They put them on trailers. They put them on homemade racks made of PVC pipe. They shove them in trunks. They load them in pickup truck beds. They strap them on top.

People haul their canoes and kayaks around the Beaches of Fort Myers & Sanibel in creative ways.

The Calusa Blueway Paddling Trail beckons, and they pack up their vessels and go. This past Saturday, a team of Lee County Parks & Recreation volunteers as well as some parks staff (that would include yours truly) did an unscientific snapshot. We counted them.

Strategically placing ourselves at major intersections and popular launch spots, we observed and tallied for two and a half hours during a bird-chirping kind of spring morning.

The results? We’ll know soon. (Thank goodness for eager interns who like to crunch data, right?) Regardless of what stats we garner, there are insightful tidbits already filed in this paddlesports enthusiast’s brain.

Names: You see powerboaters christen their crafts and place names on the sterns. But I’d not noticed the kayak crowd doing it. Until Saturday. Using those stick-on letters used primarily to mark names on mailboxes, these two kayakers had added flair to their yaks. “Liberated” was the name of one. “Poor Woman’s Flats Boat” was on the other.

Locals: Are you aware we have a blueway in Lee County? Yep. Do you have all three trail maps? Yes. Do you know the trail’s name? Yessiree. So went the questions to the year-round residents. I was impressed how many canoeists and kayakers who live right here are such great ambassadors for our Calusa Blueway.

Snowbirds: Don’t count them out. Many seasonal residents from Naples to Punta Gorda were hauling their own boats to sites and then renting a few more for friends and family they were meeting. It warmed my heart to see so many hugs and kisses at the launch sites. Snowbirds, thank you for helping get people on the trail.

Tourists: Guys and gals, you sure know how to celebrate a March morning. Some outfitter sites were so busy, all the boats were on the water by 10:30 a.m. Others had their front door opening and closing so often the screen doors didn’t have time to squeak. Some tourists had fishing rods. Some had sack lunches. All of them had a plan in mind – to have a great time.