03/26/2011 - Pensacola Kayak Demo Day

Launch: Pensacola Kayak and Sail Company
Destination: Bayou Chico near Pensacola Florida to help out at the Pensacola Kayak and Sail Demo Day for Kayaks. Wanted to help watch for capsizes and be nearby ready to assist. Forecast called for windy conditions but the winds held off during the Demo. Thankfully no one had any problems.
Distance: 12.4 miles
Pedal time: 5 hours
Weather: 75 degrees and mostly sunny. Winds out of the southwest 5-10. Tide coming in. Current minimal. Water temp about 68 degrees.
GPS Track: None for this pedal trip.

1) The launch spot for the Kayak Demos was active from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Ducks were interested in all the activity.

2) At any given time, there were one to two dozen people out on the water testing (demo'ing) a kayak.

3) There were pedal kayaks, sit-on top kayaks, sit-in kayaks, and even Stand Up boards available for anyone to try out.

4) One of the advantages of SUP (Stand Up Paddling) compared to regular kayak paddling is the ability to get a better look into the water. That is especially nice in Florida where one can see deep into the clear waters.

5) There were schools of minnows being pursued by trout (according to a boat captain). The minnows jumped for safety when the kayak came near them.

6) Even sea gulls were pursuing the schools of minnows.

7) This dog had on a life jacket and was keenly watching something in the water.

8) A diving bird called a Cormorant can eat large meals. Click here to see how much they can swallow.

9) Ducks had fun paddling with the paddlers in Bayou Chico.

10) Time to relax for a while as the Kayak Demo day concluded. What an enjoyable day to be out pedaling in Bayou Chico and getting to visit with kayaking friends.

01/03/2009 – Bayou Chico, Pensacola

Launch: Pensacola Kayak & Sail
Kayak: Necky
Route: Up both branches of Bayou Chico and back, then out into entrance to Pensacola Bay to play in the boat wakes and back.
Pace: Leisurely.
Weather: Partly Sunny, 65-75 degrees, winds less than 10 mph with occasional gusts

I was at Pensacola Kayak & Sail trying out a Necky Zoar Sport – my first time in Bayou Chico. Bayou Chico is a diverse bayou hosting docking facilities for yachts, nearby crane & tugboat operations, metal recycling facility, a shipyard, and petroleum storage tanks. Not far away are residential homes and an apartment complex. Pollution wise, Bayou Chico reminded me of Bayou La Batre with oil slicks on the surface.

1) The kayak is aiming toward the sandy and carpeted launch site at Pensacola Kayak and Sail.

2) A snow bird bird – you know, one that comes down here for the warmer weather.

3) Just about everywhere I looked, there were a lot of aquatic birds, ducks and other big honkers.

4) The clouds began to look heavy and it did rain later in the evening.

5) One minute the winds were blowing and there were waves on the water, the next minute waters slick off allowing reflections to double the viewing pleasure.

6) Pelicans were quite tame and seldom even acknowledged a kayaker going by.

7) An apartment complex with nice color. Looked like a great place to watch sunsets from but not do any swimming.

8) At a certain distance, it seemed like someone was watching me steadily because they never moved. The never moving person turned out to be a dummy. These people must have small kids or a dog to have fenced in waterfront property.

9) I ventured out into the open waters of Pensacola Bay to play in the boat wakes. Wasn’t wearing a spray skirt and caught a little water in the kayak causing a case of wet butt.

10) Taken at the launch site looking out across Bayou Chico.

I like the excitement of exploring new waterways and today was even more exciting because I was trying out my new Necky Zoar. Sadly, the seal around the front hatch wasn’t sealed properly which allowed water to flow freely into the front hatch storage area but Pensacola Kayak & Sail is getting it fixed. The new kayak color is dark green which I hope will work as a camouflage color so as to get closer to wildlife. The Necky Zoar is 14’ long and 25” wide – a slow kayak but for old folks who like to take photos and appreciate stability, it is perfect! You’ll have to be in some really choppy seas to feel tippy in this kayak.