Post by zeke on Apr 2, 2016 10:34:18 GMT -8
I set out on this trip to fill in some of my experiences in the Everglades NP. There were a few spots on the map that I intended to visit, so I set off Monday about noon for Everglades City. I arrived a bit later than planned, because of some traffic, but they still let me get my permit at 4:15 even though they were supposed to be closing the register. The office closed at 4:30. I got 5 nights of my preferred route: Pavilion Key, Hog Key, Highland Beach, then back to Hog, and Pavilion. Pavilion was the only doubt I had because it is very popular and the limit is reached often, mostly on the weekends.
Permit in hand for the next morning, I set out to buy some ice for the 2 beers I brought with me, and then ate dinner in a local fish house I have visited on other trips here. After dinner, I headed back to the park to sit in my car, drink 2 beers, and eventually sleep in the parking lot. No campgrounds here, so I couldn’t set up the tent. The mosquitoes were bad enough I didn’t want to open the windows, so I ran the AC from time to time until the night cooled down. I still woke up twice to restart the car and cool it off with the AC for a short blast. Tuesday morning, I headed off to breakfast and returned to the boat ramp. All packed up and paddling by 8:40. High tide was at 7, so it helped pull me out to sea through the channel. Turning SSE, I could see Pavilion off in the distance once I cleared Rabbit Key. Pulled in to Pavilion at 11:40, and there were 3 college aged couples on the beach. I sat, ate lunch, and pondered my options. I have never been good at just sitting on a sunny beach, or any other too sunny place. I burn and peel, burn and peel. Decided to continue on my merry way.
The wind and waves were mostly behind me, so I managed to get another 5 miles or so behind me before I decided to call it a day. That made it 12 to Pavilion, and the added 5 for a total of 17. I wanted to beach the kayak on the South side of the island, but had to wait for high tide to move it across a small spit of sandbar. After that, the weather changed and dark black clouds rolled in. I got high winds, but no moisture. Just as happy, as the winds made it nice to sit out for dinner, what with keeping the biting bugs at bay. Shortly after mealtime, the sky cleared and I ducked inside the tent for the evening. I had cell service, sort of, so I called M and Roger. Sometimes they could hear me, and some not.
Wednesday morning, I got a late start, and set off at 9. I knew it was going to be a short day. 2 hours, and about 8 miles, I went by my permitted camp. Was I going to stop at 11AM? Nope. So, I set off for Highland Beach. 2 more hours, and another 7 miles found me looking for campsites. Continued paddling 2 additional miles until I reached Broad River, which is where I was 4 years ago. Returning to the beach, I picked a stand of palm trees to see what kind of campsite was to be had between them. I was not the first one to use them, as there were strings set up for clotheslines, and some leftover wood for a fire. After setting up my camp, I went about removing all signs of others occupation. Then, I just sat and enjoyed the scenery until I was bitten a few times too many and retreated to my tent. As the sun set, I could hear the No-see-ums swarming above my screens, and I watched the sunset from the safety of my screens. Each time I awoke during the night, I could hear the sound of no-see-ums buzzing my screens.
In the morning, there were almost a million little neighbors waiting to welcome me to their block. I packed up all of the gear inside the tent, and once I left the safety of those confines I ran for the beach. I could see a couple of hundred of them on my shirt, so I took a refreshing dip in the Gulf. That rinsed me clean of those, so i ran up to the tent, grabbed it by the framework, and carried it off to the beach where the breeze would aid me. I took another quick dip in the water, and finished packing the boat. I was paddling by 9, since I had waited so long to exit the safety of my abode. I knew I would not want to stop in 2 hours at Hog, so Pavilion became my goal. 19 miles, with a wind behind me, but the 2-3 foot swells coming from the West, directly off my port side.Having already crossed this way once, I found my return a bit slow for my liking. Took a 45 minute lunch on Plover Key, and continued along my way. I landed on Pavilion about 3, and had the place to myself. It was windy enough to keep all of the bugs away, so I sat out in my chair and enjoyed the afternoon. Took a leisurely swim, ate some chips, drank some lemonade, and watched some birds. The crows wanted my stuff, so I had to keep an eye on them anytime I went in the water.
Along about dusk, the wind died and the 'skeeters paid a visit. I declined their company and shut my door in their faces. I woke up Friday morning, still alone and with enough wind to keep the neighbors away. I packed up early and set off to make the landing before tide changed at 12. 12 miles and 3 hours later, all was well. On the overall trip, I saw porpoises, a loggerhead turtle, a 4 foot sand shark hunting the shallows, and about 100 rays ranging from 3 foot and smaller. It is the season for mating and birthing rays. I also had something give a big exhale behind me, with a big splash to accompany it. Never saw what it was, so I didn't figure it to be dangerous. It was close enough to startle me though.
I knew I was favored by good weather, with the wind changing 180° just when I turned for home. I had it mostly at my back for the entire trip. Also had mostly blue skies for paddling, with a little cloudiness on Day 1. An additional benefit, as I get used to open water kayaking, was I had the tide favoring me as well. Day 1, High Tide was at 7, just as I wanted it to be taking me out to sea as it withdrew. Each day, the Tide shifted about an hour, so I had late enough highs to aid me in launching my boat, and not occurring at 3 AM as has happened so many times in the past. I do not like launching out through 100 yards of mud before I can float the kayak. My last day allowed me to return to shore on an incoming tide, and it would’ve been even later if I had stuck to the permit. I had not completely ignored the tide charts, but was more than happy to have them favorable.
