Paddle boards Rule, Kayaks Drool!

Why you should definitely use a paddle board while touring the mangroves of Florida.

A sarcastic post

1. Just as you find your balance on the board, boats will drive by at top speed in an attempt to knock you off your board. At this point you will think maybe I should let them. I am sweating so much.

2. You will be the tallest thing on the water therefore you will act as a sail. Whichever way the wind blows you will be pushed that way. Of course the mangroves will be in the opposite direction, but this is great news. You get double the work out as your fellow kayakers. You will be working your arms, legs, and abs. #nooffdays #grindneverstops

3. You will see awesome fish and underwater plants. You will reach for your camera and realize the paddle board had nowhere to put your stuff. All of your belongs including your camera are on someone else’s kayak. They are very far ahead because they can cut through the wind. Its fine you don’t need technology anyway.

4. You finally catch up to your friends and enter the canal of red mangroves. You will be loving the view until you pass through shade and realize you have been completely fried in the sun. It is okay, it will turn tan…eventually.

5. You will then notice the propagules hanging are longer than expected. One hits you right in the fore head, then another one, then another one. The branches are getting much lower and the canal is narrower. This is your time to show off your flexibility. It is so much fun doing limbo and nearly being decapitated.

6. You take note that there are prop and drop roots. They are so cool you haven’t seen them before. They begin closing in on you. You will eventually need to sit down on the board. This doesn’t stop your hair from being snagged on drop roots and branches and getting scratched by prop roots. It is all worth it, for when you reach the big open lake you will be so relieved. 

7.You see where the red mangroves meet the black. The pneumatophores are more interesting in person. You spot some yellowfin mojarras and attempt to snap a picture but completely miss it. Now it's time to find your way back

8. And the fun restarts.

https://floridadep.gov/fco/fco/content/floridas-mangroves

https://www.floridamuseum.ufl.edu/southflorida/habitats/mangroves/species/