St Jude's Kayak Trip--2013 Report--Great time!

[NormanDale33]

I remember visiting manatee springs as a young-in and how cool that spring water was to swim in. Awesome trip, and looking forward to more pics!

[NOMAD88]

 there must be more pics to post

[gregg dudley]

Saturday morning we ate breakfast and broke camp to explore the Ocklawaha.  This section of the river is pretty wild and is a favorite spot for local kayakers.  It is hard to navigate by anything larger than a skiff and in fact on this trip you would have needed a chainsaw to traverse much of the river in anything other than a kayk or a canoe.

We saw more wildlife throughout the day including otters, which successfully dodged the camera and others that we were able to capture:

[gregg dudley]

Being on the Ocklawaha allowed us to break out the spinning rods.



Joe was first on the board and he continued to catch panfish and small bass on a regular basis for the next two days.  I think he caught close to 45 or 50 fish.  No monsters, but enough to keep a smile on his face.

[gregg dudley]

Jeff caught his fair share as well:



And Reed was not to be undone:

[gregg dudley]

Jim caught a good amount of fish too, but this picture is special to me for another reason.  IT IS THE LAST TIME I SAW MY TRUSTY COLEMAN STOVE ALIVE.

[gregg dudley]

Around lunch time on Saturday, Reed and I pushed ahead to find a place to stop.  It seemed like it took a while for the others to show up.  When the rest of the guys pulled in they had a story to tell.

Seems that Jim had gotten sideways against a log in the river and had overturned his sit-on-top boat trying to get off of it.  It happened in a deep pool and his glasses, two fishing poles and the coleman stove fed the river gods.  As he was unhurt by the incident he became fair game for endless ribbing and good-hearted jokes at his expense.

Lunch on the river-side.  Choosey guides choose Jiff:

[gregg dudley]

Fortunately, I had a surprise dinner plan lined up for us that made the loss of the Coleman stove pain-free.  We were camping at an established county park on the river called Gore's Landing, where TBOF and Tradgang member Buddy Oswald and his father met us outfitted for a fish fry!

As you can see, Mr. Oswald has done this before:



Buddy (in hat) tells a funny bear hunting story that Joe and Jeff are obviously enjoying:



Reed's not shy.  He's eaten this stuff before!



Joe up to bat:

[gregg dudley]

The next morning we ate pancakes, fried potatos and eggs cooked on the sigle-burner stove that was packed in another boat.  Redundant packing works!

[gregg dudley]

Due to the low (and slow) river conditions we decided to alter our plan and fish around Gore's rather than push on for what looked like might be an endurance paddling effort to reach the Eureka bridge in time for pick up and dinner at my folks. There's a couple of things I don't do. Missing mama's cooking is one of them.

It was a good call.  We paddled back upstream a mile or so and fished for a few hours before breaking camp for the last time.  I took the opportunity to snap some last pics of the river.



 

[Joeabowhunter]

Looks like a great trip and the photo's are fantastic  

[gregg dudley]

It also gave Joe and Jeff a chance to paddle without gear-laden boats.  Both of them enjoyed their time on the river and have been talking about purchasing a kayak.



One of the things that I enjoyed most about this trip was that my son, Reed was along.  I really had a good time with him.

[gregg dudley]

So before I finish my story I have to fess up on my biggest blunder as a host and "guide".  In preparation for this trip I had picked up another tent at Walmart.  I chose light and cheap for obvious reasons.  The tent I selected was a two man tent that looked like it would serve our purposes well. As I was leaving with the tent in my hand I noticed a blue tent in the same section.  I ASSUMED it was the same tent in a different color and swapped for it.  It was not until we set it up that I realized my error...  

Introducing, THE SCOUT JUNIOR

 

Joe says that if you lay diagonally with your feet and head propped up it is just right for one full grown man and no gear.  
   

Of course I offered to swap and let him sleep with Reed or make some other arrangement, but he wouldn't have it.  I think he would have endured any amount of discomfort for the sake of the story!     :D  

We broke down camp, scout junior included and packed up.  When Dad picked us up I was sorry to see the trip come to a close.  I really enjoyed my time with Joe and Jeff and feel like I have known them forever.

 

No trip to Weirsdale, Fl is complete without a trip to Ma and Papa Dudley's house for a Sunday dinner.  I am blessed to live close to my parents and my sister's family also.  We eat dinner together every Sunday night.  Imagine Thanksgiving on a weekly basis and you have the right idea.  Joe and Jeff fit right in.

I really like this last picture.  The smiles on the faces reflect the atmosphere of the whole trip.

   

I hope you guys have enjoyed this trip report and pictures.  I will be putting this trip back on the St. Jude's auction for 2013.  Hopefully it will once again raise good money for a worthwhile cause.

[Duckbutt]

Awesome pics and stories!  Joe and Jeff...you boys better bring that weather trick on to Nebraska!  

Gregg, I was wondering how you'd gotten Tree Rollins in the little kayak BEFORE the tent story.    

Loved all of it.  Good show.

[TaterHill Archer]

Sweet, Gregg.  Never been in a kayak, but have been wanting to try it out.  This just makes it worse for me.

[Izzy]

A awesome guide if I ever saw one. Excellent story and pics.  

[Jon Stewart]

OUTSTANDING

[Mudd]

Great journey and photos!

Thank you for taking us along.

God bless,Mudd

[pitbull]

   

[steadman]