The tide carried our canoe through a mangrove tunnel! Rarely did I have to stoke and Renita used her paddle to keep us straight as the tide flowed through the mosquito ditches. The mangroves were about twenty feet tall and their roots reached down toward the rising tide, or at least they seemed to be reaching.
Small black dots on their bark were really small black crabs and small fish darted for the protective cover of the roots as we glided by. Periodically we reached small coves, or lakes, where we spied on rosette spoonbills and American white ibis., Of course we passed great blue herons and Renita spotted a reddish egret feeding at one of the outlets.
We stopped for lunch near marker sixteen, where the tunnel trail had taken us to the edge of Tampa Bay.Across the bay the city stood and it was so nice to be in such a peaceful and quiet setting in the middle of the metropolitan area.
Stopping there we turned back and retraced our route encountering other kayaks and canoes. Many struggled in the narrow ditches as the mangroves seemed to grab their long paddle. One kayaker had taken his paddle apart and was wisely using half of the oar. Several sea kayaks passed us and they payed for their long narrow design, good for open water but trouble when the narrow trail sharply turned.
Every canoe trip is special and we have been blessed with so many. The roaring rapids of the Gunnison in Colorado, the paddles along the Lighthouse Trails of Texas, the stillness of the morning while solo paddling in Ely, Minnesota..... Each has its own special merit and the memories of each are why we travel.
We didn't paddle the entire four mile loop. It had been too enjoyable as Renita took lots and lots of images and we both stopped to enjoy the solitude. I know that from now on one of my favorite memories will be of gliding though tunnels in the mangroves of Weedon Island Preserve. Clear skies.
Lovely post, beautiful images, well done.
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