Gator Ties Up Bathroom at Clark's Fish Camp


JACKSONVILLE, FL -- The bathroom at Clark's Fish Camp has been tied up
by an unusual creature.

A small alligator wandered its way into the flooded-out restaurant.
Crews found it in the bathroom, which had been under several feet of water.

The discovery surprised everyone.

"I've been there 15 years and seen a lot with the flooding that we've
had, but that floored me," said manager Erin McGough. "I think if it
would've been bigger than 3 feet I would've soiled my britches."

A employee whisked the gator away.

Clark's Fish Camp has been closed since last Tuesday because of all the
flooding. McGough says she hopes to reopen the restaurant on Wednesday.

The gator is a welcome distraction from the reality of what else the
storm brought: heavy flooding. Clark's was closed an entire week, losing
$75,000.

"These months, your summer months, is your money months. And the way the
economy is, it's really hurts," owner Joan Peoples told First Coast
News' Erich Spivey.

- - -


http://www.firstcoastnews.com/news/l...138696&catid=3


Used to eat there about every other month, and at another fish camp,
too. Whitey's, at Doctor's Lake. Good food.

On May 27, 8:40*pm, HK wrote:
Gator Ties Up Bathroom at Clark's Fish Camp

JACKSONVILLE, FL -- The bathroom at Clark's Fish Camp has been tied up
by an unusual creature.

A small alligator wandered its way into the flooded-out restaurant.
Crews found it in the bathroom, which had been under several feet of water.

On Thu, 28 May 2009 04:46:24 -0700 (PDT), wrote:

Damned snowbirds. If you're going to be afraid of a small gator, you
shouldn't live in the south.

I have a snapping turtle only six inches length of shell, but I am
very very careful to keep my hands clear. I named him " Boltcutter "
They grow to hundreds of pounds, and they all have industrial
machinery for a mouth. A big one can snip a hand right off.

Casady

On May 28, 12:07*pm, Richard Casady
wrote:
On Thu, 28 May 2009 04:46:24 -0700 (PDT), wrote:
Damned snowbirds. If you're going to be afraid of a small gator, you
shouldn't live in the south.

I have a snapping turtle only six inches length of shell, but I am
very very careful to keep my hands clear. I named him " Boltcutter "
They grow to hundreds of pounds, and they all have industrial
machinery for a mouth. A big one can snip a hand right off.

Casady

Yep, I've seen some damned big ones! Same with gators, but they can be
shooed away pretty easily, most of the time. When I was fishing the
swamps of central Florida, I'd sometimes have to wade through areas
where the canoe would drag bottom. Most people who wasn't used to
being in those swamps were a little riled up when we'd see gators slip
into the water for awhile, then I'd say, okay, get out and walk.....
Never ever had a gator try anything except try to get out of my way.
Cottonmouths were another story.

Richard Casady wrote:
On Thu, 28 May 2009 04:46:24 -0700 (PDT), wrote:

Damned snowbirds. If you're going to be afraid of a small gator, you
shouldn't live in the south.

I have a snapping turtle only six inches length of shell, but I am
very very careful to keep my hands clear. I named him " Boltcutter "
They grow to hundreds of pounds, and they all have industrial
machinery for a mouth. A big one can snip a hand right off.

Casady


Loogy, apparently, missed the point of the news article. There are
thousands of gators in north Florida. But the heavy rain caused
flooding, and the gator in question found himself where he shouldn't
be...in a restaurant and...not on the menu.

On May 28, 1:24*pm, HK wrote:
Richard Casady wrote:
On Thu, 28 May 2009 04:46:24 -0700 (PDT), wrote:

Damned snowbirds. If you're going to be afraid of a small gator, you
shouldn't live in the south.

I have a snapping turtle only six inches length of shell, but I am
very very careful to keep my hands clear. I named him " Boltcutter "
They grow to hundreds of pounds, and they all have industrial
machinery for a mouth. A big one can snip a hand right off.

Casady

Loogy, apparently, missed the point of the news article. There are
thousands of gators in north Florida. But the heavy rain caused
flooding, and the gator in question found himself where he shouldn't
be...in a restaurant and...not on the menu.

Uh, no, although you missed the point of my reply by a long shot.
Let's see, I lived in central Florida for, oh, about 20 years. During
that time I fished, swam in natural ponds, canoed the swamps, camped
in the swamps, etc. Anybody that has done such knows how to handle
gators enough to shoo them off.