I did my seaplane rating at Jacks and don't remember the home lake being small enough to do a confined water take off. A couple of lakes over certianly was.
I go back once a year and fly there and the welcome is always warm and friendly. If you go back regularly enough you are permitted to take the Cubs away on your own. They are obviously just careful with who they let use them and findng slots in a busy schedule is not easy.
I am off to Como in a couple of weeks for a change. Probably won't effect my Jack Beowns ritual but it's nice to fly floats somewhere else. Then it's Norwy in the summer hopefully.
I do envy the Canucks and Yanks with their endless choice of open water to enjoy. Makes you realiae why they see the Brits as such stuffed shirts.