New years eve moonlight trip!

Well everyone we just wanted to let you know, that Dec 31 is our first ever new years eve moonlight trip. The meeting time at Canoe Escape is 9:45 p.m. Then we head for the river. We will paddle a Little over an hour through the wilderness area to Lettuce Lake, and will arrive a little before midnight. We'll celebrate the new year with a champagne toast and explore the lake for about 30 minutes. Afterward the group will paddle about 45 minutes to the take out.

Reservations are required so call the shop at 813 986 2067

rates are as follows
Tandem Canoe or Kayak $70.00
Solo Kayak $60.00
3rd Passenger in canoe $25.00

sorry no kids under 12.

This is a family friendly event not a booze cruise. This is a fun and unique way to ring in the new years, and we hope to see you.

Moonlight trip report

Well Nov 28 we had our first moonlight trip of the season. It was a small group of 6 canoes but we had a great time. Everyone got to the shop about 4:45 and after getting signed in we hit the water at 5:30. The trip would take up about 3 hours on the water from Trout creek park to Riverhills park. Roughly 5 miles with a break at Lettuce Lake.



Once on the water we took a 15 minute paddle up river from Trout creek park. We normally do this to see a variety Woodstorks, ospreys, herons, egrets, limpkins and spoonbills on that stretch of the river. Once it got dark we headed down stream and paddled under the Flood control gate between Trout Creek Park and I-75.




Now it is finally getting dark. This pick shows the evening sky and it's reflection off the water.



As we moved down stream we entered a section of the river called "the narrows" The river here gets down to about 50' wide for a mile or so. The canopy here blocks the moonlight some what so for this stretch, so it can get really dark. You can however get close to the birds and shore for picture taking.















Once past the narows we came into lettuce lake and took 30 minutes to explore the area. Here you can make out some gator eyes in the pic. They are glowing back red from my headlamp. There is only one gator here. His eyes are reflecting off the water between us making it look like 2 pair of eyes.







Once we got the the lake the temperature dropped down into the high 40's everyone bundles up and was ready to paddle in for some coffee and desert.


The fog started to roll in along the river and it made for some intersting pics. we even encoutered a family of racoons in the fianl stretch.





Ah the bus at the take out, our chariat awaits.




At last we arrive at Perkins for coffee and desert. Great service and pies as usual from the staff at Perkins on Fowler ave. Apple pie and coconut cream seemed to have been the most popular choices this time....well next tot he cofee and hot tea.



Thanks to everyone who came out. I had a great time leading you down the river. Hope to see you all again soon.