Early Bird Island Camping Trip
Day One of the Hidden Coast Paddle Festival was a new event that had never been offered before - primitive overnight camping at a nearby island which involved a 6 mile paddle to and from the island. Both Delores and Marie signed up for this adventure and they were the only two females that did so. The rest of the group consisted of 7 male campers and an additional 3 male guides. Those two had to stick together !!
The organizers of the event sent an e-mail to everyone with a list of what to bring along with instructions to be at the Shired Island Campground no later than 9:30 a.m. for a 10:00 launch. To find out how to get to Shired Island Launch Site, click on the LAUNCH SITE tab at the top and scroll down to find SHIRED ISLAND PARK.
The organizers of the event sent an e-mail to everyone with a list of what to bring along with instructions to be at the Shired Island Campground no later than 9:30 a.m. for a 10:00 launch. To find out how to get to Shired Island Launch Site, click on the LAUNCH SITE tab at the top and scroll down to find SHIRED ISLAND PARK.
As the morning progresses, new paddlers/campers arrive and unload
Marie is getting her kayak loaded with camping & fishing gear.
Delores's Loaner Kayak
The bad news was that Delores did not read the "details" of the camping trip registration paperwork very closely and signed up for it without knowing that there was a minimum 14 ft requirement in place for each paddler. Her kayak was only 11 ft - not even close! The good news was that she wasn't the only one who didn't read it and the guides were prepared, bringing several old loaner kayaks to substitute. "Whew...that was a close one!"
Lining up the kayaks for the armada launch...
A picture perfect day for a paddling a kayak
Shired Island Fishing Pier
Red Tide Evidence -
In contrast to the otherwise beautiful scenery, the red tide that is sneaking up on unsuspecting marine life a few miles farther out has sent a message to the local mainlanders in the form of a fish-kill washed up on shore. The message? "I ain't no joke!" The shoreline was littered with dead carcasses - what a shame! Many, many bait fish, mullet, keeper trout, bull reds and huge saltwater gar. Sad sad sight to see. County workers were doing their best to dig a long deep trench to bury them before the stench overwhelmed the public visitors.
Amongst all the dead fish was this little fella
By 10:00 a.m., everyone was ready to hit the water!
Two women and 10 men (7 campers / 3 guides)
Now it's a six mile paddle to Butler Island :o)
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