Local Review: Grassy Waters Preserve

Recently, I had the opportunity to spend the day with my mom so I wanted to take her somewhere new while going easy on the pocketbook.

We ended up at the City of West Palm Beach's Grassy Waters Preserve. This free facility is a great way to see restored Everglades up close and personal. The Cypress Boardwalk Trail is a 1-mile loop that allows you to see, feel and smell the wetlands without slogging in the muck.

Cypress "knees"

The cypress trees - from their tall tips to the knobby "knees" jutting up through the water - are one of my favorite trees in Florida. I've never been a big fan of the scrub foliage or the hardwood forests when compared to the dynamic nature of the wetlands.

There are wide open sections, where you can see the paths gently cut through the spikes of grass by canoes, kayaks and the local wildlife, including alligators.

The wild feel of the flora and fauna are special at Grassy Waters. The facility brings you closer to Old Florida in more ways than one.

The facility has a lovely little welcome center that houses rotating exhibits. On this visit, we enjoyed artifacts from the Native Americans who lived in and migrated through the wetlands.

I visit Grassy Waters about every six months or so, and love that there are new displays on a regular basis, but I am also partial to the permanent displays like the live turtles and taxidermized animals.

I have never seen an osprey that didn't look angry!

This place is truly a representation of tax dollars doing great things. This portion of the Everglades is managed by WPB's Public Utilities Division - don't you wish the "water works" card in Monopoly was this cool?

If staying on the boardwalk checking out the wildlife and plants is not close enough for you, sign up for one of the guided canoe or kayak tours.

And for those who prefer the slogging, the Nature Center has Swamp Tromps too. Check out the Grassy Water Facebook Page to see what events are coming soon.

But this was a short trip, only about an hour, so we stuck to the boardwalk. I enjoy the cypress domes (didn't I mention how much I love those trees?) and how they literally create tree islands. The history unearthed from islands like these are still being discovered in areas of Florida that were drained and developed more than 80 years ago.

Typical cypress dome - with the oldest trees and tallest trees near the center

Pickerelweed has some of the prettiest flowers

Duck potato and water lilies

I missed the chance to photograph a juvenile alligator, but did catch this beautiful great egret who didn't seem to mind me hanging around one bit.

Mom's favorite view

So, this place has an area for little ones inside the air conditioned center and programs at their level, but you can also find things for history buffs. There are places to sit and relax if the walk seems too much to tackle at one time. And it's FREE. Seriously, not taking the time to check this place out is inexcusable.

Maybe take your mom like I did - she had fun and found another reason to consider moving to my side of the Sunshine State.

Busted - Why did I let my mom have my phone?

Kayaking Monterey Bay

I would not consider myself a novice kayaker.  While I am not yet prepared to kayak whitewater in the Smoky Mountains, I would not hesitate to jump in a small self propelled craft on my own or with a partner.  Please do not confuse canoeing with kayaking - a canoe is deeper, slower, and harder to roll over. It is also far more difficult to flip a canoe back over once it has gone belly up, and I recommend simply dragging it ashore to dump the water. When looking for speed, stealth, and a low draft that makes for easier times in shallow water, the kayak is by far the better choice.
This particular kayaking adventure was another new experience for me. Prior to the beautiful west coast of California (I still generally think of the west coast as Sarasota or Naples, FL), I had kayaked both inland waters and the Florida Keys so I understood the importance of tides, wind, currents, boat wakes, and wildlife. Whitewater rafting prepared my husband and me for the 55°F water, and we gladly donned the less than flattering splash gear. The plastic-like jacket and pants are not lined or particularly comfortable and don't breathe like the popular gym clothing so readily available these days, but don't try and tough it out bare skinned! These clothes WILL keep you dry and much warmer than any sweatshirt or rain jacket. Bring/borrow water shoes too. Trust me.

Me about to head out on a very windy day (note the splash guard clothing).

