March 28, 2010
The wind had been blowing cold and hard out of the northwest for days. But this morning dawned bright and mostly clear, with warmer temperatures and diminished winds. I was to meet other Intermediate/Advanced Tampa Bay Sea Kayakers just beyond Honeymoon Sails, a sailboat rental on the Dunedin Causeway. The causeway connects Dunedin with Honeymoon Island and the Honeymoon Island State Park.
A group of a dozen or so paddlers assembled on the beach and proceeded to prepare for our adventure. Soon on the water, we headed west along the causeway, then headed north under an overpass to paddle
But not Richard. He’s from New Jersey and this weather’s warm to him!
along the northeast shore of Honeymoon Island. The weather was in the high sixties, warm and pleasant to my northern blood. Still, I was wearing a Farmer John wetsuit, and most everyone was in either a wetsuit or dry suit, as the Gulf water was still cold. Honeymoon Island and its neighbor, Caladesi Island are reputed to have among the best beaches in the world. I’m no beach expert, but beaches on both islands look great and remind me of those tropical paradise shots you see in beer commercials.
Before long we rounded the end of Honeymoon and started paddling along the exposed (to the Gulf) western side of the island. You could feel some swells here but they were small and of no consequence. The light wind had swung to the northwest at our backs, providing a little push. The sea, sky and scenery were perfect for a wonderful paddle. We watched the beach and the occasional beachcomber gathering the abundant shells to be found there. Eventually we reached the southern end of Honeymoon Island and paddled along that shore for a while before heading across a busy channel to a beach on Caladesi for lunch.
The water approaching the beach at Caladesi is very shallow giving waves a long run at the shore. There was little surf, but as one who has done only a
few landings through any surf, I was mildly apprehensive. The memory of dumping out of my boat on the approach to a shark-infested beach in California came to mind. Anyway, I made it in with no problem beyond getting myself out of the boat and on to my feet with the bow of the boat at an upward angle where I drove it up onto a mound of seaweed on landing. Most everyone made it in easily. At least one paddler dumped, but I can’t be sure that he wasn’t practicing a roll.
We had a relaxing lunch with all of us lined up like birds on a fence, sitting along the beach, watching the water. Caladesi was covered with shells, a shell collector’s dream! When it was time to renter our boats and go back out through the minimal surf, I didn’t suspect a problem.
But the waves knocked my bow around before I could get my bottom unstuck from the sand. Soon my bow has washed over the bow of another paddler - how embarrassing! I had to call for help to get off the beach without causing any other calamities.
The trip back to the causeway was uneventful. There was a pretty good current running between the islands, but if anything, that gave us a nice push. The paddle was over too soon. This would be my last paddle with the TBSK this season. I said farewell and promised to be back again next year.
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