To Pasco Paddlers,
The Paddling Pasco program
was created by the Pasco County Parks
and Recreation system to encourage the public to get out and enjoy the great outdoors
and the wonderful blueways of Pasco
County. It is a series of
trips planned and lead along the coast and coastal rivers; the goal is to
paddle all the coastal blueways in Pasco
County. Paddling is very good low impact exercise and
this program offers the chance to meet others of all ages and abilities participating in the same
activity. On each trip
we try to incorporate a little more than only paddling, to enhance the
experience and the memories. As part of this program we offer the 5th
trip in the series.
Paddling
Pasco Trip #5,
Sunday, June 10, 2012, 8am to 11am
This trip will be in partnership with the Werner Boyce
Salt Springs
State Park citizen
service organization (CSO), The Salt Springs Alliance. Here is the itinerary:
The trip will be from the state park to a small island called Durney
Key just off the mouth of the Cotee
River and then back to
the state park, with about 1 hour on the island. Plan is to paddle along the
coast to the mouth of the river and then head west to the island. Trip back
will be more direct.
Low tide is at 1 pm. Winds in the morning should be light and may gain
some speed as the day warms up. If you are a member of the CSO there is no
cost, if not there is a $5 launch fee – money going to support the CSO
and state park programs. The entire trip is scheduled to be about 3 hours with
about 2 hours in the water, to and from the island.
This is a short trip, but visiting this small island is truly a great outing.
On the way out we will travel in shallow water and look for sea life and
wildlife along the mangrove shoreline. Scouting trips have experienced lots of
rays, various species of fish, porpoises and several species of sea birds. You
can explore the island, take some wonderful pictures, swim and snorkel in
shallow water and grass flats or lounge in a beach chair and visit with others.
One other option is to test paddle some of the variety of boats, if fellow
paddlers would like to allow the opportunity. If you have not been to this
island, I believe you will really enjoy the short visit and probably visit
again on your own.
To register please call the Pasco County
Parks and Recreation
Department at 813-929-2760, provide the number of paddlers and provide contact information (email
and phone).
Other:
·
For those that were on the last
trip – it ended up a little longer and difficult than expected mostly
because of the wind (I apologize for that). This is a shorter trip and there
may be some wind coming back in, but this is a trip most should be able to
handle. Please do not let the last trip keep you from participating in this
one.
·
There will be a waiver that each
participant must sign on the day of the trip at the launch location.
·
Please bring the appropriate
launch fee.
·
Consider bringing sunscreen, hat,
sunglasses, camera (water proofed), snacks and non-alcoholic beverages, water
shoes, towel, beach chair, and snorkel and mask (we will bring a dive flag, if
you have one bring one also).
·
Paddling Pasco shirts may be
available for sale. We need to re-order and
if the order is in, we will have some. Funds from shirt sales go to a donation
account to pay for the shirts and to support this program.
·
After the trip we would like to
meet at a local restaurant on the water to discuss the development of an
official volunteer paddling club to help plan future trips and events. There
have been some preliminary discussions pertaining to doing a fundraising paddle
to support cancer research similar to the land based events, and the potential
of planning a day or maybe two of paddling programs to include recreational
paddling trips, races, fishing contest, education and training classes, etc. Goal
would be to have a variety of paddling related activities based out of one of
the coastal parks such as Anclote Gulf
Park. If you are interested in participating or listening in on the
discussion, please let us know.
·
Launch location – It is at
the northern terminus of Old Post
Road in Port Richey. Take Bay Blvd. off US 19 west to Old Post Road. Go
north on Old Post Road.
At the end of pavement, continue straight through the fence onto a dirt road to
the launch location.
·
Any questions on any of the above,
please contact us at 813-929-2760.
·
Please keep an eye out for email
updates.
