Feb. 1: Day 2 Paddling the Florida Keys

We left the Elks campground in Tavernier with a send-off from our hosts, Dave and Lynda, joined by two other paddling buddies, Cynthia and Christine. From Community Harbor, we paddled south, around the entrance to Tavernier Creek and proceeded past the Cowpens and through “Toilet Seat Pass.”

Now for those not familiar with this Keys phenomenon, Toilet Seat Pass is an official boat channel, marked by, you guessed it, toilet seats. This one, the original, has more than 100, posted on PVC pipe, by individuals, groups, Boy Scout Troops, family reunions, veterans, you name it. This particular one happens to be courtesy of the WWOW (Wild Women on the Water), of which both Christine and Cynthia are proud members. They’re mostly powerboaters, but these two are trying to get them to convert to human-powered paddling!

At the top of Snake Creek, we encountered some baby nurse sharks, and a lone paddler, in a rental from our friends at Backcountry Cowboy Outfitters (www.backcountrycowboy.com) in Islamorada. We told him to say hello to JC and Kristie for us. 

We found a cut through back into Snake Creek, which we took to the oceanside of Plantation Key. Stopped for a leg stretch (our first of the day!) at Island Grill (www.keysislandgrill.com) on their sandy beach out back. Carol, the bartender, indulged our search for the perfect “Paddle-tini,” the Signature Drink we’d like to have perfected by the time we reach Key West and our finale party on Feb. 13. Blue Curacao is a no-brainer for the color. Carol suggested orange Stoli vodka. Some fresh-squeezed lime juice  and voila! Next time we might try some lime zest to simulate seagrass! Suggestions welcome!

While we don’t advocate drinking and paddling, a cocktail at the end of a trip is a sweet reward, and we had less than a mile to go to our night’s respite at Covonut Cove (www.coconutcove.net) a great mom-and-pop oasis with a ‘nature preserve’ and tenting area.

Rick and Magda welcomed us with open arms, informed us of a party, bonfire and live music going on that night and we were invited. First, we had a little work to do (laptops travel in a super drybag), then we headed to Bill Kelly’s live radio show at Whale Harbor less than a mile away. There, our friends joined us: Greg & Sarah, Cynthia & Dave (hiz honor, mayor of Islamorada!), Dave & Lynda.

It doesn’t get much better than this: Paddling Keys style!

Miles logged: 10

Weather: Couldn’t get any better

The company: Priceless.