PARADISE PADDLERS KAYAK & CANOE CLUB

NEWS

By Monica Woll

The annual holiday party during the Key Largo Boat parade was a great time as usual. Over 30 club members attended bearing all kinds of goodies to share. Fifteen of us decorated our canoes and kayaks, paddling “pre-parade” so as not to interfere with the power boats. Since I registered us this year, we actually won an award for our efforts: Most Original Runner Up! Thanks to Sharon and Cynthia who helped plan the party and to Bruce and Barbara Meyer who came early to set up. Big thanks to Betsy Barnicle and Natasha Pyle who stayed after to help cleanup! If you missed this annual event, you can read about it below!

Betsy Barnicle – photo by F. Baron

Every year I like to thank the members that actively participated in the club either by offering trips or writing articles for the newsletter. There is no way we here at FBO could do this alone with our long hours and other projects such as the paddling trail. In 2004, Keith & Nancy Wellman and James Bryan both offered 3 trips. Lou Greenwell, Claudia Schmid, Candice Castle, Ruthelen Spitzer and Scott Tracy each offered two trips. If everyone in the club offered just one trip a year – we would have so much to choose from! Thanks for doing that go out to: Dee Bower, Steve O’Brien, Mary Parrott, Wally Bender, Kathy Welch, Judy McGraw and Brian Singer. Sandy Kramer, who organized Scampers (Single Campers) always invites Paradise Paddlers to join her camping trips and Bill Keogh, a member who owns Big Pine Kayaking, has invited club members to join him on his sunset/moonrise trips on several occasions. Greg from the shop offered his workout sessions that a few competitive club members took him up on. If I have forgotten someone it is probably because your trip didn’t get posted in the newsletter, so thanks to all of you that did last-minute trips that were posted by email! That is also appreciated and gives you that last minute chance to find paddling partners.

Those that wrote several articles each in 2004 were: the Wellmans, Frank Baron and Mary Burnham. Patrick Linfors kept us posted on the Castaways Against Cancer pre- and post-trip. Those that sent in one article are just as appreciated: Cecil Broome, Bill Burnham, Mary Parrott, Pat Moss, Mark Homburg, Cynthia Augustyn, Candice Castle, Sharon Alvarado and Arnold Kuenzler. James Hessler and Rick Bartoli were both regular contributors to our Gearheads column. Cynthia Boerner tried her hand at a boat review, something I’d like to see more of. For those closet journal-keepers out there, write up your favorite paddling spot and become a published writer!

Paradise Paddlers have consistently had a big showing at races and other paddling events around the state, such as the multiclub picnic in May and the annual paddlers gathering in October. As paddlers, we need to attend events by those who are promoting our sport so that they keep planning them. If you attended any of these events, you are an ambassador for Paradise Paddlers, and for the sport in general! If you hear of anything, it is always appreciated if you forward any info to me so I can post on our Bulletin Board or email it out to other members and even FBO customers.

After talking to several club members, I decided that this newsletter would become a bimonthly publication. It is a lot of time and effort on my part to publish one so this really helps me out (and cuts down on my begging as we approach deadline for each issue). I got a lot of positive feedback about the color issue last month, an accident by the printer, so we will be able to do color issues with the savings in mailing.

Thanks to those of you who sent in your renewal. The deadline is at the club table at the Paddling Festival on Feb 5&6 to ensure you will get a Paradise Paddlers sticker! You can get the renewal form online if you didn’t save your December issue. New passwords to view the Members Only section on the website are: “paddling” & “club.” (Don’t’ use the quotation marks – I just put those in to show the 2 separate parts of the password).

Well, I hope everyone has plans for more paddling in the New Year. We have a couple big events coming up soon: FBO’s Florida Keys Paddling Festival featuring the Bogey & Bacall Classic Kayak & Canoe races, which most club members attend either to demo boats or race. It’s a great time to meet lots of fellow members. If you would like to volunteer, benefits include an event t-shirt and a free ticket to the beach party Saturday night. Contact Frank or myself if you can help!

On February 15^th is the 2^nd Annual Step Up, Florida! This statewide fitness event is sponsored by the State Health Department. This was a lot of fun last year. We got a big group together at the last minute so with this early notice, mark your calendars and plan ahead to join us on our paddle from FBO to Alabama Jack’s where we will be passing the conch to Dade County participants (see Bulletin Board for more details). Last year we were the only county in Florida that paddled!

Thanks again to all members and here’s to a happy and healthy New Year in which we all fulfill our paddling dreams and goals!