Whenever you are on the water, wear your sunglasses and sunscreen even if it is chilly or overcast. Sunburns still happen on cloudy days, and peering down into the water beneath you is easier with polarized lenses.  We traveled to Monterey Bay in April, and the weather had been too windy for any whale watching vessels or to kayak outside of the bay into open waters.  The skin seering wind and cold, and the fact that this was a first time experience for us both is why our 2 yr old son did not join us this time around.  Even after the experience, this is likely one adventure we shall save for when he is a bit older and can easily swim safely back to the kayak if dumped - probably closer to 6 or 7 years old.
Now for the cool stuff!
One of the best things about this mini-expedition was the plethora of local wildlife, and I'm not just talking sea gulls. In addition to gulls and pigeons, there were plenty of sea otters, harbor seals, California sea lions, other bird species I do not pretend to know, and even a few large geese. Here comes the educational part of today's blog:

Seals vs Sea Lions

Identification Tip:

Do not confuse seals and sea lions, it offends the locals in the same way as it annoys people who drink Dunkin Donuts coffee vs. Starbucks. So take a moment to get a the short cut on identifying these awesome pinnipeds.  These photos taken while in Monterey Bay should help:

Harbor seal sitting on rocks just below the surface of the water

Seals don't really have a neck. They move around in a very awkward undulating motion when on land, and do not have the long, flexible pectoral flippers that sea lions do. Their tails are shorter than a seal's as well, and they do not have pronounced ear flaps.

Sea lions - ear flaps & long flippers are easy to spot

Sea lions are far more common on television and in animal shows because they move around on land far easier than seals do, and from what I understand have a much better attitude toward their human trainers too.  This is the animal you picture as balancing a ball on its nose and raising its tail in the air. They have extremely flexible necks and distinctively long flippers.

A very good shortcut to understanding this better is http://www.dolphinencounters.com/education-sealionvsseal.php. I was very happy to have written my descriptors prior to fact checking, and still be accurate (yay!). This particular site also credits their information to Sea World and National Geographic, so we are all on the same page.

Just for fun, here is the angry pair of geese that were not at all pleased about our exploration of Monterey Bay. The male is particularly irritated as my husband gleefully crept the kayak near "their" rocks. As I was in the front of the kayak... not cool, man.

Finally we did maneuver our way around both the New and Old Fisherman's Wharfs.  I now clearly understand the meanings of terms like Cannery Row, wharfs, and other familiars that get tossed around small oceanside towns regularly. Below is a photo of the REAL Fisherman's Wharf at Monterey. This is not a public attraction so much as a location for commercial fisherman and charters to drop off their haul for processing.  The number of sea lions using the lower structures of the wharf was astounding! The photos, unfortunately, were not.  The animals were shrouded in shadows and we dared not venture too close for a myriad of safety reasons that included the choppy waves, unfamiliar currents, and oh yeah, potentially aggressive bulls.

The REAL Fisherman's Wharf in Monterey Bay

The historical wharf is now covered in shops and local vendors and some of the most amazing clam chowder ever. The chowder was just another surprise to me; residing on the west coast of the US gave me the impression the only clam chowder worth eating had to come from New England. Chock it up to another first and another lesson learned!

As just one of many adventures had on this California trip, we covered far more territory that will be coming soon to this medium. Upcoming is a look at the Monterey Bay Aquarium and its new jellyfish exhibit, Big Sur, and the redwoods of Pfeiffer, waterfall included.  If you want to share this particular adventure yourself, I can highly recommend the organization we worked with, Adventures by the Sea.  They also had bicycle rentals and other fun options in addition to kayaks. Very cool and relaxed staff despite the fact that we were just another pair of tourists, and we were treated respectfully like locals and talked about local waters and wildlife.  Feel free to check them out!
http://adventuresbythesea.com/

Stay tuned! And regardless of the cold or rain, just remember it's only water!!
-Callie

Kayaking the River of Turtles

I have spent the past two years teaching and sharing the importance of the Loxahatchee River. In the Seminole language, "Loxhatchee" means basically "river of turtles".  While I talked about it everyday at work, finding the time to really take a day to experience this River for myself was elusive.  Just like I hear countless New Yorkers say they have never been inside the Statue of Liberty, I had never even kayaked the Loxahatchee River. Until a few months ago...

