Re: [Paddlewise] paddling in Florida?

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We just got back from a similar trip.  I did a three day conference in Orlando
while my wife visited her nieces in Vero Beach.  Vero is on the Atlantic, about
a two hour trip from Orlando, east and then south.

After the conference I joined my wife for a couple of days on the coast and we
did a couple of paddles with an outfit called Adventure Kayaking.

The first trip was their monthly full moon paddle.  About 20 very friendly
folks, many of them regulars for that trip.  Beautiful scenery on the Indian
River Lagoon, paddling quiet channels through a group of islands off the main
channel, quite a bit of wildlife, and an incredible dinner cooked over a camp
fire on one of the islands.  Grilled salmon, roasted potatoes, fudge brownies.
Yum!

Did another trip the next day, just my wife and I, Steve (the proprietor) and
his fiance (Rhonda).  Went to a spot called Round Island, a little south of
Vero Beach.  They told us it's one of their favorite local spots.  It's one of
mine now too.  The launch was at a county park / boat ramp, into a small "lake"
that opens out onto the lagoon.  There were two manatees, a male and a female
it turns out, that we could see from the shore.  As we got out into the lake,
Steve told us to just sit for a minute.  Sometimes the manatees come up to
investigate, he said.  Damned if they didn't.  I got to pet the male on his
head when he surfaced right next to me, looked me right in the eyes, let me
scratch his head, and then submerged.  Did it twice!  The female surfaced next
to Rhonda who proceeded to scratch her on the back with her paddle.  The female
then turned over on her back to have her belly rubbed.  Then she came over and
visited my wife and did the same thing!!!  This went on for about 20 minutes.
I've got pictures of it and memories that will last a lifetime.  We paddled out
into the lagoon and saw many ospreys and dolphins.  Got another picture of a
dolphin's fin 6 inches off the bow of my kayak as he/she was cruising up and
down a channel, foraging I guess.  A really neat trip.  I'll never forget those
manatees.

These folks really gave us a good time and I will definitely use them again
when we're back in that area.  Their web site at www.paddleflorida.com has trip
schedules.

Michael wrote:

> I am going to Orlando for an educational meeting in mid October...
> Could someone recommend a place where I could rent a good kayak...and a
> favorite place to paddle.  I am open to almost any place
> nice...including fishing from a kayak.
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