Why I'm attempting the 100 Mile NPS Paddle Challenge

The news that these people had left their own country to bathe in the river Jordan, spread among all the kings and chiefs of Florida, and as they were an ignorant people, they all set out in search of this river, which was supposed to possess the power of rejuvenating old men and women. So eager were they in their search, that they did not pass a river, a brook, a lake, or even a swamp, without bathing in it; and, even to this day, they have not ceased to look for it, but always without any success.

- Memoir Of Hernando D’Escalante Fontaneda 1575

I'm not expecting to find the Fountain of Youth, but I needed some kind of cross training upper body workout to supplement (i.e. give my knees a break) my long distance running. As with signing up for a marathon it is simply a way of maintaining my motivation to keep exercising. I much prefer training outside versus working out in a gym. So kayaking (and the occasional period oared powered vessel), seemed like a good fit.

Sunday, June 12, 2016

Canaveral National Seashore

Canaveral National Seashore the first stop on my Northeast Florida paddle/reenactment trip. I arrived at the park at first light and was advised by the ranger at the gate that parking lot 7 was the best spot to launch from. It was a beautiful morning, calm and very few motorized craft in use.

Canaveral National Seashore a bit north of the VC

It was a pretty uneventful paddle, I was fearing that the only wildlife I was going to be able to record were the gnats in the parking lot (awful - but once I was in the water the insect assault ceased). I was approaching the landing at parking lot 6 to get out and stretch my legs, when I spotted a manatee.

I spotted a manatee.

Evidently there was in fact a pod (? that is the correct term for a group of cetaceans isn't it?) (google checked and Manatees are in fact Sirenians and a group of them is called an aggregate) and I seem to have spooked them. All of the sudden, the water erupted, with a gray swirling mass and frothing , foaming water. I wish I had video rolling, it seemed that the kraken had been released, I got soaked, and can well imagine how being attacked by a sea serpent stories get started. It only lasted a few seconds and I was glad that tentacles and teeth were not involved.

The aftermath

CANA

#FLNPS100PaddleChallenge and #FindYourPark

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