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............