SUMMER'S END

This spring and summer brought us some amazing kayak adventures. It also introduced us to the perils of a Gulf oil spill. We had some wonderful trips, some exciting adventures and lots of new experiences. Our kayaking season began very early this year, when the air was still cool and the sun not too warm. We kayaked every Saturday and Sunday, especially after the oil spill.

One of our first trips was to Wakulla River where we experienced for the first time the delights of the manatees. What a beautiful river and what friendly creatures. We oohed and ahhed over the adult manatees as much as the baby manatees. They really are magnificent creatures.

We spent weekends at Crooked Island Sound before and during the oil spill. During the oil disaster, we wondered how many more trips we would be able to make before they closed the sound. We endured oil booms, oil workers and oil boats. We pondered about the plight of the sea turtles and the babies soon to hatch. We worried about the dolphins and the affect the oil would have on them. And in the end, we were thankful the oil really never impacted our area. For now, anyway.

We spent time at Lake Powell, on the Chipola River and even more time at Holmes Creek. We love the salt life but discovered, due to the pending oil spill, the wonderful river and creek life that our area offers. We met so many nice people on the rivers and creeks. We encountered our first rapid on the upper Chipola River and had a blast maneuvering over it. We even survived crossing the pass on Memorial Day weekend! We consider ourselves extremist in our kayaks. We are still relatively new to kayaking and nothing seems to scare us. We will try anything once!

The summer was nice, but not as nice as last year. The winds were weird and the rough seas never subsided. There were a few days that we spent the entire day in the Gulf, but those were few and far between. One such day, we had the exciting opportunity to chase tarpon off Crooked Island. We have seen manatees, tuna, dolphins, schools of stingrays, sea turtles, big and small. We have seen saltwater fish in the freshwater rivers and so many more amazing creatures most of us take for granted.

The oil spill was disastrous for so many and although we worried about its impact on our area, it brought us a new awareness of just how fragile our beaches and waterways are. We came to realize just how truly blessed we are to live here and have the bays, the Gulf, the rivers and creeks. Life in a kayak here is anything but boring.

We enjoyed trips with friends, some planned, some spur of the moment. There were new experiences for them as well and we were eager to share our experiences with them too. We began this blog to let people know about our area and to share our experiences with anyone who might be interested.

So, as fall began, we cleaned and waxed our kayaks and put them up until the spring. We may venture out between now and next spring or between hunting seasons, who knows. Our fall and winters are usually spent tromping through the woods and deer and turkey hunting. But any warm weekend, you might just find us out in the bay or at the sound as fall is the most beautiful time in our area.

We had a long and eventful kayak season and enjoyed sharing our adventures with everyone. We did a lot and saw a lot. I don't think we have ever kayaked so much as we did this spring and summer but we survived it all. Survived to tell another tale. We are looking forward now to the spring and another great season!

HOLMES CREEK

Since the oil invasion in the Gulf of Mexico, we have been widening our horizons by exploring the freshwater side of kayaking. Although saltwater kayaking is and always will be our true love, this summer has not been as favorable on the water as it was last summer. We have dealt with weird winds, storms, rough water and of course, the oil. So, we have taken several opportunities to explore the creeks and rivers in our area starting with the Wakulla River and then the Chipola River. A friend of my brother told us about Holmes Creek which is located in Washington County, just outside of Vernon on Hwy. 277. So, with Google Earth loaded on our computer, we researched our launch options and devised a plan of action.

We decided to launch at Cotton Landing, about a 45 minute drive from our house. All the launch sites along the creek are controlled by the Northwest Florida Water Management District. Cotton Landing is fairly easy to find and the road to the landing is well maintained. The area offers picnic tables and a portable restroom but the launch is not ideal for kayaks, canoes, or any other type of boat. There are aluminum canoes available for rent at this location and although we did not witness a canoe launch, we can only assume they are pushed off the one-foot drop off into the creek.

We managed to get our kayaks into the water and decided if we were ever going to do this again, we would bring our two smaller kayaks. They would be more manageable at this launch site. We prefer a sandy beach to launch from and this landing had no sand, a one-foot drop off into a boggy bottom and tree stumps to deal with. However, we were here and we were going down the creek. The morning fog was above the creek when we left the landing but quickly disappeared as the air warmed up.