TRAIL UPDATES By Monica Woll

Doug Alderson, state coordinator for the Florida Circumnavigation Saltwater Paddling Trail gave me the title of official section coordinator of the Florida Keys part of this statewide effort. This means that I will be working closely with him as he does his research and works with Debra Stucki of the Florida Keys Overseas Heritage Trail.

After his trip here in November, he came up with a draft brochure for our section. It should be ready soon to print a preliminary guide. He wrote to the owners of Tavernier Key and Molasses Key to hopefully set up some type of agreement with them to permit camping. That will probably be a wait-and-see thing.

Debra & I are planning several bike-kayak events in the Lower Keys and Long Key and possibly something in the Upper Keys although there isn’t much completed in the Key Largo area yet (see Bulletin Board for details of these events).

The trail logo is being made into stickers by Debra to be used on her Overseas Heritage Trail signs. Rich Jones with Monroe County also will be posting it on his signs restricting power boats at Veradero Beach in Key Largo. A logo is a big step toward educating the public about the trail - look for t-shirts at FBO soon!

FBO customer Tracy Grissett just paddled from Key Largo to Key West, staying in some unoffial sites, at Seashells Resort in Grassy Key and ending at the Sheraton in Key West. If you would like to read his trip report and see his photo album, check out his website at: http://www.geocities.com/vwcbiker/florida.htm

TRIP REPORTS

Holiday Party & Boat Parade By Frank Baron

A week of fretting about what the weather would bring turned out to be wasted energy as Saturday, December 18^th turned out to be a delightfully pleasant afternoon and evening at FBO. We spoke with our friends Bill & Marianne Solms of Pinecrest, who’d preceded us southbound from the Big City, and who were going to sign up for Paradise Paddlers as soon as they found the shop. When we all finally made it to the shop, I walked in, said hi to Frank and Monica, and Greg, and Joel, all of whom were managing to squeeze behind the counter to take care of business. The shop was decorated in Christmas reds and greens, with stockings hung by the rafters with care, in hopes that Santa Paddle-Claus soon would be there…

Bill & Marianne signed up for the club, Sally & I renewed once again, and Marianne, so enthralled with her new sport, bought a kayaking Santa ornament for their tree. We all checked out all the stuff in the shop, and it looked to me like they had that deer-in-the-headlights look that a lot of us get when we go into a place like that filled to the rafters with goodies!

Over 30 Paradise Paddlers gathered at the Tiki Hut behind the store to feast on an array of cold cuts, salads, sides, and scrumptious sweets, all abetted by a well-stocked cooler and barrell-top bar. Barbara Meyer, resplendent in holiday red, was handing out name tags. I loaded up my plate with a fish salad sandwich, a few sides, some great salad, and made my way to the cooler. Upon not finding any more diet colas, I was forced to make do with a Sam Adams (tough life!), and went down to join Bill, Marianne, and Sally on the waterfront.

Before feasting, I’d taken a lot of pics of the Paradise Paddler Parade Paddlecraft lined up on the path to the beach with my Fuji digicam. It was an impressive array of creative ideas. Sally was seated in one of our portable chairs, and I joined her and Bill & Marianne as the Paradise Paddlers put finishing touches on their boats and prepared to launch.

Santa (Dave from FBO) got in his big, wide-beam, appropriately red canoe. It had a large prancing, red-nosed glowing Rudolph at the prow, and sponson stabilizers at the sides, which allowed him to launch sans paddle! (Santa, you old elf, you used a trolling motor, you jolly cheat )! Lisette and Michael, in their cool red & green glow light-lit boats, with messages written on the bottom (more on that later) launched, followed one by one by the rest of the fleet. There was James Hessler in his Christmas green kayak decked out with a Santa-togged Christmas tree, and in a yellow kayak adorned with garland upon garland of sparkling holly illuminated with holiday lights, Donna Nussenblatt, paddled away using a GP. Joel from the shop took out the FBO baidarka (skin-on-frame), and lit it up from within so that it glowed in the dark.

Launching her Reggae sit-on-top outlined in lights, with a large, white cross also outlined with tiny lights, Betsy Barnicle finally got launched, stayed in one piece, and stabilized as she, too, joined the fleet out on the water. Rick Bartoli had decked his hull with pretty red and white plastic poinsettia blossoms aft of the cockpit, lights along the forward sheer and up front was Rudolph himself. Another canoe, lights on the gunwales, pushed off with Sarah from FBO and her boyfriend Greg along with their “Rein-Dog” Tamale, a friendly big blonde lab outfitted with a glowing pair of antlers. There was also a Hanukkah Canoe, adorned with a big dreidel, a glow-in-the-dark menorah, and a neon blue Star of David in the bow, paddled by Monica’s friend and future Paradise Paddler, Meredith Cline and her friend Charlie. And in their big canoe were Frank & Monica – and what a boat this wooden craft was! It glittered with holiday reflections, a festive string of Christmas red and white lobster pot floats, with a parrot perched on a palm frond-graced barrel (of rum?) paddled by a couple of jolly elves in Santa hats, with a big red light on the prow, and a tall lit tiki torch in the stern.

