand, is a zen-like experience. This is a variation of her typical river goddess pose.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/DSC_0088_zpsda0epzcx.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/dudleyg/media/DSC_0088_zpsda0epzcx.jpg.html)
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Looks like a cool trip there Gregg. Parts of Florida are hidden treasures.
Deno
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I caught some fish too. We didn't catch any monsters, but were constantly entertained by ones like this:
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/DSC_0118_zpsar7cyuhv.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/dudleyg/media/DSC_0118_zpsar7cyuhv.jpg.html)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/DSC_0106_zpskxvfxhj1.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/dudleyg/media/DSC_0106_zpskxvfxhj1.jpg.html)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/DSC_0110_zpsud1j6dv9.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/dudleyg/media/DSC_0110_zpsud1j6dv9.jpg.html)
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(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/DSC_0809_zpsobw0jbgl.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/dudleyg/media/DSC_0809_zpsobw0jbgl.jpg.html)
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The next day we spent on the Silver River. While I am usually pretty good about capturing the beauty of the springs, I was seemingly forgetful in doing so. I did take some pretty cool wildlife pics though.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/DSC_0939_zpsx1gsc6ys.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/dudleyg/media/DSC_0939_zpsx1gsc6ys.jpg.html)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/DSC_0972_zpsa0fomewa.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/dudleyg/media/DSC_0972_zpsa0fomewa.jpg.html)
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Great pics Gregg. Thanks for the paddle along
Deno :clapper:
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(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/DSC_0969_zpsnairyuqj.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/dudleyg/media/DSC_0969_zpsnairyuqj.jpg.html)
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(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/DSC_0982_zpsbfwddc5u.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/dudleyg/media/DSC_0982_zpsbfwddc5u.jpg.html)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/DSC_0114_zpsthgbnnko.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/dudleyg/media/DSC_0114_zpsthgbnnko.jpg.html)
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(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/DSC_0051_zpsqskbqufx.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/dudleyg/media/DSC_0051_zpsqskbqufx.jpg.html)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/DSC_0962_zps4yyq2qzl.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/dudleyg/media/DSC_0962_zps4yyq2qzl.jpg.html)
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When we stopped for lunch, this 25+ # snapping turtle came out from under the dock. I lost a flip flop when I slipped in the water to catch it.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/DSC_0170_zpslpexnnlx.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/dudleyg/media/DSC_0170_zpslpexnnlx.jpg.html)
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I really have to thank Renee for helping me out on this trip. The last two years in a row we have hosted couples and it has been a lot of fun.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/DSC_0980_zpsgypfsaim.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/dudleyg/media/DSC_0980_zpsgypfsaim.jpg.html)
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Of course, the real draw on the Silver River are the feral and nomadic Rhesus monkeys that escaped from a tourist attraction generations ago. There are five wild bands of these monkeys totaling about 300 monkeys. We managed to see some.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/DSC_0273_zpshawg1opo.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/dudleyg/media/DSC_0273_zpshawg1opo.jpg.html)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/DSC_0262_zps1f4fdzov.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/dudleyg/media/DSC_0262_zps1f4fdzov.jpg.html)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/DSC_0270_zpsisthwf9q.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/dudleyg/media/DSC_0270_zpsisthwf9q.jpg.html)
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The last day, we kayaked up Alexander Run and snorkeled in the spring. On the way back, Pam launched without her paddle... But she did it with style!
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/CSC_0339_zpsfbfym7ea.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/dudleyg/media/CSC_0339_zpsfbfym7ea.jpg.html)
After saving Pam, Kenny caught no less than a million fish on the way back to where we had put in.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/DSC_0287_zpsvkoe5ljo.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/dudleyg/media/DSC_0287_zpsvkoe5ljo.jpg.html)
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In the picture above, you can see the duct tape on the bottom of Ken's kayak. One hour in on the first day, he said, "There's a hole in this boat!" We pulled over and stood in the knee deep mud and patched it up with tape. It worked so good that we didn't even bother swapping it out for another boat that night. He put close to 20 miles on that kayak with duct tape on it! :pray: It pays to be prepared!
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We saw a lot of wildlife, told a lot of tales, ate some good groceries, and generally had a good time. The Gettmans are fantastic people. If you ever get an opportunity to do something with them, do yourself a favor and take advantage of it.