There were three other kayakers from Santa Rosa that had come to paddle down the creek. The woman that was with the group had paddled Holmes Creek before and filled us in on some directions and destination spots, one of which was Cypress Springs. We had seen the spring on the map and knew about where it was so we were good to go.

Heading out, we thought the creek was running rather fast. The Wakulla and Chipola had been much slower compared to this so we would have to really pay attention in order to stay out of the banks. Shortly after leaving the landing, we came upon a downed tree across the creek. It appeared to us that you could not get around the tree so we prepared to pull the kayaks out of the water and walk them around the tree. The three kayakers behind us paddled up and the woman let us know that the tree was passable with a little maneuvering. Jr. already had his kayak on land and continued to walk it around the tree. I decided to paddle around it, following the three kayakers in front of me.

Once back on course we continued down the creek for about a third of a mile before we reached the spring run to Cypress Springs. Once you head up the run, the water becomes crystal clear and looks much more shallow than it actually is. The bottom is sandy with a zillion little freshwater snails on the bottom. And, no kidding, there are dollar weeds growing in the creek bottom! I could not believe it!

The run to the spring is not long and you can hear so clearly on the creek you know you are getting close when you hear the voices of those already there. The land around the spring is private and fenced off but the landowners allow boaters to pull up to the bank as long as the area is kept clean. I must say, we saw very little litter along the creek and around the spring.
Since we were here so early, there were only a couple other boats at the spring. We parked our kayaks and got out to look at the spring and enjoy the COLD water.

The spring is breathtaking in color and clarity. You can see straight down into it. We took a couple underwater shots with our waterproof camera and wished we had brought along a mask and snorkel so we could float over the spring and look down into it. The water comes out rather forcefully and as we tried to float over the top of the spring in our kayaks to get pictures, it was hard to stay in one spot for very long. This is a Magnitude 2 spring with a 89 million gallons per day flow. Nestle brand bottled water comes from this spring.

After leaving Cypress Springs, we continued our paddle downstream to another spring we had seen on the map. While paddling, we thought we heard traffic on a nearby highway but in fact, it was a swarm of hornets! We put the kayaks in overdrive to get past the swarm. We rounded the bend and found the spring run and could still hear the hornets. A short piece ahead we came to the spring. Although not as big as Cypress Springs, it is much deeper and many people dive in this spring. There is very little flow from this spring but it is indeed a major contributor to Holmes Creek. We are not sure, but we think this was Becton Springs.

We paddled out and downstream wondering what else we might come across. We had passed many small motor boats going upstream and didn't know where they were coming from except maybe the landing in Vernon. We then discovered they were launching from Culpepper Landing. This landing is much nicer than Cotton Landing and we have decided, next trip, we are launching here and paddling upstream to the springs.

Just a bit further downstream, we stopped for lunch on a flat bank. The three kayakers passed us on their way to the landing at Hwy. 79 in Vernon. They offered us a ride back to our truck if we wanted to paddle farther but we decided to paddle back upstream and visit Cypress Springs one more time before heading back to the landing. On the return trip, we came upon a German Shepherd sitting on a dock and as soon as we passed him, he began barking and crying as if he was asking to come along with us. I heard him hit the water but he thankfully did not follow us.

As we got closer to the springs again, the locals were out in full force. Aluminum rental canoes were everywhere along with many small motor boats. The springs were full and the party had begun. We did not paddle all the way to the springs but stopped along the shallows to rest a bit and enjoy the cool water before heading back to the landing. After a quick break, it was back to the creek and the short paddle upstream to the landing.

We have had great times on the rivers and creeks we have paddled this summer. We are going back to Wakulla River in a couple weeks and taking our daughter and my sister along. We are hoping to visit a few more places before our season ends. Tomorrow we will hit the saltwater, just to make things fair. We are so fortunate to live in an area where we can be in the Gulf one day and at the springs the next or see a sea turtle on one trip and a mantee the next. Such is the diversity of the Panhandle and I cannot think of a better place to live. I only wish we had discovered kayaking when we were younger but we are learning and experiencing as much as we can every weekend. As long as we have our health and our strength, we are going to be on the water, somewhere, come the weekend!

