By John Wakeman
Both residents and visitors to Florida so often view the ‘wilds’ of this state through the lens of US 1. They see endless shopping centers and theme parks, not knowing that the real Florida is nearby, lurking right around the corner. It can be viewed by heading to one of the State’s many rivers, lakes and waterways and setting off with a sense of adventure in a canoe or kayak.
Whether you choose to explore the Intracoastal or a quiet backwater stream, you can soon get lost in the abundant natural beauty that Florida has to offer. The mangroves of the Intracoastal consist of a maze of trails through the shallow saltwater, many of which are only accessible by paddle craft. In the quiet and solitude that paddling provides, as opposed to that of a powered boat, you may hear the ‘pop’ of a pistol shrimp, the cry of an osprey or a puff of air as a dolphin surfaces to breathe. You may spot an army of fiddler crabs on the march, a manatee dining on sea grass or a variety of wading birds working the grass flats for their lunch. On the Loxahatchee Rivers, South Fork or North Fork, a kayak or canoe serves as a time machine, transporting you back in time on pristine waterways that have changed little since Native Americans plied the same waters. Only the sound of an airplane overhead, or a motorcycle in the distance, will wrench you back to the 21st century.
Although I do not consider myself a paddling expert, I do consider myself a paddling enthusiast. For the past decade, my wife Judy and I have paddled between 550 and 700 miles per year. Paddling is not only good exercise for the body, but provides nourishment for the soul as you connect with nature. I look forward to sharing more insights, tips and paddling experiences in future stories. In the interim, to find out more about paddling on the Treasure Coast, visit the website of the 27-80 Paddlers Club.
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