I'll leave off with a picture of an anhinga, which was Pam's favorite bird, a group photo, and a sunset.
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/17039322_1288428707911130_2411885019219722729_o_zpsfrsed9fg.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/dudleyg/media/17039322_1288428707911130_2411885019219722729_o_zpsfrsed9fg.jpg.html)
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/16992398_1288431157910885_6009501676425613754_o_zpsvh3gmsef.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/dudleyg/media/16992398_1288431157910885_6009501676425613754_o_zpsvh3gmsef.jpg.html)
A good time was had by all...
(http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v611/dudleyg/DSC_0335_zpsii0pt1bb.jpg) (http://smg.photobucket.com/user/dudleyg/media/DSC_0335_zpsii0pt1bb.jpg.html)
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Originally posted by Deno:
Great pics Gregg. Thanks for the paddle along
Deno :clapper:
Thanks for the comments. As much trouble as photobucket gave me today I almost said the heck with it!
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Very nice!
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Thanks for the pictorial Greg! Awesome job! What kind of camera are you using now? I remember a year or so ago you shared that info but I can't remember what you said.
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Some great photography there Gregg.
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Thanks, guys. Just using a Nikon d5000 with a 70-300 mm lens.
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Very cool!
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Great photos, Gregg. They bring back a lot of memories. We fished the Oklawaha all the time, before and after the Barge Canal. I have been on the Silver River numerous times as well, only as a tourist on the glass bottom boats when Ross Allen was there.
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Looks like everyone enjoyed the trip,thanks for the pics.
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Pam and I just got back home, we spent some extra days touring central Florida seeing the Crystal River and driving down to St Pete's for a few days.
To say this trip exceeded all our expectations is an understatement. The Dudley clan are some terrific folks. Gregg is fifth generation Florida and much of his family live right around him in Weirsdale. We were priveledge to meet his mom and dad, Stan and Kathy, his sister Kiki and her husband Eric. Gregg's wife Renee, the sun goddess is a keeper.And Greggs kids are the best, Hanna is a senior this year and Reed is in college. Every Sunday night they have a family dinner at Stan and Kathy's and we joined them on this trip. Boy were the hunting stories flying around the table and the meal was wonderful.
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I have been trying to talk Pam into this trip for a few years now and at first all of the gator pics from previous trips kinda scared her off but finally she relented and the bidding got serious at the next St Jude auction, sorry Matty. You need to go on this trip !!!
I'll add some pics and more comments later when I get unpacked. We both got home with terrible colds complements of American Airlines I'm sure. Soooo more to follow. :thumbsup:
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(http://i639.photobucket.com/albums/uu113/elkken/P1020753_zpsl8sdvmjp.jpg)
this is why Mrs G was hesitant to go kayaking in Florida
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Great pic's Gregg and Ken, looking forward to the rest of the adventure!
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Looked like an awesome trip! Nothing like floating down a river.... maybe one of these days I'll make my float with my tall tines and a dead white tail deer as my travel partner.
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Outstanding pics sir Greg!RC
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One of the Best Trips Joe (Whip) and I have been on! Only regret is we didn't get to enjoy Renee's company on our trip :)
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This is always such a cool deal! I need to buy this one year!
Bisch
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Thank, fellas!
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OK on with the story .... Gregg and Renee were the most gracious host and truly made us feel welcome.
On the first day they picked us up at 8am, Gregg is a very puctual guy, and we headed for the Ocklawaha River for a full day of kayaking and fun on the water.
(http://i639.photobucket.com/albums/uu113/elkken/P1020716_zpso5ewephm.jpg)
Gregg and Pam
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Gregg and Renee, thanks for hosting this fantastic trip for another year, and Kenny and Pam, thanks for bidding high for the Kids! Looks like a great trip once again this year!
Did y'all camp overnight? I haul my canoes and/or yaks down to FLorida almost every year to paddle the tidal estuaries and creeks but haven't camped later than April.
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Gregg was like having an museum docent with you on the tour, he knew the names of every bird we saw.
(http://i639.photobucket.com/albums/uu113/elkken/P1020712_zpsalts213l.jpg)
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(http://i639.photobucket.com/albums/uu113/elkken/P1020735_zpsyf6oubki.jpg)
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The journey down the Ocklawaha was about 8-9 miles and other than a few other kayakers and a few boy scouts we had the river to our selves. The quiet, beauty and serenity was amazing. I kept waiting for one of the Thompson brothers to show up along the shore.
