About a year ago, I went kayaking for the first time at Lido Key. I loved it and wanted to try it again but with a different viewing experience. I found Get Up and Go Kayaking that offered clear bottom kayaks, possible manatee sightings and crystal clear waters.
And what a different experience it turned out to be.
On the Lido Key tour, I drove up to the location at the end of a residential area to see several different tour companies checking in guests and (thank goodness after morning coffee and a long drive) a building housing restrooms.
This time, I followed my GPS into what looked like a trailer camp. Trailers were parked in no discernable line or direction. With no clear parking lot in sight, I looped around the dirt track before finally asking a woman out walking her dog where I was supposed to park. I chose a spot across from a dilapidated cabin. It didn’t look occupied (none of the cabins around the area did) and was beat up enough that I hoped it was some sort of equipment storage unit.
I followed a sign in the general direction of the water. The first thing I saw (which I cut out of my photo) was a line of port-a-potties lined up against a building. However, lo and behold, there were also kayaks ready and waiting and the water looked gorgeous.
This particular morning, there were two other couples on the tour. That meant tandem kayaks – so double the oars and twice the paddle power. And unfortunately, no one else was a senior. I vaguely wondered if this was going to be a problem. Spoiler alert: yes.
We pushed off into the water and headed around the bend. Straightaway I discovered that if I stopped to take pictures, I lost momentum and had to work twice as hard to catch up. In the tandem kayaks, one person could row while the other snapped the pics.
We rounded a bend where our guide excitedly pointed out a baby manatee in the middle of the river. Really? Where? The two kayaks flanking the baby seemed to see it but, dragging up behind them, they had to point out his two little nostrils when he surfaced for air before I saw anything. Even then, it was only the nostrils. Well, ok. Maybe things would be better when we hit the crystal-clear water.
We paddled back in the opposite direction and eventually spied an opening on the left. Our guide seemed dubious about our chances of making it in since the water levels were low. I offered to give it a try. I hadn’t gone more than a foot before the kayak beached. So much for seeing the crystal-clear waters.
We continued on, hoping to see the bald eagles he’d told us about (we did) and possibly dolphins (we did). At this point, we’d been paddling for over an hour. I was beginning to feel my shoulders and upper arms and knew I was going to pay for this later. This was the moment the guide chose to say, “Save up your energy. We’ll be returning against the tide.” I felt a little panicky. Although we started out mid-morning, I had visions of making it back around dusk, long after everyone else had left.
It occurred to me this was not the first time the guide had seen someone struggling. He started complimenting me on how well I kept up as a single kayaker. He also told me he’d had more than one person give up and he’d had to tow them in. Well now, wasn’t that reassuring. I couldn’t enjoy the return trip at all because I was determined to keep up. I spent all my energy focused on a steady rowing rhythm.
This may surprise you but oddly, tired as I was and in spite of the challenges, I enjoyed my day out on the water. It was a glorious day, not too hot, and you can’t trade in that serenity for anything.
That said, I think the excursion was too long. Perhaps they could even offer one just for seniors, so no one feels like they have to keep up.
Because of these challenges, I’d suggest seniors opt for a “gentler” tour like the one through the mangroves at Lido Key. As you can see by the picture, that one was every bit as scenic and much easier on the body.
- 8092 Marys Fish Camp Rd., Spring Hill, Florida
- http://www.getupandgokayaking.com
- Hours: Monday – Sunday 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM (there are also sunset tours but the guide indicated it could be difficult to see anything through the clear bottom boat at sunset and not much on shore.
- No phone – Use email on the Contact page
- Not wheelchair accessible
- Basic price of $72 adds on a 3% processing fee (whatever that is), $12.05 in taxes and fees and you have the option to put in the tip here or wait until the end of the tour. I put in a 20% tip and my total was about $110.
Lisa Browder 
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