Hello again,
Everyone's Travel Club returns with part 5 of 6 of our kayaking adventure in Key West, Florida! Although a little muddy at our launch, we set out from Big Torch Key to search for a sunken ship I had read about in a local kayaking book. We paddled in beautiful weather for about half the day. We explored mangroves, fought the tide a little bit on the way back, watched a shark play in the distance (sorry no pics...not enough zoom!), and eventually stumbled upon...the sunken ship!
Check back for the big finale - kayaking adventure in Key West part 6! We'll give you links to hotels and restaurants that we recommend. We hope you'll have your own adventure in the Keys!
~Paul E.T.C.
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3/13/10
Greetings travelers! Everyone's Travel Club continues chronicling our kayaking travels to Key West, Florida. Part 4 picks up in Key West. After a little con leche coffee in the morning, I walked 10 minutes from our inn located in Old Town and found a nice little spot to put our single Innova Safari kayak together and launch (it's right next to the Southernmost House Hotel).
I paddled East/NorthEast towards White Street Pier. The water was pretty shallow, I just had to be careful of old dock posts underwater. The tide was up so I had to go around (rather than under, which you're not technically supposed to do) a lot of the hotel docks and piers.
Next we toured (on foot...the car has been parked ever since we arrived at Key West) Schooner Wharf, sunset cruise anyone?
OK, that was a bit of a joke - this is a very cool spot, however, you do have a few captains trying to get you on their next cruise. They are actually pretty nice and not too obtrusive. We took a sunset cruise a couple years ago and highly recommend it.
Finally, we took the double kayak out around sunset. The tide was out, we were farther South than the Southernmost buoy and the water was beautiful. Check back to the blog for Part 5, sunken ships and illegal dumping (not by us)!
~Paul E.T.C.
3/9/2010
Welcome back, Part 3 of Everyone's Travel Club's kayaking adventure in Key West was really a scouting mission for future expeditions. Check out these pics from 3 great launch sites. #1 John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park Just an hour from Miami, this park had lots of great places, with close parking, to launch a kayak or canoe. Rentals are available but we heard from a few locals that they restrict a lot of the places you can go (if you rent that is).
#2 Bahia Honda
Keep driving South and you'll eventually pass Bahia Honda, arguably one of the best beaches in the Keys...it's locally pronounced Bay-ah Honda...for some reason...You're looking at about 2 1/2 hours from Miami, or 45 minutes from Key West. Picture looks like it is underwater...but it's not.
#3 Key West
We made it! I caught a great sunset at the South end of the main drag. The next day I launched from here! Check back soon to catch the trip! -Paul E.T.C.
Pic above from Bahia Honda, Florida Keys
3/8/2010 Hello again! Paul from Everyone's Travel Club here, ready to continue sharing from our recent kayaking trip to Key West, Florida. First, the packing of the lightweight, inflatable kayaks back in Seattle.
After a few long flights, we made it to Miami in one of the smallest commercial planes I've ever flown in!
Our Innova Kayaks fit nicely in our luggage - just making the weight limit for each bag (50 lbs).
After a few long flights, we made it to Miami in one of the smallest commercial planes I've ever flown in!
We relaxed at a friends house in Miami and then set out the next day on our first day of kayaking, just off of Key Biscayne, minutes from Miami. The weather was great - sunny, 74 degrees, water temperature like Seattle lakes in the summer, fairly normal for February in South Florida.
Maybe they should just make all cameras waterproof...
Ouchy for both of us...Apparently applying vinegar or tea bags turns the sunburned heat down a notch...we eventually picked up some aloe.
A pretty sweet day...considering the gloom we left in Seattle!
Hang with us this week as we post parts 3-6 of the Key West Kayaking adventure! Please comment if you have any questions about the trip, we'd love to forward you more info, answer questions, or post some of your pics from the Keys! This is a club for everyone after all...
-Paul ~E.T.C. |
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