Robinson Preserve, Again.

Robinson Preserve is quite popular with kayakers in the area.  The park has several miles of internal paddle trails, entry into the surrounding bays and river and the best launching access of any spot in the county.

Gentle slope of hard packed sand.

A concrete drop off/pickup lane.

A washing facility with hoses!

With the tide coming in its a fairly easy paddle going up river to De Soto NM.

A half mile of paddling gets one to the tower.  Unlike Emerson point the paddle trails at Robinson are well marked.

I landed at the tower and climbed to the top. A clear, calm , sunny morning.

 

 From the tower lagoon I headed north  and then west to the outlet into the Manatee River.

 

To get to the outlet you paddle past and under the boardwalk

 

What is this sign ahead?

 In an overabundance of caution the County has installed a warning sign, before you reach the river.

Although its is not the dead calm of the internal paddle trails. the current is hardly a white water rapid.

CAUTION -Strong currents ahead at paddle outlet-Know your skill level

 

Outlet into the Manatee River

From the outlet at Robinson its about a mile paddle up river to get to De Soto.

It was a pretty calm day on the river, but I did manage to catch some heavy wake.

I paddled around the cove for a bit, and nothing caught my eye so I headed back to Robinson.

In the cove and headed back.

At this point I need a bit of a break and landed by the Tabby House ruins.

My legs stretched a bit I , returned to paddling down river.  Said High to the Park Ranger who was leading a group on a tour.

The current was with me as I made my way back into Robinson.  It was more a matter of steering than paddling I sat back and enjoyed the free ride.

Robinson Preserve

DESO

#FLNPS100PaddleChallenge and #FindYourPark

Emerson Point North Part 2

I finally had the time, favorable tides and good weather and  to complete  my paddle to the north side of Emerson point Preserve , that was cut short last time due to a threatening thunderstorm.

De Soto National Memorial behind me.

The river crossing was uneventful other that there seemed to be Sargasso Sea levels of aquatic vegetation floating in the water and getting into my kayak.

The "Sargasso Sea" on the Manatee River

Rounding Emerson Point I'm headed straight for the Mangrove tunnel entry on the north side of the park.

From Emerson Point it is  about a mile paddle the the very north end of the peninsula and a distinctive lone mangrove tree.




  Other than lots of mullet jumping and shorebirds wading I didn't see much in the way of wildlife. 

From this tree is about half a mile to the mangrove tunnel entrance.




Unfortunately, said tunnel entrance is not well marked at all.  If I didn't know it was there I could easily have paddled past it.






The entry is just past this islet covered in pelicans.

I'm not sure if this small white buoy is supposed to be the tunnel marker, but it is the closest thing to any navigational aid that I found.

The center of the Skyway Bridge bears due North (magnetic) from the tunnel.

If you can spot the Handrail on the pedestrian path you are close.

 Around the mangroves to the east there is a low bridge and the entry to the mangrove tunnel.

 

Duck!

 The tide was coming in and I  could just drift and steer on my way in.  One of the few times other than transport, that using a short kayak comes in useful.

The way back was a bit more of a slog against the current.

I'm not quite sure how I managed this effect, I think the tip of my kayak  got caught and I was spinning, but I kinda like the effect.

A break while I paddle back.

Emerson Point Preserve - Manatee County

DESO

#FLNPS100PaddleChallenge and #FindYourPark

Robinson Preserve

For my birthday we did a family paddle at Robinson Preserve.  The launch went well.

Off to a strong start

Which went well for about five minutes until we approached the mangrove tunnel into the Preserve.

Tunnel ahead.

With my daughter countering my wife's efforts to turn their kayak, they managed to not only run into the mangroves before the turn but capsize as well.  Hilarity ensues.

I really wish I was running video when it happened.

Not only for my amusement, because Robinson is so popular with paddlers we had an audience.


Self-Recovery accomplished because daddy was too busy laughing and taking photos to do much assisting other than holding the paddle and recovering the bag of snacks that went overboard; we headed into the mangroves with strict instructions for my daughter to keep her paddle in the kayak.

Note: strict instructions regarding paddle usage ignored.

 As I mentioned lots of other paddlers in the area to observe the shenanigans.

The passageway to the lookout tower at Robinson Preserve takes one under several bridges, a cool respite for the sun, but one does have to be on the look out for fishing lines.

 My wife and I switched kayaks and  continued through the Preserve to the tower.

View from the tower, looking north.

The channel north of the tower jogs to the west and out into the Manatee River / Perico Bay.  De Soto National Memorial is up-river, to the east about a mile

Tired after a long day of kayaking.

DESO

#FLNPS100PaddleChallenge and #FindYourPark