Michelle
was planning on making a solo kayak trip the entire length
of the St. Johns river.
On
one ride I showed her the landmarks for
the first stage of her journey, and then we made plans
for another trip to see part of the second stage.
The
next part of the trip was from SR-192 to the dam on Lake
Washington, and farther, if we could get there.
The
sunrise shone through the supports of the 192 bridge, raising
the mist on the water as we set out.
Click the arrows to see photos
of our trip
Since
it was a windy day we headed right across the end of Lake
Washington to ride up the west shoreline. I had not been
out there since the hurricanes of 2004 and there was lots
of hurricane damage to be seen.
We
continued to the dam, but there is no longer a boat ramp so we were unable
to go further.
Ok,
we could have, but it would have been a lot of work to
get back, so we didn't.
We
did get out of the boat and talk with Mike, a fisherman
on the dam. Mike was catching lots of little fish
which he takes to a wild bird rescue group
to feed to injured birds.
Mike told us an
astonishing story that he had witnessed that morning.
I could hardly believe it, but since then other people
have told me that they witnessed the same thing.
When
otters attack! There was a
small sandbar a short ways from the dam. Two otters ganged
up on a small alligator and killed him, dragged him up
on the sandbar and ate him! It was only a 3 ft gator,
but still...
The
sign says "Leaving Danger Area". Too late for
the alligator!
Mike
said one of the otters attracted the 'gator's attention,
and the other one came up from behind and bit the 'gator
in the neck. Then they both jumped on him, bit him to death
and ate him.
Can't
you just picture an otter making faces, putting his
thumbs in his ears and waggling his fingers and going
"nyah, nyah!" as his buddy sneaks up from behind?
I really thought
he was 'greenin' us,
but others have confirmed that otters will indeed attack,
kill and eat alligators. Who knew?!
Michelle
was planning on making a solo kayak trip the entire length
of the St. Johns river. 
We
continued to the dam, but there is no longer a boat ramp so we were unable
to go further. 
