Up A Lazy River

Almost any day is a good day to jet ski in the Tampa Bay area. Taking advantage of the Friday holiday, we jumped into the turbulent Gulf of Mexico and Anna Maria Sound. Our friend John fired up the two stroke and joined us in braving the 15 minute crossing into the chop from Bradenton to Anna Maria. After ducking into the lee shore and finding very little "lee way", we decided to stick to the intercoastal and shoot down to the pass at the north end of Long Boat Key. The Gulf was breaking big and confused on the sand bar. Two weeks of rain and wind were evident in the random pattern of the waves. My husband Fritz took the big Kawasaki out to jump and play in the mogul like swells and breaks. I followed on the Honda, not because I was thrilled to be jumping in the mess, but to keep an eye on him out there. It was fun to crash my way around in the 4-5 foot swells. While heading back in I dropped into a trough and was swamped by a wave crashing backwards over the entire ski. Hanging on tight was the only option. Nothing like 50lbs of pressure trying to push you off the jet ski backwards. I beached up and sent John out to frolic in the waves. After an hour in the rough we took a quick lunch break at Annie's bate shop. Onion rings and cold libations fortified Fritz and I to carry on.
Considering the rolling chop we opted to run up the Manatee River. We were not willing to start flushing skis that early in the day and the four stroke's engines, on almost full tanks, were ready to go. We usually avoid the river. Slow manatee zones and bridge passages are not simpatico when you are sitting on that much horse power. We craved some liberting speed on the flat water.

The two weeks of rain had a surprisingly positive effect on the river. The level was high all day elliminating the likelyhood of striking submerged branches and running aground. Stately homes line the banks at the start of the river. As the river narrows you quickly drop back in time. The river's palmettos and mangroves harbor every type of exotic Florida fauna.

We followed the river across a rippling wash board effect, through 3 bridges to the grass lands and overhanging branches of the upriver sections. Here the river become smooth and glassy luring us on. The mirror like effect made the depth impossible to gage in the tea colored water. After on hour were stopped at a dead end by a low bridge that was impossible to squeeze the jet skies under. We agreed that we would head back up on the following day, the 4th, when we had more time to explore.

Friends D.C. and Rebeca called early to say they were up for a river trip Saturday. We met up at the mouth of the river and retraced our trip of the day before. The wind was blowing right down the mouth of the river so we knew it would be a bit rough until rounding the bend in the narrower sections. As we popped out under the 301 bridge, there in a very wide section of the river, were two ducks and their fifteen tiny yellow striped off spring. We stopped to admire them for a moment. Glancing to the far shore, 600 feet away, I noted that they were heading to a shore covered in sea walls. I have no idea how they fared but I suspect it was good that they started the crossing with such a large number of offspring.

Just above that section of the river dolphins were cresting in groups in the brackish waters. They are tough to photograph with a digital camera because of the delay between snap and photo but I will try to document them in the future here.

We had a fantastic ride up the glassy sections of the river stopping often to ask ourselves why we don't venture up that way more often. On the return trip the flashing blue lights under the Green Bridge refreshed our memory. We are not good at idle speed wanting to keep the bow of the ski up, but as we promised the kind police officer in the City of Bradenton boat, we will remember what minimum wake means during future outings.

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