HALF WAY TO THE END

Well, my husband has announced that it is time to begin getting ready for hunting season. What? So soon? It is only mid-July! July marks the midway point of our kayaking season, of baseball season and the fact the fields must be mowed and planted and feeders put up so the deer will have food to eat in the upcoming colder months. You can imagine my reply to his announcement. It was a huge NO! If it were up to me, we would kayak year round and baseball would never end!

Nonetheless, we are still kayaking and as this summer has not been as nice as last summer, we are trying to get to all possible kayaking spots before the end of the season. We applied for and finally received our recreation passes for Tyndall Air Force Base. It took several trips out there, a background check, and many confusing telephone calls but we finally got them into our grubby little hands. Now, we can enter the base and launch from several prime locations without having to secure a sponsor or limiting our visit to only 72 hours. New rules were established a few months ago and it is very hard to get on base anymore with just a sponsor. Last year my uncle sponsored us for a day trip on base and we launched at the Heritage Club and paddled out and over to Shell Island. With the passes, there are several other, much closer spots we can launch from now and the passes are good for one year.

So, on Saturday, it was out to Tyndall we went. We would miss going to the sound for the third weekend. We already knew the weather and the wind were not going to be in our favor but we were determined to launch from inside the base and paddle to somewhere, anywhere. Our first choice was to launch from Archery Road and paddle over to Shell Island. We had never been to this location before but with our map in hand, we finally found it. It is not a bad place to launch but the water looked like the Gulf of Mexico during a hurricane. No launching from this spot today and therefore, no trip to Shell Island.

Not to waste the day, we headed to Redfish Point which is close to the golf course. We had paddled there several times last year but had launched from the marina. Launching from inside Tyndall would get us that much closer to the bay and Shell Island. Driving through Tyndall is such a treat. If you have never been on base, you are truly missing something. I see now why so many people request to be stationed there. With the huge oak trees and natural landscapes base wide, Tyndall is absolutely gorgeous, from one end to the other. We made our way to the point via the golf course only to come to a dead end. Have you ever tried to turn around an extra long wheelbase Ford truck with a boat trailer attached to it? It is not an easy task and impossible where we were so we ended up driving a short distance down a golf cart trail and then backing up. Luckily, no one noticed us. We then found a different road that went through the woods and finally ended at the point. Not a possible launching location due to the high hill but a beautiful drive anyway.

Onward to the next location, not to waste any of the day, we went to the far east end of the base to what is known at the STP boat ramp. This boat ramp is at the far west end of Crooked Island Sound. We have seen wave runners and other boats coming from this end of the sound before but never knew where they were launching from. Now we knew their secret! This is a nice boat ramp that offers plenty of room to turn around and park. Although Buck Beach is our favorite launch for Crooked Island Sound, this boat ramp gives us the chance to explore the west end of the sound, something we have not done in the three years we have been going there. We launched the kayaks and paddled to the adjacent shoreline. With a 20mph wind in our faces, we had to hug the shoreline to get anywhere.

We landed on a sandy point and walked around. We could see storms approaching from the east and we knew rounding the point would not be a good idea considering the strong wind and nearing rain. Jr. decided to get out his new rod and reel. He put a crab on the hook and cast out into the water. It was calm where we were because the beach was blocking the wind. It was only a minute or two and he landed a huge flounder. His first catch on his new rig and his first ever flounder! Into the cooler the fish went. Dinner! He fished a bit longer and caught another one which was smaller but still a keeper. More dinner!

The rain came although most of it went around us into the Gulf. After the brief shower, we had our lunch and then decided to call it a day. The day was cut short because of the wind and rain but we had explored all the new spots to launch on base and caught dinner. The day was not wasted at all!

Sunday promised to be a much better day with calmer winds and only late afternoon showers. We were up early and all four kayaks were strapped on the trailer and ready to go by 8:00. Our daughter, Jenny and a friend of hers would be coming along with us today. She had never been to Lake Powell so it was her choice to go there today. We were hoping the small pass to the Gulf would be open so we could venture out for a ride in the waves. When we arrived at the boat ramp, the lake was flat and calm and the wind had not picked up yet. A good sign indeed.

