Haulover Canal

Went to sleep last night, Sunday's kayaking location TBD (To Be Dreamed). Rock Springs Run, Alexander Creek, the Hontoon Loop, Econlochatchee River, and DeLeon Springs were considered. I awoke at 7:50 am, and thought "Haulover Canal" Good choice (not that any of the others would have been bad).

The road paving project mentioned in my last Haulover Canal Tale is complete. No detours from 406 through the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. As I approached the Canal Bridge, I saw the road to the Bairs Cove boat ramp has been repaved as well. Very nice, but what about me? And other paddlers who launch on the other side of the bridge? Change is afoot on that side as well. The dirt/asphalt road to the Indian River is now all dirt. This is an upgrade from the partial dirt, partial asphalt track, full of pot holes and jagged edges. I don't know if paving plans are in the works. I say leave it dirt. Better for the environment and it adds to the sense of adventure.

My kayaking adventure began at 9:40, paddling west into the Indian River to Mullet Head Island. Saw several dolphins on the way, about a mile paddle. A tri colored heron trio among the many birds at the Island sanctuary.

Egret, above a couple pelicans, keeps an eye on a clutch of cormorants.

Great blue heron among the pelicans.
More cormorants, pelicans, and a GBH.

No rosette spoonbills today. Were cormorant sentries keeping them away ?

Circle of Mullet Head complete, I headed back to Haulover Canal. Rather, I began to. First, a manatee to observe, then several dolphins. Three here, one exhaling.

Dolphin watch done, I now paddled to, and past, the Canal, past the alternate channel to the south, towards my secret manatee spot.
The Manatee Zone sign does not mark my secret spot, I just like the picture.

Wouldn't be a secret, would it?

I approached the spot, hearing a splash as I paddled around a corner. A splash made by at least one manatee. This is not that splash, but a later one, for illustrative purposes.

I counted five manatees in the area.

The opening photo is from this part of the paddle. As are these.

I watched the frolicking manatees for almost thirty minutes. I left, paddling to and through the alternate channel.

To Dolphin Cove, which, alas, had no dolphin. To Bairs Cove, which had lots of manatees, and boaters coming and going, and two girls floating on a raft in the middle of it all. I'm sure that P.O.ed the boaters more than the manatees. I watched for a while, then went on my way. Too crowded for me, and, I have my secret spot. On the Manatee Overlook, where I looked over a few more sea elephants, on to the Mosquito Lagoon. Via the alternate channel on the north side of the Canal, of course.

Another manatee at the Mosquito Lagoon end of the Canal. Smooth seas, clear skies, would have been perfect for a Shuttle launch.

I had considered, strongly, watching Friday/Saturday's midnight launch from the yak. The thought of several hour in dark, mosquito laden waters deterred me.

Today was beautiful. Hotter than Hades, but rare not to see dark clouds on an August afternoon.

It was only 12:15 when the above pic was snapped, but you get the idea. Reason 127 of why I love kayaking. It's always cooler on the water. A 6pm check of weather.com shows a temperature of 93 in Winter Park, my home, 87 in Titusvile, near Haulover Canal.

I paddled back west, as a dolphin swam east through the Canal. It was not the only angler. Lots of boats on the water, plus people on both banks. Saw more manatees at the Overlook. Paddled under the bridge, across the Canal, towards Bairs Cove. Which had a crowd of kayakers at the entrance. But, they left, three in one direction, two in the other, before I arrived.

There were a lot of manatees. So many, I did not notice one next to me, nor it me. Until we touched. For an instant I thought I might roll over after it rose up under my yak. I kept my balance, got a good splashing from the manatee's fluke. Nice show for the folks watching from shore.

The boaters watching the manatees were respectful. Turned off their engines, looked, did not touch. I thought for a moment one boater was going to toss potato chips. Nope, he munched them while watching.

I spent over a half hour with the manatees. I left, paddled to the launch area, getting tangled in some guy's fishing land as I landed. It's hard to avoid six people casting from the launch area. Why don't they fish standing on the concrete ramp over at Bairs Cove?

Yak on the car, I stopped at the Scrub Jay Trail. Looked for spoonbills first. I've see them off the trail when the water is high. Water is high, but no spoonbills. Saw a raccoon, and then, near the end of the trail, heard to scrub jays calling. Saw one.

It flew off the tree, on to the path, chirping and hopping towards me.

A sign at the start of the trail informs people that it is a crime to feed scrub jays. I don't reacall seeing the sign before, I no recal the trail littered with nuts. Which explains the close encounter.

I stopped at the restaraut at the Max Brewer Causeway. To find it is closed. Hopefully just until the new bridge and fishing pier are completed.