The Big Crossing: Cortez

Well, it's here. Today. Crossing Tampa Bay. The most intimidating part of the entire 700 miles.

The forecast is just 6 mph in Tampa Bay, 10 mph in the Gulf. It's a headwind of course, but quite manageable. A nice sunny day. Sounds good.

The currents line up perfectly.  The crossing has a couple of segments, bending out into the gulf in middle to Egmont Key. In the morning the tide will finishing an ebb, slack at 11, and then start to flood. That means we basically just paddle due south the whole way and the current drifts us out to Egmont Key and back to the southern shore.

We are thankful for our fortune with such good conditions. 

As we set out the wind is 10 mph and it increases a little during the first leg. We stop to assess several times, to make sure we are both safe and comfortable. 

With a fetch of many miles even the 10 mph wind whips up three foot waves. If those were long-period well-formed swells it would be a yawn but they are very close together and mixed with lots of chop from all directions. Sort of like a giant washing machine tub.

We feel comfortable and slowly grind out the crossing. We take a lunch break at Egmont Key and finally reach the south shore at 2 p.m.

Now it's time to celebrate and Fran is on the march for ice cream. We had hoped to get some at the snack shop in De Sota Park yesterday but it was closed. This time we want to find some for sure and fortunately do not have to paddle far before I see the sign TWO SCOOPS. 

We run into a couple of sailboaters as well as Steve, who recently opened up a kayak shop just a few blocks away. He helps me with a new headlamp since mine died a few days ago.

As the daylight fades we are still looking for the campsites we have heard about. We find bird refuges, wet mangrove islands, and private property. No campsites.

Dark falls completely. We gear up accordingly and keep looking. We ask locals and get foggy directions to a couple of places. The only sure bet was Gaspirilla Island, back a couple of miles. I'd settle for permission to sleep on a dock but apparently that is illegal. 

Fran decides it is time to opt out. She is done and does not want to paddle back in the dark. She heads for a motel office. It turns out to be a mobile home park and we are quickly set up with a place to stay in a vacant unit! It is rather embarrassing to not be able to find the campsite but due to the generosity of Merrill we are in a bed tonight!

This is the first time on any of my hikes that we needed to ask for help. Thank you Merrill.