Paddle to Egmont Key
The CT track crosses Tampa Bay, and requires several miles of open water paddling.
It has been several years since I last paddle open ocean water, so when I heard of a group planning to paddle from Fort Desoto to Egmont Key, and circumnavigate the key, I signed on. This morning at the meeting site, I discovered an e-mail saying the excursion had been canceled.
Well, my original plan was to do the CT solo, so why not go out solo to Egmont Key. Of I went with Wabi-Sabi (my kayak’s name). I had most of my safety gear, GPS, spare paddle, paddle float, spray skirt, PFD, food, and water. It went great, till I spotted a container ship approaching from my starboard and another ship from portside. I checked the GPS loaded with a navigation chart. The deep channel was half a mile ahead of me. Do I go for it or wait? I waited.
Wave action over the ship channel. What you do not see is the strong current running along the channel.
Eight miles round trip to the north tip of the key and back. At one point I had to wait a half-mile from the ship channel waiting for passing ships to pass.
It was an eight mile paddle with currents and wind pushing me from my intended track so requireing for me to continuously adjust the direction and course; all of the way there and back.
Yes, I left an itinerary (flight plan? float plan?) with two people. Checked out and checked in.
AJ… my dog, Lucy, and I enjoyed chatting with you at De Soto Park the other day when you had just finished your Edmont Key trip. You suggested I pull up your blog and read, as here I have and enjoyed your write up to Edmont Key and back. Boy, those waves from theassing freighter ships were quite large! Good luck on your travels, especially starting up in the Panhandle where I come from. The waters up there hopefully will be as green-blue as anything you have ever seen. Lucy and I finally got out on my new sit on top kayak right in downtown St Pete, and paddled around the new Pier area. It was great fun and hopefully many excursions to go down in this area, as soon as I find a good used truck for hauling.
Stay safe and it was so nice meeting and chatting with you! Christy Haynes & Lucy 🐕