We paddled to the Gulf end of the lake and as we got closer, we could see that the pass had been closed, solid as a rock. Huge mounds of white sand stood guard, at as of last week was a substantial opening to the Gulf. The pass was filled in and the huge mountains of sand created berms against the approaching oil. Kids on the beach had no idea the sand mountains were there to protect the lake from the oil but rather that some wonderful sand fairy had left them huge sand piles to play on. There would be no going into the Gulf today because one, the pass was closed and two, the water was too rough to launch from the beach.

We walked down the beach and unlike on our last two visits to this very beach in recent weeks, we did not see hoards of oil workers. Just a few and a couple in vehicles, one of which offered us cold bottled water. I thought that was rather strange. On our return walk down the beach, we spotted our first ever tar balls. Not balls so much as gooey oily blobs. We saw not one or two, but many. We had not seen any on the other weekends so this was unsettling to say the least. With only two, maybe four workers on the beach, we wondered if the oil would be cleaned up or end up on the bottom of everyone's feet as they walked down the beach.

After a wonderful lunch, we hiked up to Camp Helen. On my last trip to Camp Helen, I fell in love with the woodsy scenery against the backdrop of the white sandy beaches and aqua Gulf water but somehow managed to delete my photos from my camera. Today would be different and I would guard my photos with my life! This park is simply, in one word, beautiful. It has now been taken over by oil workers and is a staging area for the South Walton end of the beach. The views are breathtaking and the park offers bathroom facilities and a shower to rinse off for beachgoers and cabins for weekend visitors. I would love to spend a few days there!

When I was a child and a Girl Scout, Camp Helen was a place we would go to as a troop during the summer along with other troops from the area. I can remember one huge building where we slept in our bedrolls and had our sing-a-longs. While at the camp, we would work on several badges and I can remember, quite vividly, learning how to make beef stew in a coffee can. Camp Helen today is much different than I remember and I am not sure it was even called Camp Helen back then but it is now a state park and is accessible by all. It is a wonderful place to visit by car or by boat and has become a favorite kayaking spot for us this summer.

Returning to the boat ramp was relaxing and calm with a mild wind. We were all tired and sunburned but it had been a fun day. Everyday I get to kayak is the best day for me. If the weather is less than optimal, we can still make something of our day. If the weather is perfect, the day is just that much sweeter. Regardless, kayaking calms me, reenergizes me, reconnects me and most importantly, soothes my soul. I have learned to appreciate our waters and beaches so much more this summer due to the oil crisis and make no mistake, I will never take any of it for granted again. We are so blessed to live in Bay County with all that it offers. We have explored so much of it by land and by water and the treasures we have here are simply incredible!

Hopefully, we can survive the rest of the summer without a major impact from the oil. All we can do is hope and pray. We have been told if we can survive into August, we may escape the worst of it. Each day brings new news, some good, some bad. I hold my breath more often now, hoping BP will get this right and the oil will stop flowing and the huge undertaking of cleaning up the Gulf can begin. This has been traumatic for so many and the worst is not yet over. So, do your part, keep our beaches clean, report any oil you see and enjoy what we are truly blessed to have here!

THREE FOR ONE

This weekend was particularly special as far as kayaking goes. We had three different experiences, all in one weekend, going from one extreme to the other. Kayaking with friends and having a blast.

Saturday was our designated Crooked Island Sound day. We had planned all week to go, still making every effort to go every weekend when possible before the oil hits. We were up early, loaded and on the road. The wind was a southwesterly wind this weekend and we knew things might be rough. Going into the sound we met our friends, Beth and Steve. They were leaving because they said the water was too rough to cross. We talked with them for a few minutes and then headed to the landing to see for ourselves. They were right, white caps and a lot of wind. So, now what? Plan B. They were heading to Chipola River so we decided to tag along with them. We had never been so this would be a new experience.

