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Published: February 5th 2014
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The alarm woke me from a really deep sleep and a great dream. It took me about 15 min to realize I had to get out of bed, canoe trip today. What would we do without coffee.
A quick shower, a walk for Oscar, breakfast and get stuff in my little bag for the trip.
The group was assembling at the designated spot, we got our instructions and a history of the park and work the Army corp of engineers did to open the canal and make a little pond area to launch boats and fish from. The canoes were the most comfortable and stable I have ever been in. Mike and I were teamed up for our canoe, there was another couple from Wisconsin and 2 guides, a husband and wife team from Ontario who paddled kayaks. It was a high tide going out so our initial paddle was easy until we hit a small head wind, but it didn’t last long. My muscles screamed a little at first but they got into the groove and did me proud the rest of the trip. We were not out to set any land speed records..
The group branched off the
main channel into a small side channel and the mangroves formed a canopy over our heads, giving a snug, comfy feeling. The silence was incredible, and the air so pure any smell was distinct.
The mangroves consist of 3 different kinds, the red, the white and the black, each with it’s own set of requirements and benefits and they work perfectly together. The Indians called them the “walking plant” because they will put down roots from overhanging branches eventually filling in any space. The roots are in water but the plant is above the water forming a super structure on stilts. I can’t imagine walking through it. It is a small fish nursery, and alive with little crabs and mollusks. It doesn’t appear to have any wildlife but if you get in close and watch, it pulses with life.
We stopped twice and got out once at a sand bar to rest our arms and stretch our legs, and use the necessary spot if one had to. The tide had dropped the water level almost 2 feet when it was time to return so the current was not bad at all.
The trip lasted 3 hrs and I was
so glad I did the tour, gives me confidence to get my kayak out and do it alone.
Returned to the camper, walked Oscar, had lunch then thought I really “should” (you know how I hate that word) do my wash. So I bit the bullet, got it all together and went to the next wash building where the laundry was located, outside. To my very pleasant surprise no one was using the 2 machines so I proceeded to read the directions to discover it needed H E soap and nothing else would do. Of course, mine was regular so I thought about doing it tomorrow. No, today was the day. I drove down the road just a short distance and this little camp store had the right stuff. Back again and wow, the machines were mine.
Two hours later the wash was done and so was I, a nap was what I needed. But not to be. Time to give Oscar his dinner and get mine going.
I did read in my chair for a little while til the mosquitoes drove me inside, but it was getting dark anyway.
It’s only 8pm, can I go to bed
now???
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