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. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Dave, I highly recommend paddling the Manatee areas about an hour north of Clearwater (Homossassas Springs, Crystal Springs, etc) The timing is pretty good for seeing Manatees as they come into the warmer waters there. Lots of easy, neat paddling to do, plenty of wildlife, it's great! Disclaimer: Just remember to let the Manatees have their space-- Marine Mammal Protection Act and all that (Sorry, had to be said) :) Welcome back to the States! Regards, Kevin *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Oh yeah I forgot to recommend the warm springs that Kevin mentioned. There is also a nice overlooked little county park in that area called Chassahowitzka Springs County Park that is right on a river. They have a nice observation deck, parking lot, and boat launch. You can camp there too. One manatee and her calf spend each winter right in front of the observation deck. I forgot her name but someone around the park will know. She comes there every year. The water is crystal clear and you can paddle right over some warm springs. The river eventually empties into the Gulf but I didn't paddle that far. -Bob Matter Freezing in northwest Indiana *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
In a message dated 07/24/2000 12:02:39 PM Eastern Daylight Time, rjmatter_at_PRODIGY.NET writes: << 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'm one hour north of Key Largo - no charge for B&B for Paddlewisers. :) I know a nice little waterfront campground in Key Largo, plus have stayed at several others up and down the Keys. Bahia Honda is very nice. It will be cooler camping weather by the time you get here. Sandy Kramer Miami *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Oh yes, Bahia Honda State Park is very nice and they have camping. I automatically assumed all Keys campgrounds would be booked up through eternity. I paddled around the whole island on my way back home. I stayed at the Quality Inn in Key West and paddled around the Sugarloaf Keys and the Knockemdown (sp?) Keys in the daytime. I spent the evenings riding my bicycle around Key West visiting all the tourist traps (Hog's Breath, Margaritaville, Sloppy Joe's, etc.) and buying sovenirs. I wanted to visit Miami but didn't have time. I love cuban food and cuban music. Of course when I was passing thru all the cubans were camping in Elian Gonzales' front yard! Well whenever I can afford another trip to paradise I will look you up! Bob Matter Freezing in northwest Indiana Gypsykayak_at_aol.com wrote: > > In a message dated 07/24/2000 12:02:39 PM Eastern Daylight Time, > rjmatter_at_PRODIGY.NET writes: > > << 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'm one hour north of Key Largo - no charge for B&B for Paddlewisers. :) > > I know a nice little waterfront campground in Key Largo, plus have stayed at > several others up and down the Keys. Bahia Honda is very nice. It will be > cooler camping weather by the time you get here. > > Sandy Kramer > Miami *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced/forwarded outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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