Activity Reviews - Sep ‘08 thru Aug ’09

Activity reviews written by Chapter members for the 2008 - 2009 activities season starting September 1, 2007. (Click on the thumbnail photos to see the big picture)

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Fakahatchee Strand Preserve State Park - Apr 13

  We are making excellent progress developing a new hiking trail at Fakahatchee Strand State Preserve and Park. The trail has been flagged and partially blazed, and much of it has been cleared thanks to the hard work of Fakahatchee rangers and our members who have turned out for work days. The stalwart workers so far have included Amblers Brenda, Karen, Chris, Bill, Scottie, Len, Michael and Jean; plus rangers Terrance, Steve, Laura and Alicia. There is more to do, and everyone’s help will be welcome!

There will be two trailheads off Janes Scenic Drive - at gate 16, also known as Mud Tram, and Gate 18. The new trail will follow Mud Tram west for about a mile and a half, then cut north to intersect Janes at Gate 18, thus forming a big triangle with Janes Scenic Drive as the hypotenuse. Total distance including the road walk on Janes is more than five miles.

As park manager Renee Rau and rangers Terrance Craig and Steve Houseknecht told us at Amblers meetings this winter, this trail is just one of several they would like to have us work on. Some work was begun several years ago and needs to be refreshed and continued. Renee is very enthusiastic about our work and supportive of our efforts, so we can hope for a nice new network of trails to explore over the coming seasons.

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Fort Myers Beach - Mar 12

Eight participants enjoyed a wonderful Greek dinner at the beach and then were joined by 6 more walkers for the Annual Sunset Walk at Fort Myers Beach on the evening of Thursday, March 12. It was a lovely mild evening with slight breezes. The tide was very low and made for an interesting walk. We took pictures as the sun set and headed back. A great evening! submitted by Pat
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Big Cypress National Preserve - Feb 14

Six bikers enjoyed an 18-mile trip at the Bear Island unit of the Big Cypress National Preserve, on Valentine’s Day Feb. 14. Trail conditions were excellent, on disused limerock roads once used to service former oil wells in this area of the Preserve. Most surfaces were hard; some soft sand was encountered but was not a problem. It was a beautiful sunny day - we explored off-road camping areas, had lunch in a campsite with a picnic table, and later watched an enormous alligator snoozing near the road. Another large gator in the middle of the road obliged us by sliding into the ditch. submitted by Jean
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Ding Darling Wildlife Preserve - Feb 10

Nine eager participants enjoyed a 4 mile walk at Ding Darling Wildlife Preserve under clear, blue, sunny skies in moderate temperatures. We observed many interesting birds along Wildlife Drive then we crossed the dyke and rested at the pavilion while listening to a volunteer give a very interesting talk on Endangered Wildlife in Florida. Then we continued back along the Indigo Trail and on to a local restaurant for a well earned lunch.

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Matanzas Pass Preserve - Feb 4

Twelve participants had a wonderful, informative two hour walk through the Preserve. As we were assembling for the hike, Trudi, long time Lee County volunteer and employee arrived to do her morning hike. She welcomed us into her group. We saw all four mangrove species, a mangrove snail, various ferns, early spring flowers, fiddler crab burrows, Florida poison ivy, knicker beans, the Cabbage Palm (State tree), Gumbo Limbo or Tourist Tree (Fort Myers Beach tree) and other morning walkers. It was a brisk but sunny morning which elevated the spirits of the group!  submitted by Pat

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Bonita Bay - Jan 22

Six participants set off in brisk but sunny and dry weather to enjoy biking 11 miles on designated bike trails within the Bonita Bay community. Our hostess, Karen arranged gate entry. We enjoyed a rest stop, the butterfly garden and Marina along the way.  submitted by Elaine

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Myakka State Park - Jan 16-18

Four participants enjoyed a weekend of backpacking. Trail conditions were dry and good but hogs had rooted the trails in many sections to the point that actual jumping and climbing had to be done to get out of the pits they had dug! No rain, weather cool one night, water was available in designated camping areas. We hiked just under 20 miles over the 3 days!  submitted by Bonnie

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East River - Dec 15

Just three of us enjoyed paddling for several hours, down the East River and return. Brenda, Karen and I put in at the launch site off Rte. 41 and paddled through the mangrove tunnels (and spider webs!) until we reached a blow-down log jam. The river has not been trimmed yet this fall, so it was challenging at times but beautiful as always, with many air plants and a few typical birds to admire.  submitted by Jean

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Hickey’s Creek Mitigation Park - Dec 7

On Sunday a group of nine Amblers met at the park on a cool beautiful morning.  We had members from Naples all the way up to Port Charlotte in attendance.  All of the trails were in great condition except for the usual wild hog ruts that we seem to encounter on all of our trails.  A few members brought binoculars and we all tried to spot some birds.  Jean and Shanon managed to get a good view of a kinglet in the oak trees on the Palmetto Trail.  We hike all of the trails for a total of five miles.  Every enjoyed good company and great weather.  submitted by Annette

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Myakka River State Park - Nov 27

A handful of Amblers gathered at this picturesque state park for the second annual Thanksgiving Gathering.  Annette and Hugh got to the park early in the morning to get a nice picnic site by the lake.  We even had a campfire in the grill.  Hugh made a wonderful array of appetizers including deviled eggs, wings and ham wrapped asparagus.  Lorri brought a fantastic jambalaya and Shannon made a festive holiday cranberry slaw.  Sheila brought veggies, fruit and yummy pie for dessert.  John and Pam brouth their turkey deep fryer which was entertainment for all of us since this was the first time John attempted to use it.  Thanks to Hugh, the turkey was cooked just the right amount of time.  After a very filling meal we enjoyed a nice bike ride arount the park.  A grand time was had by all.  submitted by Annette

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Highlands Hammock State Park - Nov 16

It started out very cool for our bike ride around the park.  Four of us met at the CCC Museum at the park and rode our bikes around while deciding which trails to hike.  A few of us were camping for the night so Hugh went out to buy firewood while Shannon, Lorri and Annette hiked the trails.

At the Big Oak Trail we saw the 1000 year old oak tree and then we enjoyed walking the boardwalk trail in the cypress swamp.  After three hours of walking it was time for lunch.  Hugh had a nice fire going at the campsite.  We enjoyed good conversation while having our lunch.  Another beautiful day in one of our wonderful Florida state parks.  submitted by Annette

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Shell Creek - Oct 11

A beautiful day to be on the water, no wind, calm waters and plenty of laughs . The group which comprises of Frank, ,John, Pam, Annette and Hugh left the dock at Shell Creek at 9:30 am.  Paddled up stream about 4 miles, found a sandbar, had lunch and leisurely drifted back to our starting point.  We were looking for more club members to join us but none showed . We do miss them, As Linda Wetherbee used to say “and so it goes”.
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Webb Lake Bike - Sep 13

An almost windless day, cooled by a slight breeze from Webb Lake made an enjoyable bike ride of 10 miles along a paved road for three made it a day for biking. AA members and two guests. Annette, John, Frank and guests Pam and Hugh made this trip. Talk centered on to what kept members away from a day out that couldn’t be beat. Our most entertaining part of this ride was about 200 feet of roadway being under water, that we had to bike thru out and back. . If one thinks its a hard peddle thru sand or dirt, they would have been surprised what its like to bike thru a foot of water. It was a great day for biking.

submitted by Frank, photos by John