It was now 7:30, and there was, as yet, no boat parade. We were all getting kind of fidgety, wondering when things were going to get going, when lo and behold, here comes our very own paddling flotilla on parade. The group got a nice round of applause from not only those of us on FBO Beach, but from our “enthusiastic” neighbors thronging about the yard, decks, and docks next door at the Caribbean Club.

What REALLY got the cheers was when Lisette and Michael rolled their kayaks and, illuminated by a big flashlight beamed at their hulls by Monica, showed us their bottoms on which was spelled out Merry on one, and Christmas on the other! Expert sculling and bracing allowed those of us with poor eyesight get a better read on the message. Thanks, guys – that was a great job! Many cheers and shouts later, they proceeded to the next stops along the way.

Finally, after what seemed a long time, the Paradise Paddlers fleet returned somewhere around 8 or so and the motorized portion of the boat parade was seen approaching in the distance. First came the obligatory, siren-announcing police escort. And then came an irreverent, raucous, riotous, and very funny take-off on “The Carwash.” The brightly-lit, and loudly accompanied “float” came complete with soundtrack, skimpily-clad go-go dancers, and on December 26^th – a “Twas the Day AFTER Christmas” scenario. He and the gang stopped by the “Sleigh Wash” for a little, uh, R&R!

And so it went, boat after boat. Many big, well-lit, wonderfully-decorated boats paraded by, some with on-board parties enjoying the spectators as much as the spectators enjoyed them. There were funny boats, and traditional ones, and sailboats and power boats, and even a working barge pulled by a tow boat, lit up with graceful white Christmas trees all round its’ deck.

Many cheers, much appreciative applause, and a lot of laughter and fun were had by all. After about 35 or 40 minutes, the show was over. We said good-bye to our Paradise Paddler friends, petted “Rein-Dog” a last time, sneaked a last desert, and gathered up our covered dishes. Soon thereafter we left, leaving a world of light and magic behind, to return to the mundane world of work and duty and responsibility. But we’ll be back again, next year. And who knows? Maybe WE’LL be in the parade this time!

Upper Keys Backcountry By Lou Greenwell

What makes the perfect day, the perfect sport and the perfect destination? I’m not exactly sure, but on December 4^th ten kayakers came pretty close at the MM 111 launch site on US1. It was one of those placid Saturday mornings at 72 degrees, with a light breeze and mostly sunny skies – a terrific day for paddling.

Group shot - photo by Lou Greenwell

In May of this year, I led a group of sixteen club members on the Shell Creek–Boggies Loop. This time, ten very compatible paddlers joined me on a similar trip: Cynthia, Rick, Fred, Anita, Brian, Mary, Bill, Donna, Jerry and myself. A few pictures were taken and we were on the water at 10 a.m. After crossing Little Blackwater Sound and passing through Long Sound Pass, I decided we’d continue in a NW direction, crossing Long Sound to its northern shore, which happens to be the Florida mainland. There was no hurry as we paddled in small groups, moving in and out along the irregular shoreline. The water was mostly clear and the pace slow, comfortable. This group was in no hurry. Everyone seemed relaxed. Nearing the NW end of the sound, we explored a small freshwater creek flowing out of the Everglades. I suggested that everyone dip a finger in the freshwater to taste and verify for themselves the difference from the saltwater sound we had just crossed.

From the creek, I used my compass and dead reckoning to set a course to Shell Creek, which was a mile away and not discernible from our location. A slight crosswind, however, threw me off a little. Fred’s eTrec GPS put us directly on course. A few dolphins were seen crashing into baitfish as we approached the creek. The transit through Shell Creek is always pleasant, and was no exception this day. We continued to Snipe Point where we enjoyed lunch, some of us standing in clear, clean water with a hard sand bottom, while others sat at the shoreline. Jerry offered desert, but I don’t believe he got any takers for his ‘funny’ brownies. And Cyn and I were standing in about a foot of water when a small nurse shark swam to within a few feet. It was like a little ‘toy’ shark.

