2024-10-19 NWR 3 Refuse Removal
Trail photos
Author
Trail stats
- Distance
- 4.41 mi
- Elevation gain
- 3 ft
- Technical difficulty
- Moderate
- Elevation loss
- 3 ft
- Max elevation
- 22 ft
- TrailRank
- 32
- Min elevation
- -30 ft
- Trail type
- Loop
- Time
- 2 hours 49 minutes
- Coordinates
- 423
- Uploaded
- October 19, 2024
- Recorded
- October 2024
near Royal Palm Hammock, Florida (United States)
Viewed 302 times, downloaded 0 times
Trail photos
Itinerary description
We set out before dawn, the pitch-black sky swallowing us as we paddled into the marsh. The moon broke through briefly, casting a faint light on the water before slipping behind the clouds again. It was just enough to guide us as we began our search for the derelict SUP.
The mission wasn’t straightforward. We navigated a maze of mangroves, circling, doubling back, and hitting several dead ends. Every twist in the channels held promise, but more often than not, it led to a false start. Yet, the quiet rhythm of our paddles and the calm of the marsh kept us moving.
Finally, Sir Magellan Hatcher spotted it—tangled in the mangrove roots. It was a beauty, and the satisfaction of finding it was undeniable. After tying it to the stern, the SUP tracked like an Infantry Grunt in close formation. On the way back, we searched for the bag of ropes Stan had brought, only to realize it was in the truck bed. That little oversight made the paddle even more interesting—the adventure you'd like to write about.
The mission wasn’t straightforward. We navigated a maze of mangroves, circling, doubling back, and hitting several dead ends. Every twist in the channels held promise, but more often than not, it led to a false start. Yet, the quiet rhythm of our paddles and the calm of the marsh kept us moving.
Finally, Sir Magellan Hatcher spotted it—tangled in the mangrove roots. It was a beauty, and the satisfaction of finding it was undeniable. After tying it to the stern, the SUP tracked like an Infantry Grunt in close formation. On the way back, we searched for the bag of ropes Stan had brought, only to realize it was in the truck bed. That little oversight made the paddle even more interesting—the adventure you'd like to write about.
Comments (4)
You can add a comment or review this trail
Duke,
Did you attempt to poke around and find a way through to that large pond/lake that is a little bit due south of your turnaround point?
How much do you want for the Bote Bugslinger?
Wasn't able to reach it from Duke's Lake. We went home and plotted the course using azimuths. We got to about 50 feet from the GPS location and started a "mangrove search pattern." Mac located it and we pulled it back. The year of marsh life became a colony for worms, shell creatures, and gunge. Stan's neighbor loves SUPs, and he is ready to paddle around their lake.
Thanks. All good to know. Once we get past mid-November, and I can get back in the water, please let me know the next time you plan to go back to that spot, if it will be on a weekend or a holiday. That is, if you're willing. I'd love to see that for myself.