In life it's not where you go but who you are with……Charles Shultz
Vagabond Tales-Kayak the Mangrove Tunnels of Sarasota
February 13, 2023. Myakka River State Park, Sarasota, Florida Site 42
Two hours of fascination, a little exercise and some glorious sun, made for some lasting memories! If you visit Sarasota…We highly recommend Sea Life Kayak Adventures. Great for novice and experienced paddlers! This tour is for you and Bill, Amy with all your kayak experience …you would love it. I know it is not where you are planning to be this trip, though.
The weather was very brisk this am. at 59°. We dressed in layers while others, including the leader wore shorts, sandals and T- shirts. We felt a bit overdressed but we’re glad for the layers once on the water.I had a sun hat hanging on my back…it just didn’t dawn on me to put it on. Thankfully we were in the tunnels most of the time.Following Marissa into our first tunnel!
You can see that the mangrove tree/ shrub have very tangled roots that form a tangled thicket! These tunnels are nursery to many species of fish, shells and sea creatures. Marissa explained that during hurricanes and heavy wind much of the wildlife, including birds move swiftly to the mangroves for protection.
Harry is displaying a sea urchin. We put him quickly back into the water.We have only seen starfish on the west coast. There were many of them crawling along the ocean floor. Since it was low tide…we were only 12 inches above the sea bed and we witnessed and touched all sorts of ocean creatures.Marissa chose to pick up this jellyfish. It is a Cassiopeia and is found primarily in Mangrove swamps. She called it an upside down jellyfish. We chose not to hold him.The top picture shows what she called Mangrove straws…an easy access to oxygen for the plant.She picked up this spider crab and when it bit her…she dropped it. Can you see it?This is something related to the sea cucumber. When I was about to hold it, it had started spurting purple ink on a fellow kayaker’s hand and I decided to pass. One of those lifetime opportunities, I let slip through my hand.Harry and I took the lead on this tunnel so we were the first to come through the arbor of mangrove.Most people were complaining of the cold but we were fine.
Back at the camper we hiked Ranch House Road. Note how dusty our Finn is getting. I can see a bath in his near future!
I think we were fortunate to get the water at such a low level and still be able to maneuver. Marissa was hopping in and out of her boat pulling all the wild life up to see! Pretty fun!
Great kayaking trip. Blue skies!! Great creatures too. No way I’d hold a jellyfish either…or the thing spitting out blue ink. At least you saw all those beautiful creatures. Great pics too.
This is more excitement in one day than we’ve had in a year (or two). Wonderful pics and narrative too. I think Harry needs a pedi. Yours looks great! :). Maybe someday you can drive to Belize and visit San Pedro where we used to live. There are mangrove swamps there like this and I haven’t heard of kayaks going thru them, just motorboats. You could introduce them! Hugs. M.E.
I so wish we had gotten to Belize when you were down there! It would have been so fun! You know, Harry’s Mom,Marty always wanted to come see you there! Wish we had gotten that accomplished!
Yes I do too. It has changed so much though that we have decided not to visit again. I want to remember it like it was. Your pictures from yesterday are really beautiful. Are you using a camera or your Iphone?
For a couple years when we were blogging, I was using two cameras… one a 35 mm And the other my phone. It was getting so that it was more difficult to transfer pictures from the larger camera to my iPad, which is what I used to write the blog. And in addition to that my phone pictures just seem to turn out better than the 35 mm that I had to keep changing lenses on.
hkdorr 
Awesome day!!! That is such an adorable starfish!! So little! I would pass on all the slimy inky stuff too ..
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Yes…just couldn’t make myself handle those! Ha!
This kayak tour looks fabulous! We will put it on our list. Thanks, Karen.
I think we were fortunate to get the water at such a low level and still be able to maneuver. Marissa was hopping in and out of her boat pulling all the wild life up to see! Pretty fun!
Great kayaking trip. Blue skies!! Great creatures too. No way I’d hold a jellyfish either…or the thing spitting out blue ink. At least you saw all those beautiful creatures. Great pics too.
Yes, I let those opportunities pass me by!😀
This is more excitement in one day than we’ve had in a year (or two). Wonderful pics and narrative too. I think Harry needs a pedi. Yours looks great! :). Maybe someday you can drive to Belize and visit San Pedro where we used to live. There are mangrove swamps there like this and I haven’t heard of kayaks going thru them, just motorboats. You could introduce them! Hugs. M.E.
I so wish we had gotten to Belize when you were down there! It would have been so fun! You know, Harry’s Mom,Marty always wanted to come see you there! Wish we had gotten that accomplished!
Yes I do too. It has changed so much though that we have decided not to visit again. I want to remember it like it was. Your pictures from yesterday are really beautiful. Are you using a camera or your Iphone?
For a couple years when we were blogging, I was using two cameras… one a 35 mm And the other my phone. It was getting so that it was more difficult to transfer pictures from the larger camera to my iPad, which is what I used to write the blog. And in addition to that my phone pictures just seem to turn out better than the 35 mm that I had to keep changing lenses on.