Saturation Point
Paddling as a Present (part 1)
By
Apr 3, 2008 - 4:46:43 PM

It occurred to me not too long ago that I have kayaked almost everywhere that I have traveled over the past few years.  I have paddled through Alaskan inlets, the waters off Mexico’s coast and the Caribbeans clear blue waters.  I really didn’t know much about the habitat, conditions, flora or fauna that I would be seeing in these exotic locales—nonetheless I was ready for an adventure.  What I had recently longed for was a paddling excursion right here in the waters of home.  As my birthday approached, Ben asked how I wanted to celebrate.  It took me only a few hours to find a local and nationally renowned kayak shop that offered tours, classes and rentals.  I wanted to paddle for my birthday.

One of the many opportunities to kayak trails in Florida was located at Weedon Island Preserve, in St. Petersburg.  My mom and I had visited there once for an environmental workshop and thought it was absolutely pristine.  Located close to the Gandy bridge, the preserve is out of sight and passers by wouldn’t even know it existed unless they knew exactly where to look.  It is tucked back in the mangroves, surrounded by water.

 Ben had reserved two single person kayaks for our early morning 5 mile paddle.  We were prepared for the adventure—sunscreen, water, granola, waterproof camera, hats, sunglasses and safety flotation devices were all accounted for.  We were off!  The weather was cool and breezy but as I started pumping my paddle, my body warmed up.  The water surrounding Weedon Island Preserve is fairly shallow, and as we headed out the tide was so low we could touch the sand below.  Live Welks and Conch shells meandered across the sandy bottom and a sting ray close to 3 feet across passed lazily between our kayaks.  A fellow kayaker who happened to see the dark shadow of the ray exclaimed that he would rather not know what lurked below the water’s surface.  I laughed—to see the wonders of nature is exactly why we were on this adventure..  I wanted to see more.

 As we paddled toward our first marker, fish jumped out of the water in front of our vessels, and osprey circled above us.  We were particularly interested in paddling the trail that was marked throughout the mangroves.  Kayakers come from all over the Tampa Bay area and the state to paddle the calm waters at the preserve.  It is a four mile loop that takes paddlers through mangrove forest and seagrass flats.  There are fabled mangrove tunnels that, if you can find them, are remarkable.   As we made our way toward the mangrove islands that dotted the coast, an Osprey dove into the water only a few feet in front of us.  A Cow Nose Ray creeped by my kayak and an egret stood perfectly still as Ben paddled within a foot of its feeding spot; it was a brilliant morning and it was only going to get better.  We found the unmarked entrance to the mangrove tunnels.

(To Be Continued Next Week)   
 

Karey and her friend Ben point their kayak toward Weedon Island Preserve.

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