A small band of ladies decided to go kayaking on a sticky Tuesday that ended up pouring on us by the time we went home late that afternoon. We were a crew that included first timers to white water rafters.  And yes, some ended up in the water - but I'm not telling who because we all had a wonderful experience.  We stared in Riverbend Park (map below) that is now also known as Loxahatchee Battlefield Park.  It is a free park that is wonderful to bike, walk, bird watch, and even drop in a kayak or canoe. Our 3-person kayaks actually held 2 each, so in 3 small boats we headed out on a new adventure.

The Loxahatchee is an almost strange treasure to find in the mayhem that is south Florida. This early part of the river quite literally passes underneath Jupiter's major street - Indaintown Rd, and even tangles its way below I-95 and the FL Turnpike. The latter both being a maniacal drive most of the day and night. But once you settle into the chilly water, time actually slows. The lazy current makes for easy travels even for a novice on the water.  As you can see in the photos below, the local wildlife has always been aware of this haven, and expect to see all types of birds and reptiles for sure. Keep your eyes peeled, and the mammals come out too; both racoons and bats were sighted on this particular trip.  Also prepare yourself for the art of "portaging".  If you have never heard this term, well it is one you will not soon forget! For your reference:

por'-tage: the practice of carrying a canoe or other boat over land to avoid an obstacle on the water route

If the water level is low - you WILL portage at some point.  When reaching the first major obstacle, a dam, some of our crew chose to practice their portage skills... but "Not I!" said Callie.  With a bit of partner shifting, my coworker Melissa (seen as a SUP guide previously on this blogsite) was willing to drop over the damn with me.  Which is good, because it was definitely a 2-man task and approximately a 3' drop on that day.  Another pair followed us and they didn't stay quite as dry...

Christy and I had to turn back at the second portage worthy obstacle - the Masten Dam.  The first photo shown below is everyone in our group standing on the dam. The other girls did portage and continue up the River to I-95 before turning back for the day.  By the way, please pay attention while trying to lift the kayak - it may swing awkwardly and the person at lowest elevation (whether going up or coming down) is in a very tricky predicament, so be patient!  Why on earth would you be in a hurry anyway?
Relax.  Let the River work its magic and transport you back to the time of dinosaurs.  Large lillipads and ancient cypress trees cradle your through peaceful waters and air virtually free of the noise pollution that constantly follows urbanization.  Leave your mp3 player at home and listen to nature or chat with your partner. Take a few photos (and a waterproof bag for the camera).  This summer I will have my son on the Loxahatchee River - he will be 3 in one week.  We plan to drop in further up the River in Jonathan Dickinson State Park, and maybe even take a boat up to the historical "Trapper Nelson's" site deep within the Wild & Scenic River.

Everyone on this trip agreed that there is a need to explore the Loxahatchee again as a group and to be prepared to kayak from Riverbend Park all the way through JD State Park and out to the Jupiter Inlet, and I cannot wait!  Enjoy the photos below to get a feel for our little 1/2 day adventure:

My awesome kayak crew from left to right: Christy, Melissa, Me, Rachel, Kaitlyn, & Hannah

This beautiful adult gator was approximately 7', very calm and very close! About 5' away from our kayak.

Native Yellow-Bellied Sliders on the "River of Turtles"

**photos by Kaitlyn Moore

If you don't have a kayak, but still want to experience Riverbend Park, try Canoe Outfitters at http://www.canoeoutfittersofflorida.com/

To experience the Loxahatchee without a paddle, try JD State Park and the Loxahatchee Queen II will take you there! http://www.floridastateparks.org/jonathandickinson/

To learn more about the Loxahatchee River or to see some very cool photos taken from some of the area's local amateur photographers, visit http://www.loxahatcheeriver.org/about_the_river.php.  Be sure to check out the photo gallery to see the most recent pictures.

The wonderful FREE park where we started, then connected to the Wild & Scenic portion of the Loxahatchee.

Complete map of the Loxahatchee River from Riverbend to the Jupiter Inlet (www.loxahatcheeriver.org)

 There is truly no excuse for missing out on the treasures that are near wherever you may live.  There are islands that are still inland, and experiences to be had every day.  Don't just talk about it, or worse, talk about how you "never" had the time and missed the opportunity altogether. As always, I am happy to have been "offshore" once again and look forward to the next adventure!

It is practically summer - go get wet!
-Callie