Our Canal

This is our canal, right off of the Braden River in Bradenton, FL. Until 1924 the town used to be called Bradentown and also Braidentown because of a miss-spelling!  The town's motto is "The Friendly City" but I mostly think of it as a beautiful, natural place to live. I am biased, living right on this canal! I so enjoy breathing in all this natural beauty . . . Our new boat is getting me out and about to see more of it. On this trip we went out just a short way, right around the corner and went swimming off the boat. Lovely! Although the water right here is mostly fresh now from all the rain, so . . . I think we will go farther out to where the salt water is. When the water is fresh, there can be alligators, especially at dawn or near dusk. Not that we have see a bunch of alligators or anything, but we have heard that one has been spotted in another canal. This happens here only when the water is not brackish (half salt - this is a tidal river). Do not worry! We will be safe and swim in the salt water during the day.