(http://i639.photobucket.com/albums/uu113/elkken/P1020742_zpsci2wohd9.jpg)
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We did this in three day trips ... the second day was Silver Springs and the Silver River. We started our day with a tour of the Silver Springs Museum which was a fitting way to understand some of the beauty we would be seeing that day. The Silver Springs is the beginning of the Silver River pumping out 550 million gallons of water a day from the Florida aquifer. The water is crystal clear. Many Tarzan movies where made around Silver Springs.
Because there are more people on the Silver the wildlife here was very tolerable of our kayaks and you could glide right up to most of them. Gators included.
(http://i639.photobucket.com/albums/uu113/elkken/P1020725_zpsie7p2wfv.jpg)
(http://i639.photobucket.com/albums/uu113/elkken/P1020739_zpsh8nqnnss.jpg)
(http://i639.photobucket.com/albums/uu113/elkken/P1020748_zpsoyvrkmch.jpg)
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You could not fish the Silver River but man did we see some great fish in the crystal clear water. In some of the back water inlets you could see school after school of Gar, that was really cool because you don't see those in any river I have been on in Washington.
At the end of our Silver River tour we were fortunate to see a band of Rhesus monkeys. They were very accomodating for pictures.
(http://i639.photobucket.com/albums/uu113/elkken/P1020758_zpsngrpdxmx.jpg)
(http://i639.photobucket.com/albums/uu113/elkken/P1020761_zpskzdpahmp.jpg)
(http://i639.photobucket.com/albums/uu113/elkken/P1020747_zpslw4m3ctl.jpg)
My camera was a point and shoot Panasonic Lumix DMC-ZS3 with a 12X zoom
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Great Stuff !!!
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Day three was a trip to Alexander Run, yes Run not river, not sure why. This was a day we could get the fishing poles back out and boy did we catch some fish. The Alexander was the only stream we had to paddle up stream all though the waters were very calm and slow moving. Lots of lily pads to fish and the Cyprus forest was echoing with the sounds of "fish on" ... Gregg had his new fly rod on it's maiden voyage and I was fishing a small ultalite spinning outfit Gregg had rigged up with a black and green stripe grub and spinner. It was a killer on pan fish, but I did catch a few nice bass and some good crappie on it too.
We stopped at a park to eat lunch and after lunch we went snorkeling. It is amazing to see the volume of water come out of the lime stone caves. The water goes from just a few feet deep to 50 feet deep in a matter of yards. It was also very exciting snorkeling along the shore line knowing that gators swim in these waters.
On the way back down stream we continued to catch and release a boat load of fish. Alexander Run had fewer folks on it and you easily got the feeling you were the only people there. Lots of wildlife again and plenty of sunshine. The weather for our entire trip was excellent.
If you participate in the Trad Gang St Jude's auction this is certainly an item to keep an eye on ... Gregg, Renee, Hanna, Reed and the rest of the Dudley clan are the best and central Florida by kayak is the only way to go. Pam and I had a wonderful time.
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Great Post....Great to see Ken in action again.
Yeah Gregg, thanks for the paddle along.
:campfire:
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Great pictures, Ken!
Thanks for all the comments, guys.
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ttt one last time...
The auction will be here again before you know it. Start saving! :thumbsup:
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:goldtooth: :goldtooth: :goldtooth: :goldtooth:
yes Pam and I are still smiling we had soooo much fun on this trip ....
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Thanks for posting this up here Gregg. I have been eyeing this trip up for years but knew I couldn't make the time for it. I think that will change. I made it a priority to get out on the rentals at the state park last week and was impressed beyond my expectations of the flora and fauna. Everyone else agreed and want to come back and make a bigger trip of it. That is pretty much the ultimate kayak trip in my book.
Thank you for your generosity and providing this special unique trip.
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Got my attention!
This looks like a lot of fun. I bought a kayak last year and am loving it!
Killdeer :thumbsup:
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I'll be listing this trip again on the St. Jude's forum tonight when I get home. My run of good luck hosting great people is what prompts me to keep on sharing this experience with others. I'm sure that I will luck out again with more great tradgangers.