We launched from the park on Hwy. 20 and paddled up stream. The current was calm and the scenery beautiful. The river was not as clear as I had hoped but there were pretty white sandy beaches along the way which made for great rest stops and a perfect place for a picnic lunch. There were very few houses along the river which surprised us. We saw a lot of limestone rocks along the banks which were great to look at and explore. We paddled several miles until the afternoon thunderstorms made their grand entrance and under an overhanging tree we went. As soon as the storm passed, we paddled a bit further up stream until we heard another storm approaching. We decided to turn around and head back to the landing. We still aren't sold on river kayaking but is was a nice change.

We had planned earlier in the week to return to Lake Powell on Sunday. Now with a westerly wind, we knew the water might be rough but we were going. We had been there on July 4 and had a good time and enjoyed paddling to the Gulf and walking on the beach. At the landing, we noticed the lake was down. That meant the lake had either broken through to the Gulf or they had dredged the pass to let the lake drain down. As we got closer to the beach, we could see that a pass had emerged and there was clear access to the Gulf. With the west wind, the Gulf was rough and pushing water into the inlet along with a high tide. The current was strong but we eventually made it to the beach.

So far no oil on the beach but there were plenty of oil workers, National Guard troops, airplanes and helicopters on the beach. I describe it as a war zone, as if we are under attack and in a way, I suppose we are, from BP and the ever spilling oil. We enjoyed walking down the beach but let me say, the beach is not as beautiful as before and it isn't from any oil but from the constant bombardment of four-wheeled vehicles cruising the beach. I know we will have to endure this situation for years to come and that is sad. Our beaches are in horrible shape right now and the oil has not even arrived. I can't imagine what they will look like once the oil does come.

We had lunch on the beach and then packed up to head back to the landing. With the west wind blowing so strongly today, we popped our sails and sailed straight back to the landing. We love when we get a chance to use our sails!

The weekend was fantastic. Mostly great weather, a river trip with friends, a lake trip, another peek at the oil-free Gulf and a chance to sail. What more could we have asked for? Not a thing!

BOAT HEAD

Boat Head: the sensation one gets while sitting completely still after being in rolling swells for hours in the beautiful Gulf of Mexico.

Day 68 of the BP oil spill and we are still oil free along our beaches and in our section of the Gulf. A few tar balls is all we have seen, thank goodness. Another fantastic weekend and today was another gorgeous day on the water in our kayaks. God has surely blessed us for at least one more weekend!

We spent the day at Crooked Island, where else? With a prevailing south wind, the paddle across to the east side was flat and calm, except for those rolling swells coming in from the Gulf. The booms were out across the sound and the oil workers are ever present these days. We skipped landing on the beach and headed straight out the pass into the Gulf and toward Mexico Beach. The water was perfect and today was the day to admire the awesome clouds forming back over land. We have marveled at some incredible cloud formations while
on the water in the past few years and today was no exception. The clouds started banking up early and by the afternoon, we could hear thunderstorms coming.

Paddling down the east side of the sound today was just as gorgeous as previous weekends. Last weekend the Gulf was flat, today rolling swells. We commented to each other that we would both have boat head today after being on the swells. We aren't sure if it is the rolling swells that cause the boat head or the amount of time we spend in the kayaks in the open water. We don't seem to experience boat head if we remain inland, only if we are out in the Gulf.

The tarpon fishermen were out early and scoping the sandbars for the illusive fish. We had seen several schools of tarpon last weekend and hoped we would see some again today. We spotted several sea turtles while paddling down the shoreline but they are so shy. Once you spot one, he is quick to duck underwater. Pelicans were floating in the Gulf, enjoying the swells. Dolphins were feeding in the emerald waters. We paddled a couple miles down the beach and then turned around to head back to the pass. While heading back, Jr. spotted a school of unidentified fish and cast out into them. He soon landed one but we weren't sure what it was. He let it go and caught another one and then another. He finally decided they were Ladyfish. Great little fighters and fun to catch!

As we neared the pass, the cell phone rang and it was our kayaking friends who were coming out to meet us. We paddled across the pass to the west side and met up with them on the beach. After a quick lunch and short trip down the beach to look for shells, the Gulf was again calling us to come play. So out we all went, this time to the west. The tarpon fishermen were still out and annoyed with us although we were nowhere near them to disturb their fishing. We paddled around and out to the "pretty" water and indeed did spot three tarpon. Jr. was behind us and spotted several more. He is now determined to get the proper rod, reel, and bait to try to catch one of those big fellows. What a great catch that would be out of his kayak!

