The Changing of the Tides (ECT Day 9)
- Paddled Today: 15 miles
- Total Paddled: 36 miles
- Total Hiked: 165.7 miles
Oyster Bay Chickee to Harney River Chickee (Everglades 99-mile Wilderness Waterway)
Last night was one of my worst sleep nights so far. I think I was a tad stressed about making noise being so close to another group. There’s just no way around it though, we’re sharing a dock with them. Even so, I could not let it go that my kayak kept bumping the post it was tied to and so a few different times got up to try and tie it a different way. Then, I was nervous about my knots and my kayak floating away. Yeah, a little bit anxious I guess.
Our team got up 6:30 am like we have been and did pretty good at being quiet while taking down our tents and setting up a little breakfast nook. Just by moving around though, the whole dock sways.
This morning we had scrambled eggs, then it was packing up and heading out. We once again got going earlier than the day before (how long will we continue this trend!?) at 8:07 am. I was the last to leave the chickee and thanked the other group for being so quiet and courteous and wished them well on the rest of their journey. They did likewise to us.
On the Water Again!
As I kayaked out to dad and Don, I heard a noise behind me. I didn’t see it, but they did and pointing, said it was a dolphin. This too seems to be a trend; getting visited by a dolphin as we take off.
Here’s two screenshots of the various mapping apps I was using. Don had some kind of GPS mapping tool, dad had the boat depth finder, and we each had a physical map as well. And, I think we used all of these various sources.
Until about 2:00 pm we battled, as Bob Seger sings… “against the wind.” We were going through the last of the big stretches of open water for a while. Thankfully, the waves weren’t too big. I’d set my eyes on a point ahead where it looked like I might find a little respite, then make a straight line to it. Once there, I’d let the paddle set, rest my arms, check my map apps, and maybe cast a few times. Usually I’d have some adjustments to make with something or another too. Then I’d seek the next safe “harbor” ahead.
It felt like we got to the start of the Shark River quickly in the morning. It was wide. Once again, a bigger water body than we’d expected. When I reconnected with the boat squad at that intersection, I received a fish report. They’d caught some Spotted Seatrout crossing the last bay! A few of them were within the size range to keep too, which they did. These would start to become a staple in our fishing harvest.
I paddled fairly consistently during the first half of the day. We did take a break at the Shark River Chickee, but with the wind and shade it was pretty cold, so our early lunch was a quick one. We estimated we’d gone a third of our distance for the day, so I knew I had to keep up the strong pace. The next 2 hours were the toughest going against the current of the tide and the wind!
It’s All About the Tides
My goal was to get to a large cut off towards Tarpon Bay by 2:00 pm. This marked the 2/3 distance for the day, at least by my rough estimates. Karl and I made it with a few minutes to spare. I celebrated with some Mike-And-Ikes. And hallelujah, praise all that’s good, for once during this trip, I started going with the current! And the wind! It was amazing!
I felt like I could fly down the river. Only, I didn’t. Instead, I just kept it light and let the river take me. This last five miles “down” the Harney River was some of my favorite so far largely because of the ease and the setting. It was getting later in the day and the sun lower. Dad and Don had gone ahead so it was just me out there hanging out. I attempted to do some more intentional (rather than just dragging something behind me) fishing with little luck.
You may have noticed, all my videos are a short 6-7 seconds long. There is a reason. That’s the file size limit I can upload. I’d like to take longer videos, so plan to see if I can slightly lower the quality and see if that helps. If anyone knows of other tricks, please comment… I do read them all, and appreciate y’all 🙂
One of my favorite things today was investigating this narrow side channel. Pretty amazing.
Around 4:00 pm, my current started to slow to nothing as the wind died and it neared low tide. I started paddling to our chickee and had about 1.5 miles to go and was in full sun protection mode. It was super bright shining off the water surface.
On the way, I came across this meteorology station. This past summer, I worked on similar stations for my seasonal position with The National Park Service. I recognized some of the instrumentation even. This one had some funky stuff I’ve never seen. And, another slight difference is ours required accessing via towers up about 20 feet in the air due to the large Sierra snow pack, rather than by boat.
We Love A Good Chickee (Even if Crumbling A Bit)
As I neared the boat team, the chickee too came into sight. I could see them from far off and watched Don pull in two fish and then dad got one too. They’d found a spot in the river slightly deeper than its surroundings where some fish seemed to be hanging. I drifted through and caught a trout there as well.
Still feeling the moment, I did a lap around a small island nearby before heading to the Harney River Chickee.
I really liked this spot and this evening. It was so calm! We heard Barred Owls calling back and forth. “Who cooks for you?… Who cooks for you, all?” If you have no idea what I’m talking about Google that phrase up, it’s what they sound like. These ones got so riled up though, they started sounding like monkeys. I thought so anyways.
To answer the owls inquiry… Dave H Master chef cooked for us again, pan frying a few of the trout from the day. To round off the meal, there was some decadent pasta as a side. Absolutely scrumptious!
A few mosquitoes came out, but just a few. And we were able to have the chickee to ourselves like the first night. The space that allows is so nice!
Hanging that evening, I schemed some for tomorrow since it’s the biggest mileage day of the trip with some decision making involved as well. Even so, it was another early night into the tents. It’s pretty tiring being out on the water and sun all day!
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Comments 3
Enjoying your posts, short videos and all. Glad to see someone slowing down a bit on the hikes to enjoy all that is around and not just “get the miles” although you still are. It’s a balmy 0 degrees here in central Michigan
I’d happily have a 40 degree day right about now!
Beautiful pictures & videos!
Your detour through the Everglades has been amazing thus far. Al must be in the zone with the multitude of fish varieties. I see you are paddling through the newly named Gulf of America. I wonder when the name will change on your GPS?