Trip Report: Paddling Florida with the Houston Association of Sea Kayaks
Early December found me on the road to Florida where I’ve always wanted to do more paddling. The trip was facilitated by Chris Arceneaux and was headquartered at Fort De Soto State Park, from which we headed out for day trips.
The landscape of Florida is definitely different from Houston, dominated by palm trees and palmettos.
Bob Scaldino shared his campsite with me and was a fine chef of camp cookery.
Bob and Paul Penning and I arrived early and the three of us set off for Caladesi Island State Park. This island is reachable only by boat. A ferry service is available and the park part of the island is popular with the motor boat crowd. Our intent was to explore the mangrove trails. The water was crystal clear and just deep, and wide, enough for us to pass through.
The entire group gathered the next day for a trip to Egmont Key National Wildlife Refuge and State Park. The crystal clear water became blue with depth as we paddled from the sand beach and not far from shipping lanes of ocean-going vessels.
Storm clouds on the horizon thankfully bypassed us but the entirely flat water of the original crossing was lumpier on the return.
The island has a historic lighthouse, and an impressive colony of gopher tortoises.
As we headed back to the takeout, a large container ship crossed in the distance. The wake it set up was very impressive, giving us a great thrill as we rode up, over, and down into the troughs. No, I didn’t have the nerve to try to get a photo of that!
Paul has a smooth ride onto the beach at the putin.
Not content with the paddling we had done, we paddled on for several miles until it became apparent it would be dark before we got back to camp. Bob relaxes at the takeout.
The third day trip was to the inland waterway, Manatee River. The putin was a commercial site called Ray’s Canoe Hideaway. Despite the name, no manatees were to be seen, although some had been spotted by members of our group much closer to our campsite. Manatee River is stained dark black from tanning and meanders through palm trees and palmettos. It was a pleasant if somewhat uneventful paddle.
Paul models the ultimate sun protection.
Report submitted by Natalie Wiest