We paddled back in and landed on the beach to swim and snorkel a bit. The thunderstorms were growing but nowhere near us. Our friends left before us, heading back to the landing. We made another trip down the beach to shell hunt and saw a new sea turtle nest. We have seen five just on the west side of the sound in the past few weeks. After our walk, it was time to head in. The storms were brewing and it was getting late.

It was another perfect day on the water, one we no longer take for granted since the oil spill. We now cherish every day we get to go out, when the water is still clean and pure and the beaches spoiled only by a bit of sea grass. We do not know what each day will bring to the Gulf or beaches here or what impact the oil will have once it arrives. It is not a matter of IF any longer, but WHEN. So, we plan our next trip, hoping the one we just made wasn't our last. My boat head is subsiding as I write this and my kayak is ready to go again. Let's hope for those southeast winds that have been kind to us so far to keep that nasty oil away!

HEAVEN

As summer has approached and the oil has crept even closer to our area, we have decided to kayak as much as possible before we are not allowed to do so any longer. This past weekend, we kayaked both Saturday and Sunday. We went to our usual spot, Crooked Island Sound. Natural Resources with Tyndall Air Force Base has been monitoring the oil situation and we were told once the pass is closed, Crooked Island Sound will be closed by Tyndall. Every weekend since the explosion and as the oil has moved further east, we have held our breath hoping we would get one more chance to kayak in our little slice of Heaven.

Saturday was gorgeous and we spent time on both the west and east sides of the sound. We saw several sea turtles including some rather small ones, a couple of manta rays and a family of dolphins that swam so close to us we could see and hear them blowing. There has been oil boom located on the beaches for many weeks now and today, everything was calm and no sign of oil or workers. We paddled out into the Gulf to the second sandbar where the water was so incredibly beautiful it is hard to describe. I didn't want to leave and in fact, several boats approached us to see if we were okay.

Sunday was even better than the day before. If there has ever been a perfect kayaking day, this was it. The morning began with a north wind which kept the sound flat. We were able to pop our WindPaddle sails and sailed over to the east side. As we approached the shore, we could see several boats and many oil workers tending the boom. This was serious and very disturbing to see. We pulled our kayaks on shore and walked down the beach to look for shells. Rounding the point we came across a piece of charred styrofoam. Believing it may have come from the Deep Water Horizon or at least had floated through the fire in the Gulf, we called the oil workers over where they examined it and then called another crew to come look at it and then a hazmat crew came to bag it up. All this took place in about a 15 minute period. I was amazed at how quickly they handled the situation. We continued our walk down the Gulf beach and upon returning discovered an oil covered plastic bottle. Jr. picked it up and once back to our kayaks, we put it in a plastic bag and he took it over to the workers. He was told he should not have picked the bottle up but by gosh, we were not going to just leave it on the beach.

We left the beach and headed out into the Gulf. With the north wind still in control, the Gulf look more like a lake than an ocean. We paddled around the pass and saw several huge schools of rain minnows and Jr. tried to fish. We paddled further down the island, toward Shell Island, just enjoying the calm water and beautiful scenery along the shore. About half way down, we spotted a school of fish, large fish. At first we thought they might be sharks. We paddled faster to catch up to them and upon reaching them discovered they were tarpon. I had never seen a tarpon up close and personal and that is the most amazing large fish I have ever seen. To me, they looked like gigantic mullet! We chased them several more times and saw several schools of them. Exhausted, we finally left them alone and continued with our paddling down the Gulf. We saw a sand shark a bit later and a sea turtle.

