Sat, 5/17/08 - Kayaking East River Pond

We've wanted to kayak the East River Pond in St Marks NWR ever since moving to Florida in 2002. Today was the day - warm and breezy and sunny: ideal for kayaking a lovely small pond. Much of the pond was shallow, but there were enough deep water areas to attract bass boats with avid fishermen. (Only electric trolling motors allowed.) We saw plenty of fish from inch-long minnows to foot-long spotted gars and bass. Too bad we didn't have fishing poles!

The pond perimeters were lined with water lilies, as well as one patch of a gorgeous yellow lotus flower.

Alligators infested the south end of the pond, and a fairly narrow canal we entered had a good-sized alligator every 20/25 yards. Uh-uh. We managed to turn around, and got outa there! We spent three hours gently paddling the pond, our first time out in a year. Nevermind gators, it was grand being in the water again....