I will add pictures as I get them to a host.
Permit in hand for the next morning, I set out to buy some ice for the 2 beers I brought with me, and then ate dinner in a local fish house I have visited on other trips here. After dinner, I headed back to the park to sit in my car, drink 2 beers, and eventually sleep in the parking lot. No campgrounds here, so I couldn’t set up the tent. The mosquitoes were bad enough I didn’t want to open the windows, so I ran the AC from time to time until the night cooled down. I still woke up twice to restart the car and cool it off with the AC for a short blast. Tuesday morning, I headed off to breakfast and returned to the boat ramp. All packed up and paddling by 8:40. High tide was at 7, so it helped pull me out to sea through the channel. Turning SSE, I could see Pavilion off in the distance once I cleared Rabbit Key. Pulled in to Pavilion at 11:40, and there were 3 college aged couples on the beach. I sat, ate lunch, and pondered my options. I have never been good at just sitting on a sunny beach, or any other too sunny place. I burn and peel, burn and peel. Decided to continue on my merry way.
The wind and waves were mostly behind me, so I managed to get another 5 miles or so behind me before I decided to call it a day. That made it 12 to Pavilion, and the added 5 for a total of 17. I wanted to beach the kayak on the South side of the island, but had to wait for high tide to move it across a small spit of sandbar. After that, the weather changed and dark black clouds rolled in. I got high winds, but no moisture. Just as happy, as the winds made it nice to sit out for dinner, what with keeping the biting bugs at bay. Shortly after mealtime, the sky cleared and I ducked inside the tent for the evening. I had cell service, sort of, so I called M and Roger. Sometimes they could hear me, and some not.
Wednesday morning, I got a late start, and set off at 9. I knew it was going to be a short day. 2 hours, and about 8 miles, I went by my permitted camp. Was I going to stop at 11AM? Nope. So, I set off for Highland Beach. 2 more hours, and another 7 miles found me looking for campsites. Continued paddling 2 additional miles until I reached Broad River, which is where I was 4 years ago. Returning to the beach, I picked a stand of palm trees to see what kind of campsite was to be had between them. I was not the first one to use them, as there were strings set up for clotheslines, and some leftover wood for a fire. After setting up my camp, I went about removing all signs of others occupation. Then, I just sat and enjoyed the scenery until I was bitten a few times too many and retreated to my tent. As the sun set, I could hear the No-see-ums swarming above my screens, and I watched the sunset from the safety of my screens. Each time I awoke during the night, I could hear the sound of no-see-ums buzzing my screens.
In the morning, there were almost a million little neighbors waiting to welcome me to their block. I packed up all of the gear inside the tent, and once I left the safety of those confines I ran for the beach. I could see a couple of hundred of them on my shirt, so I took a refreshing dip in the Gulf. That rinsed me clean of those, so i ran up to the tent, grabbed it by the framework, and carried it off to the beach where the breeze would aid me. I took another quick dip in the water, and finished packing the boat. I was paddling by 9, since I had waited so long to exit the safety of my abode. I knew I would not want to stop in 2 hours at Hog, so Pavilion became my goal. 19 miles, with a wind behind me, but the 2-3 foot swells coming from the West, directly off my port side.Having already crossed this way once, I found my return a bit slow for my liking. Took a 45 minute lunch on Plover Key, and continued along my way. I landed on Pavilion about 3, and had the place to myself. It was windy enough to keep all of the bugs away, so I sat out in my chair and enjoyed the afternoon. Took a leisurely swim, ate some chips, drank some lemonade, and watched some birds. The crows wanted my stuff, so I had to keep an eye on them anytime I went in the water.
Along about dusk, the wind died and the 'skeeters paid a visit. I declined their company and shut my door in their faces. I woke up Friday morning, still alone and with enough wind to keep the neighbors away. I packed up early and set off to make the landing before tide changed at 12. 12 miles and 3 hours later, all was well. On the overall trip, I saw porpoises, a loggerhead turtle, a 4 foot sand shark hunting the shallows, and about 100 rays ranging from 3 foot and smaller. It is the season for mating and birthing rays. I also had something give a big exhale behind me, with a big splash to accompany it. Never saw what it was, so I didn't figure it to be dangerous. It was close enough to startle me though.
I knew I was favored by good weather, with the wind changing 180° just when I turned for home. I had it mostly at my back for the entire trip. Also had mostly blue skies for paddling, with a little cloudiness on Day 1. An additional benefit, as I get used to open water kayaking, was I had the tide favoring me as well. Day 1, High Tide was at 7, just as I wanted it to be taking me out to sea as it withdrew. Each day, the Tide shifted about an hour, so I had late enough highs to aid me in launching my boat, and not occurring at 3 AM as has happened so many times in the past. I do not like launching out through 100 yards of mud before I can float the kayak. My last day allowed me to return to shore on an incoming tide, and it would’ve been even later if I had stuck to the permit. I had not completely ignored the tide charts, but was more than happy to have them favorable.
I will add pictures as I get them to a host.