Feeling hunger and tired, we found a place to stop on the beach to have our lunch. The beach was beautiful and this was the farthest west we had ever paddled before. We were so proud of ourselves! We ate lunch, fished a little, looked for shells and swam in the clear, warm Gulf water and hoped it would not be our last time. Back in our kayaks, we headed to the landing and I must say, the trip back was just as beautiful. About half way back, we were on a sandbar and decided to see if we were in the water, could we get back in our kayaks. We named this exercise, Evacuation & Recovery or in more crude terms, falling out and getting your ass back in. The water was about chest deep on me and I voluntarily jumped out into the water. For the record, I have never fallen out of my boat, never felt like I was going to fall out of my boat and never plan to fall out of my boat, but this exercise could become necessary at some point, you just never know. I climbed back in from the side and it wasn't easy or pretty but I did it. I then jumped out again and climbed onto the back and straddled the boat as if I was riding a horse and shimmied my way up to my seat. Again, not pretty but a bit easier although the bruises on my legs tell a different story. I now know, if necessary, I can get back in my kayak safely and quickly.

Onward we paddled, back to the pass. The wind had picked up and shifted more from the southwest. Once we reached the pass, we centered ourselves in the pass and popped our sails again and sailed straight back to the landing. The perfect ending to a perfect day. As kayaking trips go, this was the ultimate for us. We had spent the entire day in the Gulf and paddled about 10 miles in the most beautiful, incredibly gorgeous emerald water one can imagine. The thought of it being spoiled by the oil sickens me. I am so thankful to have experienced the beauty of the Gulf for at least one more day. We all take the Gulf for granted and if and when the oil is stopped and the clean up process begins, I hope we will come to realize just how fortunate we are to live where we live. We need to take better care of our environment. I may never see the water like that again in my lifetime but I will enjoy it every minute I can until it is no longer possible.

WAKULLA RIVER

Our 2010 kayaking season has begun and we ventured out early this year, way before baseball season was over. We have Florida State University season tickets and we didn't make it to very many games this year because we started kayaking so early. Normally, we begin kayaking after turkey season ends and after the regular college baseball season ends. However, we have discovered that the water and beaches are gorgeous in the early spring when it is still cool enough for a jacket but warm in the sun.

One of our spring trips was a trip to the Wakulla River. A friend had suggested this trip to me and I did my research of the river and places to launch and where we would go. We left early on a Saturday morning driving toward Tallahassee to the bridge at Highway 98 that crossed the river. This is known as the Lower Bridge. The water was cool and clear and this would be our first trip in fresh water.

We started our paddle upstream on the river. There was barely a flow downstream and the water was clear enough to see mullet, crabs, other fishes, turtles and all sorts of plant life. The river is fed from Wakulla Springs which is up the river, above the Upper Bridge and is not accessible from the river itself by boaters. The river is being choked by an invasive water plant as are most of the rivers in Florida. A few weeks before, a herbicide was dumped in the spring area to control the growth of the plant and you could see the dying remnants along the river's edges. The dead mush would eventually end up in the Gulf of Mexico but for now, it was the perfect resting place for turtles and baby alligators.

The paddle upstream to the Upper Bridge is about 3 miles and is slow and relaxing with no wind to worry about. The water is flat and calm, unlike the waters we are used to in the bays and Gulf. This was all so new to us but wonderful to experience. We saw many other kayaks and canoes along the way and the most beautiful trees, cypress stumps and blooming water lilies along both banks.

We knew of the manatees in the river and hoped we would see at least one. About half way up the river we saw our first manatee, a juvenile manatee who had already encountered a boat propeller. As we neared the Upper Bridge, several people told us there was a family of manatees at the bridge. Sure enough, we came upon a mother, a juvenile and a baby. The baby was so friendly and loved our blue kayaks, swimming under them and even stopping to scratch his head on Jr.'s rudder. We enjoyed watching them so much and they were no more afraid of humans than we are of them. They are slow and docile which explains how easily it is for them to be hit by motor boats.

We left the manatees and began our trip back down river. With the slow current, it was unnecessary to paddle so we mostly just floated along, spotting a few more manatees along the way. Everyone along the river was so nice and friendly and we had the best time. As much as we love the saltwater, we have a new admiration for the freshwater side of Florida. We will certainly be visiting our friends on the river again.

FROM THE BEGINNING

I never thought I would see myself floating in the Gulf of Mexico in a 14-foot, very narrow, very shallow piece of molded plastic. However, three years ago that all changed when we bought our first kayaks. We had seen a man fishing out of a kayak in our bay and my husband and I thought it was something we might like to try. He loves to hunt, I love to sew, but this was something we could do together.