My original plan was to leave Snipe Point for Duck Key, or go directly to the Boggies if the wind had kicked up. But there was some discussion among the group and we all agreed instead to head due east to the western shoreline of Shell Key. Once there, wind conditions were perfect for a slow paddle along that shoreline which was a first for most in the group. This change of course added some distance to the trip, but we were in no hurry, just enjoying the nice day and calm conditions. Halfway along the Shell Key shoreline, I found a nice place to take a picture of “El Groupo” in their boats. Everyone cooperated in lining up for the shot. There were no collisions as everyone back-paddled, maneuvered, turned, etc. to get the boats into position – it was a beautiful thing!

Approaching the Boggies, I suggested we split into two groups. Each group would enter one of the small creeks north of the marked main channel. Rick led the way with his group into the first creek. Brian and the others took the second creek. Rick and I were nearing the far end of our creek, when we saw them: two adult manatees resting quietly in the shallows. They were at first a little startled and made their way slowly back in the direction from which we had come. When we exiting the creek, the second group got a description of the manatees we’d seen. This group then paddled back into the creek and I understand that most everybody got a glimpse of the mammals.

Eventually we exited the Boggies and headed ½ mile NE to a rest stop at a point on the eastern shore of Shell Key. Although we stood in shallow water, it was comfortable because of the solid sand bottom. From there, we took a NNE course 1¾ miles across Blackwater Sound to a creek which passes through some old railroad ruins. Many of our group had not seen this area, so it was interesting.

We arrived back at the ramp a little past 4 p.m. Although this was about a six-hour paddle, it was done in a slow, relaxed way so that no one was fatigued. Fred’s GPS recorded 17.5 miles from start to finish. I took pictures of everyone at various times during the day, on and off the water, and later shared an album of the day’s events. Shall we do it again?

Florida Bay Crossing By Monica Woll

In early December, Frank and I were able to get away to do this trip which he did many years ago but was still on my “wish list.” It has been one of the multiday trips offered by FBO for years but rarely goes since it involves open water crossings. In the winter, when we run our overnight trips, it is often too windy. It is best to plan this trip on either side of winter, before the fronts start passing through.

We left Indian Key fill a bit later than we planned due to an emergency at the shop that Frank had to attend to. Of curse we had to get a hearty breakfast in Islamorada too. Then a quick trip to the camera shop in Islamorada became necessary when we realized the disk for the digital camera was left at home. Good thing we asked Joel, our shuttler, to take a departing shot for us!

By 11:15 we were pushing off from the boat ramp at Indian Key fill at mile marker 78.5 bayside. While we were packing up we saw park manager and Paradise Paddler, Pat Wells meeting with a group official-looking people. We got to chat with him when the pow-wow broke up and found out they were meeting about improving the boat ramp, which is good news.

The weather was perfect – overcast and calm. The water was so placid we could make out every blade of turtle grass below our kayaks. Crossing the flats past Lignumvitae Key, I watched a nurse shark zig zagging around. When we got to the Peterson Keys, we could tell that the middle one was a rookery by the numerous birds flying above it and from the whitewashed mangrove leaves. The island was shared by frigate birds and brown pelicans. We thought there were white pelicans there too but realized they were fluffy white brown pelican babies!

Since the tide was going out, we decided to cross the bank at Twin Key Channel just in case. With the flat calm conditions and the low tide, we were able to see so much detail on the bottom as grass flats alternated with sponges and soft corals of the hard bottom community.

No-see-ums greeted us at the dock of Little Rabbit Key so we quickly changed into dry clothes with legs and sleeves. We lit mosquito sticks which also helped to keep them at a tolerable level. We ended up going to sleep after sunset, being exhausted from several days of working late to make this trip possible.

We left camp around 9 in the morning for our 13 mile paddle to Carl Ross Key. With very shallow water, we probably did more mileage due to circumventing the banks. It was such enjoyable paddling with great visibility once again. Lots of shark and turtle sightings! When we got to Carl Ross, there was a couple already in the prime spot with the picnic table and shade trees. We selected a site on the sand spit and then two guys from Maryland (friends of FBO Joel) took the far end of the sand spit. Club member, Scott Tracy joined us about an hour later. The capacity of the island is either 9 people or 3 parties so for a weekday in the off-season, it was a full house. I guess more and

more people are discovering Carl Ross Key. But the small island has plenty of room for privacy. We enjoyed an evening of bird watching (white pelicans and roseates) followed by star gazing after a beautiful sunset. We were quite surprised to see a fireworks display coming from the Marathon area. We couldn’t think of what the occasion could be on December 2^nd which was a weekday…

The paddle to East Cape Sable the next day was only about 6 miles but we had a headwind so it was a workout. We found a nice buttonwood tree to set up camp under, about a mile up the beach from the point. Cape Sable is great for long walks. We collected over 50 shells for our hermit crabs back home. There were no bugs to speak of during the day but if you approached the tree line, a few mosquitos would come out. At sunset the no-see-ums were so bad we thought we were doomed for an early night in the tent. But as soon as the sun dropped into the sea, they were gone as quick as they came. We enjoyed a nice campfire for hours.

