Sebastian Inlet State Park

Paddled a new place with some old friends today, Sunday, July 10, 2011.   Tom and Amy M. are spending the week in Melbourne Beach.  With their three children, Michael, Nathan and Hannah.   I arrived at their ocean front condo to learn they saw a sea turtle come on the beach to lay its eggs last night.  I've never seen that.  But, I've never stayed over night on the Atlantic during nesting season.  I had to find a way to if not top, at least match that experience.  My plan was to kayak Turkey Creek.  Not to far from where they were staying, a fairly easy paddle,  a chance to see alligators, manatees and dolphins.  So, off to the Palm Bay Marina.  First time I've been there by land.  Apparently their kayak fleet is limited.  None were available.  Time for plan B.  The Marina employee suggested Captain Hiram's, or Sebastian Inlet State Park.   I bought my second kayak from Captain Hiram's rental fleet.  Captain Hiram's is on the Indian River, and from what I saw, is mostly and open water paddle.  I had read that Sebastian Inlet State Park had some coves, islands, and other protected areas.  A better paddle to see wildlife, I thought.  So, off we went to the State Park, passing Captain Hiram's on the way.

I had been to SISP twice before.  Once before I had a kayak, the last time, the first Dave's Yak Tales Tale Did not paddle that time either.  Had I, I would have known that rentals are at the Sebastian Inlet Marina, on the north side of the Inlet.  We entered from the south, paid the entry fee, only to be told the rentals were across the bridge.  Over the bridge, to the next entrance.  Not the Marina.  Third time was the charm.  I learned you do not have to pay the Park fee at the Marina.  You do have to pay a $3.00 launch fee.  Per boat, I think.   But, since we rented three yaks, the launch fee was waived.  The Marina employee patiently showed the group of inexperienced paddlers, led by one with no experience in the area, where to go, outlining a course on a hard copy of this map .   Another gentlemen told us a manatee was off the dock.   I went to get the kayaks off the car, while my friends went to see the manatee.  Not bad, two days in Florida, and they already saw a sea turtle and a manatee.  Actually, they had been in Florida five days, but the first three were spent at an Orlando hotel and Universal Studios.  They were now in the Real Florida.

Sorry to ramble on, but as this is my first kayaking visit to SISP, I am doing this for myself so next time I know what to do.  If renting, go straight to the Marina.  We were on the Indian River Lagoon at 12:40.

Tom

Great egret

Cormorant





Dolphin

  Am I a good guide, or what?  Manatee at the dock, dolphin while we paddled.  I could not show my guests the third member of the Florida Trifecta.  The guy at the Marina said the water is to salty for alligators.  All the ocean water coming through the Inlet.

Tom and Nathan

Michael

Great blue heron

Blue heron

Wood stork with great blue heron

Hannah and Amy

We paddled along seagrass flats, watching dozens of wading birds.

Least terns

L

Ibis

Osprey

I don't recall seeing more than two other boats on the water.  One couple fishing, another who launched their kayak from the marina.

The dolphin, or perhaps another, was back in the same area we had seen it on our way out.   Michael got a great view as it surfaced next to him.   Didn't get that pic.  That's Nathan, above.

We landed at 2:45.   A nice 2 hour paddle.   Amy asked the guy at the concession for dining suggestions.  He had two.  The Sand Bar, and Captain Hiram's.  As my friends had dinner at the Sand Bar, Saturday, we went to Captain Hiram's.

I had the grouper po'boy.  As did 2/5 of the McMahon family.  We all had dolphin for desert.

A small pod swam just off shore.  Easy to see through the open windows along the Indian River.  And, if I had not gone a few miles past US 1 on our way there, we may have finished our meal and missed them.