Re: [Paddlewise] Florida Question

Oh gee there is lots of good paddling around there.

You can park for free and put in at the Curlew Bridge that goes out to Honeymoon Island.  You can paddle around Caldesi Island and around Honeymoon Island from there.  I stopped on the big white sand beach on the northern tip of Caldesi and picked up some nice shells.  There are sharks around there so be careful if you go wading.

Go to the USF park in north Tampa on the Hillsborough River.  You can park and put in for free there too.  You should see some nice gators and lots turtles and birds... roseate spoonbills, egrets, sand cranes, etc.

Go further inland to Hillsborough River State Park.  The river has a little different personality there.  It is much deeper with a sandy bottom and is almost crystal clear.  You might see some gators there too.  Because the water is clearer you will see more fish swimming below.  Nominal entrance fee.

South of Tampa is Little Manitee River State Park.  The Little Manitee is a gentle, scenic river to paddle.  Nominal entrance fee.

North Tampa County Park on the northwest corner of Tampa Bay has a lot of mangrove islands to paddle around.  Nominal entrance fee.

Fort DeSoto County Park on the southern tip of St. Petersburg has a nice canoe trail across the street from the fort and lots of nice gulf shoreline.  I saw dolphins swimming in pairs near the shore.  They have a modern campground.  Nominal entrance fee.  There is a little island southwest of Ft. DeSoto that I think is a wildlife preserve so there is probably no camping there but it would be a nice trip to paddle out around it and back.

Heck since you will only be about eight hours from The Keys it would be nice to go down there.  The problem is finding a place to stay at a reasonable price.  I was there in January.  Take the book "Sea Kayaking in the Florida Keys" by Bruce Wachob with you for route suggestions and directions to launch sites, several of which are free and have free parking.

Have fun.  I wish I were going with you!

Bob Matter
Freezing to death in northwest Indiana


Dave Gutierrez wrote:
> 
> Hello there everyone! I have a question for you.
> 
>            I have been living in the Middle East for
> quite a few years now and fortunalty I have had my
> boat to keep me company, but now I am going to be
> coming back to the States and I am going to be taking
> some time off in Florida to spend with my Parents.
> Well, I plan on taking my boat with me (we are best
> friends) and getting some paddling in, but I am really
> not sure where I should go.  I have a Feathercraft K1
> and since my parents live in Clearwater, I figure that
> all I have to do is drop my boat in the Gulf and just
> go, but I was wondering if there are any really good
> routes in that area that you all could recommend?  I
> would like to do some camping too.  I am going to be
> there between the middle and end of November and I
> plan on taking around one month off. Any suggestions?
> Thanks for your help.
> Dave Gutierrez
> 
> It is good to have an end to journey towards;
> but it is the journey that matters, in the end.

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