{"id":9519,"date":"2023-01-30T12:58:00","date_gmt":"2023-01-30T17:58:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/richard.rathe.org\/?p=9519"},"modified":"2023-09-16T08:27:44","modified_gmt":"2023-09-16T13:27:44","slug":"everglades-kayak-trip-2023","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/redmangrove.org\/rathe.org\/richard\/2023\/everglades-kayak-trip-2023","title":{"rendered":"Everglades Kayak Trip 2023"},"content":{"rendered":"
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map source: nps.gov (click to enlarge)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

This year we returned to the northern<\/strong> part of the park. The original plan had been a “grand tour” loop with two beach sites and two chickees. However, the forecast was calling for high winds<\/em><\/strong> on the last two days where we would be exposed out on the Gulf of Mexico<\/strong>. On the drive down I called and amended our permit to camp at Lopez River<\/strong> on the last night. [Photo Gallery<\/a>]<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Day 1 (Rabbit Key)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

We left a day after the new moon<\/strong> (the beginning of the lunar Year of the Rabbit<\/strong>) so the tide was especially low. We had to motor through the mud with our legs to get out to where there was enough water to float. We would later have to fight an incoming tide going through Sandfly Pass<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Sandfly Island & Pass<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

We did a bit of walking around the old homestead and saw what was left of the old cistern and artesian well<\/strong>. Also saw our first dolphin<\/strong> fishing along the shore there.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Carl At The Well<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Soon afterward my drive failed<\/em><\/strong> (while fighting the current of course!). Specifically one of the “flippers” delaminated and pulled away from the steel rod that supports it. Thus started a series of field repairs (outlined below) as we continued to limp along out to Rabbit Key<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Rabbit Key at Sunset<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The best campsites have moved around over the years as hurricanes have remodeled the island<\/strong>. Our usual site in front of the sand spit (left point above) was taken so we explored a site further down near the high tide line<\/strong>. The only problem was the central tree was broken and stunted so we were hanging pretty low with ground cloths under our butts. The breeze blew all night so there were no bugs.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Rabbit Key Campsite (click to enlarge)<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

The next day when the tide was out we took a walk around our little isle. Because of the recent new moon the Horseshoe Crabs<\/strong> (Limulus polyphemus) were about.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Ring of Horseshoe Crab Shells<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n
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One Tough Mangrove!<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Field Repairs<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

I used duct tape<\/strong> for my first attempt to repair my drive. This lasted about an hour. The adhesive would not stand up to submersion in salt water.<\/em> Next I tried a mummy wrap with paracord<\/strong>. This worked better, but the bottom knot kept falling off. On the second day I cut out strips of plastic water bottle<\/strong> and attached these with rope using scaffold knots<\/strong><\/em>. [Click for Example<\/a>] This did the trick and I was able to complete the trip<\/strong> — peddling all the way!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Selected Video Clips<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
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