It was hard to leave this awesome wilderness beach so we hung out until about noon. After only about 2 miles of paddling, we ran into Joel and Kathy who were doing the same trip as us but in reverse. They assured us that our van was parked at the lodge and our keys at the front desk. We talked on a sandbar for about an hour and then realized if we didn’t leave soon we would be camping another night. They were almost at their campsite but we still had 8 miles to go and it was 3 o’clock! We paddled non-stop against the tide to get to Flamingo just as the sun was setting. This made me a bit nervous since there are often crocodiles lurking around the boat ramp!

It was great to check into the lodge for the night and get a hot shower. We dined at the restaurant which always has great food and good service. It was dark so we couldn’t enjoy the view out the huge glass windows but it was fulfilling to know that we had crossed Florida Bay by kayak.

RACES

ESTERO RIVER CANOE & KAYAK REGATTA

JANUARY 16 SUNDAY – This is the last of the SW Florida Paddling Series races. Enter either the 4-mile recreational race or the 10-mile competitive one. Held at Estero River Outfitters. Race fee is $15 per person in advance or $20 on race day. Includes t-shirt (guaranteed if you pre-register) and picnic lunch. For more info, application and directions go to www.leeparks.org You can also call 239-461-7440 or fax 239-461-7444.

7^th ANNUAL BOGEY & BACALL CLASSIC

FEBRUARY 5&6 SATURDAY & SUNDAY – Seventh Annual Bogey & Bacall Classic Kayak & Canoe races! The 13-mile Bogey is on Saturday and the 6-mile Bacall is on Sunday. Both races start at 10 a.m. Pre-register for both races for $50 or $35 each. Race day registration $40 per race. Medals for first, second and third places in numerous class, age and gender divisions. Raffle prizes for all! Band both days and beach party Saturday night for all registered racers and volunteers. Some extra tickets for guests available until they last! Go to the website to register online or come to FBO for forms. www.kayakfloridakeys.com

DRAGON BOAT RACES

FEBRUARY 19 & 20 SATURDAY & SUNDAY – Held during the Florida Renaissance Festival in Deerfield Beach. If anyone in the club would like to volunteer to be the team leader, contact Monica at FBO. Team captain must: get a team of 25 together (20 paddlers, 1 drummer, 1 steer person and 3 trained alternates) with a minimum of 8 female and 8 male members, act as team captain, schedule 3 practice sessions (of which each member must attend 2), and be the contact person for the race organizer. Entry fee is $850. The Dragon Boat and all equipment is supplied.

CABBAGE PADDLE

FEBRUARY 26 SATURDAY – The Caloosahatchee River Citizen’s Association is sponsoring this race during the Annual Swamp Cabbage Festival in LaBelle, Florida. Bring your own boat or rent one on site. Race starts at Bob Mason Waterfront Park on Hwy 78, ¼ mi. west of the Hwy 29 bridge. Starts at 11:00. Early registration is $20 and race-day is $25. This includes an event t-shirt. For more info or to register online, go to: http://crca.caloosahatchee.org/paddle Call 863-674-5727 or fax 561-828-8458

2^nd ANNUAL CALADESI CHALLENGE

MARCH 5 SATURDAY – This event, sponsored by Friends of the Island Parks, will be held at Honeymoon Island State Park in Dunedin. There will be both a recreational race (4-mile) and a competitive race (8 miles). Registration starts at 7:30 with race start at 9:00. Mandatory racer meeting will be held at 8:45. Entry fee $20 early (by Feb 25) or $25 race day. Email stephsb@tampabay.rr.com or go to www.active.com for race forms.

SWIM AROUND KEY WEST

JUNE 11 SATURDAY – This 12.5 mile race is sponsored by the Florida Keys Community College and the Bone Island Swim Club. Swimmers will need kayaks for escorts. It is also a kayak endurance race with a male and female kayak division. Start is at 9:30 with registration at 8:30 and a mandatory meeting for all on Friday evening. Race fee for kayaks is $20 ($65 for swimmers). Contact race director Lori Bosco for more information at 305-296-9081 ext. 362 or email: aqualb@aol.com