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.

Thursday, September 15, 2016

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