We had heard about a County park called S.G. Simpson on the east coast of Tampa Bay from other travellers in previous years, but had not had a chance to check it out. We drove there and were lucky in that there were open spaces available. This park doesn't take reservations. The park is located in a mangrove area with each camping spot backing onto one of a maze of canals that lead to the Bay. We were able to beach and launch the canoe from the rear of our camp spot.
In spite of high winds we took the canoe out. The mangroves sheltered the bayous, but we were unable to get out onto Tampa Bay itself. Lots of osprey here, but high water levels close to shore limited the number of shore (wading) birds. Next day’s canoe ride into the shallows, brought us close to three ibis and lots of osprey plus a run in with oyster shells in some shallows. (Ouch for the canoe.)
On our way back to my folks' at Largo we took the slow road and the Sunshine Bridge. Played tennis before dropping in and got back to Mom and Dad’s about 2:30. Went to the Olive Garden for dinner. They had decided that they didn’t need our help driving home to Canada, so we left the next day after picking up Marty’s bike from the repair shop where we dropped it off on the previous day. He had to get a new rear wheel. This time the rim got bent from bottoming out in a deep dip in the road, not because of backing up. Three years ago we each got new bikes for Christmas after he crushed our old ones; plus new tires three months later after he backed into a cactus. Before leaving in the fall, he moved the bike rack from the back of the van to the front to keep the bikes safe. Wrong! He might try the roof next; then hit a bridge!
Took a new route to the Chassahowitzka County Park, the scene of last year’s camera loss. The no-see-um’s are alive and well and hungry. Next day we got on the water about noon, waiting till the no-see-um’s had breakfast. The manatee were back in the bay this year because of the cold gulf water temperature. There were lots where the warm spring fed side channels converge with the main river. The best manatee bay had a weekend crowd with other canoeists and fishermen so we didn’t stay long. We went back up “The Crack” spring channel, said a prayer for the old camera that met it’s end at the spring source and took some new pics. Had a really great canoe ride along the Chassahowitzka River. The river is a bit more challenging as it is tidal as well as having the spring fed flow. We heard there were resident otters, but we didn’t see any.
Next day we got out early as we had to check out at 2:00 p.m. Marty wanted to swim with the manatee as we had done with my son Sam two years earlier. We took the carrots we had left in our fridge and paddled out again. This time we were on our own in the bay. We had a many as 7 manatee surrounding our boat looking for handouts. One appeared to be a nursing calf. Manatee are called sea cows but “calf” might not be the right term since they are a relative of the elephant. What ever it is called, it was a pleasant treat. The water was quite mucked up from the manatee activity and we heard there was a large gator in these parts so we didn’t get out of the canoe. As Chef said in Apocalypse Now, “Don’t get out of the boat!!!”
We were about twenty minutes late getting out of our camp site, good thing no one was waiting to come in. Headed over to Hog Island in the Withlacoochee Forest. It is a beautiful prinitive camping spot where we spent New Years eve last year sitting around a roaring camp fire. Lots of tenters, but only one other RV besides the camp host. What a difference!!! Last year, the river was practically non-existent during the drought. This year the river is navigable. Planned to canoe tomorrow.
Best laid plans….It rained and rained hard in the night and morning hours. Marty put the awning out and we were at least able to sit out in the afternoon hours. Went for a walk after the rain stopped and all the tenters had left. Checked out the river route with the host who advised to paddle upstream first on the outside of the island since the return channel is marked at the top end but not at the bottom. Upstream first is always wise since you can drift home with the current if you run out of energy.
Finally, the rain stopped and we got out on the river. Saw and heard lots of limpkin. What a noise they make—a loud screeching right out of Jurassic Park. Still quite cool after the rain and we saw just a few turtles and alligators. Most hiding from the cold. Thank goodness we didn’t see the resident cotton mouth snakes that the host told us sleep in the tree branches over the river.
We had paddled upstream for about two hours, I was getting exhausted, hungry and bitchy so Marty wisely turned around and we drifted back in about 25 minutes. Got back just in time for the light rain to begin again. After supper we went in search of the owls we had heard the previous night but no luck. Enjoyed the walk under the stars and the frog serenade though.
