Manatee Madness 2003 was the best yet, made so by the paddlers, though there were manatees, divers, birds, big fish [tarpon ?], and a surprise at the take-out. All the local folk were at the put-in early, understandably Gail and her crew, Sally & Doug, were a few minutes late, but then they had that long drive from Sarasota. Carl was first on the water and he took several others for a short tour of the mini-bay just east of the small beach where we were still loading our boats. Doug, our teen-age novice, had not paddled with a spray skirt so we made sure he knew how to find the grab loop and wet exit. I also explained that gravity works whether you are upside down in the air or in water so he should have no qualms about coming out of his kayak. The balmy weather would have made the skirt redundant except for the cooling breeze and the possibility of some chop on the bay. By the time Doug and the rest of us were ready to shove off Carl was back and the group was excited to hear they had seen 4 manatees in the estuary. Together we all headed out towards the Bay. One of the Manatee Watcher folk had told us the manatees were not at 3 Sisters Springs so we planned to head south for Banana Island. Low tide had been at 9:43 AM and some kayakers with less freeboard ran aground in the shallows coming out, but had no difficulty backing out. Bill and Diane paddling the Sea Twin tandem had a problem with its rudder and we rafted up to free it from the deploying rope and then took a few minutes to adjust the pedals to fit Bill’s “laid back” San Juan style of paddling. When I looked up all the boats had made it out into the Bay and we needed to paddle in earnest (no pun intended) to catch up. Rounding the corner and turning south at Pete’s Pier we ran into the chop, all six inches of it. By the time we were coming abreast of the volley ball beach we were once again a flotilla, 8 solo & 2 tandem kayaks and Sam and Nancy in the lone canoe. No one ran aground in the shallows in the cut to Banana Island and once through the lead group came upon a large manatee, Barb from the Rocky Mountain Sea Kayak Club termed it “huge”. Others that missed it had encounters with other manatees at the east end of the island, though Patti didn’t jump in. The high clouds and breeze made it a bit chilly for swimming even in the 70° spring warmed waters. We stopped to talk to the three manatee watchers at the main spring area and they mentioned more manatees were west of Warden Key, but lunch time was fast approaching and we had yet to decide on where? Also there was a call for a pit stop so we circled Banana Island. At the west end a manatee disturbed by our passage roiled the surface and took off with a splash of its tail. Coming ashore at the volley ball beach mud flats of Parker Island there was a sigh of relief from the coffee drinkers. On the water again we headed north for lunch at Crackers. At the entrance to the north bay an osprey perched on a TV antenna and it looked like another sitting in the nest next door. Without the binocs, as usual in the truck, it was hard to tell. Too bad, for the stern hatch was ideal for observing for most of the distance as the wind pushed us along, that is as long as Mary kept paddling in the fore hatch. Most folk by-passed Pelican Isle with its vultures and brown pelicans and guano festooned tin shack and went straight to the dock at Crackers. We arrived just before the lunch crowd and being Friday there were only a couple of large boats tied up. Every one found a slip and disembarked without incident, though the 22 foot Libra needed the full length of the outer dock so we both could get out. The kayaks hauled out of the water added a splash of color to the rather drab weathered wood dock. Luckily we garnered the last two tables on the deck. The waitress, rushed as usual, took orders for oyster-burgers, turkey & bacon, grilled salmon, etc. Most made the mistake of getting just fries instead of some of each of the fries/coleslaw and then had to eat the double order of fries as well as the large garlic dill pickle slice, and the tomatoes and lettuce. I did not even attempt eating the hoagie, though Barb piled all on board and made a two handed attempt to bite into it. Topped with a cold draught we were more than full as we dropped back into our boats. Carl helped steady the Libra as Mary and I slipped back in with no trouble, except when he asked, “How much will you pay me, Ernie, to untie the bow line?” We needed some serious paddling to burn off those lunch calories and headed for 3 Sisters Spring. The springs were haven for SCUBA divers this afternoon and no manatees. All the boats but the Libra made a trip in to see the crystal clear springs, but it was a short stop and we turned to go back to Hunter Springs where we had put in four hours earlier. As I beached Carl shouted “Dolphins” and pointed. Sure enough there they were, four dorsal fins breaking the surface. We backed out and paddled toward their bow waves. The dolphins passed to either side on their way out, blowing just feet from our boat. Barb, Terry and Barn were right behind them and as the dolphins ignored them in their quest for mullet which they were driving before them into the shallows and the kayakers had some of the pod swimming alongside them. What a surprise to end a perfect day paddling King’s Bay.
This year there were more manatees than paddlers. The day was perfect with lots of sun and little wind until we headed back to the put-in across Kings Bay. We followed our regular route from Hunters Point to 3 Sisters which was crowded with snorkels and manatees. We headed on to Alligator Cove, usually occupied by a small alligator sunning on a rock, but not to be seen this Valentine's Day and then on to the volley ball court for lunch on the beach. After lunch a circumnavigation of Banana Island and across the bay around the back side of Buzzard Isle where we encountered three manatees munching on the floating vegetation. And then with the wind abaft a scoot across the Bay past Pete's Pier and back to a take out at Hunter Spring City Park.
Well if manatees be mermaids they have yet to hear of Cupid for not only are they immune to his darts but if the Gulf temperatures are above 65° F they are not much in evidence. Eleven folk paddling in four canoes and two kayaks put in at Hunter’s Spring City Park in Crystal River at 10:15 AM on St. Valentines morn after waiting an extra 15 minutes for a long distance paddler newly transplanted from Alaska, but alas she was still on PST and missed the boat. However three of the group from Washington State did make it, one, Marge filled [not really] the bow hatch of the Libra XT while Bill and Diane paddled the Langford Prospecter 15 canoe. Several former members of the “Over the Hill Gang”, Carl, Pat & Nick, Kathyrn & Joshua, and two “gumballers” [sp?] Rick and Marty brought up the rear as sweepers. Arriving at 3 Sisters Spring about 11 AM , after checking the Magnolia Springs sanctuary area was too late for manatees but just in time for a cooling dip once past the entrance rocks and overhanging branches. Marty and Rick indulged while the rest of the crew enjoyed the large number of mullet and sergant majors flitting about in the clear water. Then off to Banana Island and the only encounters with manatees of the day, off its NW end sanctuary. Six or 8 manatees were sighted under and around our boats, one alongside long enough for Marge to rub gently. She said that made up for the “coast to coast redeye flight”. With more paddlers than manatees and lunch hour having passed we opted for a shoreline munch at the volley ball net, we are not sure whether the court is used at low or high tide, though either would be a challenge. However this day it was, with sun and breezes ideal for lunch. On the return we detoured to Cracker’s floating pier, but the big boats were tied up with no room to to dock the 22 foot Libra so only Bill & Diane got out, sliding their canoe up to the shore. All others headed back to Hunter’s Spring and a take out. I and Marge doubled back and now we could get alongside at Cracker’s and with Bill’s help we got out and upheld the crossed “Knife & Fork” tradition of theFSPC. I, as leader, enjoyed the trip, the company, the canoe tips, and would love to do it again next year, but perhaps with a more open scheduling with an eye to the water temperatures??
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