Wheeden Island Preserve, Kayaking the Tunnels 2013

Finally, the tides were just right and we could enter the mangrove tunnels. Renita went first as I wanted to see how she handled her kayak in close quarters. The first tunnel seemed to be pretty easy and the path was wide enough so she didn’t have to take her paddle apart.  The tide was starting to fall and we wanted to run the tunnels before it became too shallow and forcing us to get stranded and wade.

The second tunnel was quite a bit narrower and we both took our paddles apart to row with just half. It went surprisingly well, and I had to row hard to catch up with her. Black crabs dotted the trees and I thought to myself that the tunnels were not for the squeamish or the claustrophobic.

We had been watching the tides charts for Gandy Bridge and Wheeden Island and the predictions were for a high tide of 1.4 feet starting to fall by 10 am and falling six inches by noon. Both other times we had paddled Wheeden the tides were low and the tunnel entrances were blocked by sand bars. So this was probably the last chance we would have this year and Renita readied our gear as I loaded the kayaks.

It’s only a short drive to Wheeden and soon we were pushing off from the dock. The parking lot was pretty empty, (we only saw two other kayaks all day), and after reaching marker three, we entered the tunnels. The first set of tunnels was all against a slow falling tide, and we entered some slack water just after the number nine trail marker.

Soon we reached a stretch where the tide was going out in the same direction we were taking and we could stop paddling. Riding the outgoing tides is a treat and the mangrove tunnels made it especially so. The trail was still narrow and I got wedged crossways between the two sides of mangrove roots, but again no one was coming and so I finally got unstuck.

Entering some open water I spied some fish working the surface and went over to cast my jig, but no success. Florida fishing is such a far cry from Grand isle and Matagorda, but then again I have been spoiled by fishing such great places. Meanwhile Renita was birding and I finally rejoined her for lunch.

We stopped in a cove shaded by the mangroves, and ate our lunch. It’s been quite warm here and the temperature was again in the low eighties. The wind picked up and as we entered the open water rowing became harder but it was still easier then when we were in the canoe.

The last marker passed by, marker 38, and we pulled up to the dock tired but happy. It had taken us three and a half hours of paddling to cover the four mile distance. The day had been all that we had hoped for, a peaceful and quiet paddle among the black mangroves. Clear skies

 

 

The tide had fallen eight inches in the time it took us to travel the tunnels. If you go be sure to check the Gandy Bridge Tide Chart. If you do get stranded the bottom is almost entirely sand, just watch for stingrays!