We started out with 10-foot Pelican kayaks from Sports Authority. We paddled around our bayou and bay and fell in love. Although they were not the best kayaks, they did give us the chance to try kayaking before spending a lot of money. Those kayaks lasted maybe a week and we were down to our local canoe shop seeing what was available on a much grander scale.

In 2008, we purchased a 14-foot Wilderness Systems Tarpon for my husband and a 12-foot
Wilderness Systems Pungo for myself. We decked ourselves out in life vests, paddles, Tilley hats, and all the gear needed to have a safe kayaking trip. We were set. Let the adventures begin! We kayaked several times a week and visited all areas of North Bay and West Bay, going in the afternoons after work and paddling until dark. We had found the perfect activity that we could both enjoy. Life was great!

The following summer, we ventured out toward Redfish Point and Shell Island. One Saturday we launched close to the City Marina and paddled all the way to the island. I think it ended up being about an 11-mile trip, the longest trip we had ever attempted. We were exhausted but it was wonderful and we had gained much more experience and felt so much more relaxed in our kayaks. We took the kayaks to Port St. Joe and Apalachicola that summer and enjoyed the new surroundings but nothing can match our local waters.

Last summer, we discovered Crooked Island Sound. Let me just say, this place is a little slice of Heaven. It is located on Tyndall Air Force Base and has the whitest sand and the clearest waters you will ever see. There is Gulf access out the pass and beaches galore to explore. We launched at the boat ramp and although the paddling can be difficult and long depending on the prevailing winds, it is well worth the effort once you reach your destination. We explored every beach of this magnificent place from the east side, across the pass, to the west side and even out into the Gulf. One of our favorite trips to make is out the pass and down the west side to the far end. We then carry our kayaks across the beach to the sound side and paddle back. We eventually stumbled across a much easier launch at Buck Beach which provides for a 10-minute paddle across to the island which means we spend less time in the kayaks and more time exploring.

Crooked Island is covered in shells of every description and we have become expert shell hunters. The spring is the best time for collecting shells as they are fresh from the winter and have not been run over by the four wheelers of the bird and sea turtle watchers. Crooked Island is also home to many nesting birds and of course, sea turtles. Areas are blocked off each season from early spring through August for these nesting species. It is a fine balance between humans and creatures but it works and all the humans seem to abide by the rules and the birds and turtles stay safe.

This summer has brought much sadness to our area with the explosion of the Deep Water Horizon oil rig and subsequent oil flood that is presently endangering every aspect of the Gulf of Mexico and all that we hold sacred. As of this date, we are only seeing debris and tar balls on our beaches. However, just west of us, they are experiencing large deposits of pudding-like oil on their beaches. The cost to our environment will never be realized and our white beaches and emerald waters will be soiled for generations to come, not to mention our bays and marshes that are so important to baby sea life. No one can fathom the destruction this oil disaster is going to cause as it will last much longer than many of us will ever live.

So in an attempt to keep kayaking in our life, despite the oil, we are planning several river trips. We have experienced the Wakulla River this spring and the manatees that live there. We loved it! We are checking into the Chipola River and the Suwanee River as well. However, once you have experienced the salt life, you are hooked and nothing can ever compare. I was born and raised right here in Bay County and practically grew up on a boat experiencing all this area has to offer from St. Andrews Bay, to the Gulf, to Shell Island and points from Pensacola to the Bahamas. It may be that the rivers will become our only source of clean water to paddle in, but until that happens, we will continue to enjoy the saltwater around us.

We have fallen in love with our area waters and even more with kayaking. A friend of mine says kayaking soothes the soul and I'm not sure if it is the kayaking that does this or the environment you paddle in. Just looking at the photos we have taken while paddling in the Gulf of Mexico or along the shores of the sound and bays, one can clearly see the tranquility provided by the water. I have returned to my youth in my kayak and can't wait for kayak season to come again each spring. We look forward to the arrival of the nesting sea turtles and can't wait to see our first pod of dolphins. Our best days are spent just floating in the Gulf waiting for something interesting to swim by or just enjoying the incredible color of the water. The Salt Life is our life now and as long as permitted, we will keep paddling!

As the summer goes on, we will have many more adventures to share with you............