First Sunday Paddle - Even Numbered Month: Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park

We will hold First Sunday Paddles in even-numbered months (02-Feb, 04-Apr, 06-Jun, 08-Aug, 10-Oct, 12-Dec) at Collier County's Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park, where you nearly always see dolphins. Below are the basic points you'll need to know. For more details, keep reading after the bullet points. * **Paddle at your own risk. You are 100% responsible for yourself** * **CHECK THIS PAGE THE MORNING OF THE PADDLE FOR POSSIBLE WEATHER CANCELLATION! POSTING BY 7 AM AT LATEST** * **Launch time is 9:00. Be there by 8:30 AM to unload and stage boats** * **Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park requires a Florida State Parks Annual Pass, or a day pass you can purchase the day of the visit. Details below** * **We will launch into (Water) Turkey Bay from the park and paddle north until we go either east, into a long mangrove trail going inshore to the Cocohatchee River, or continue northt towards Wiggins Pass to explore the Barefoot Trail, the Double-Secret Tunnel, and/or the main channel of the Cocohatchee River** * **Direct any questions to Tom Long** * **Participation REQUIRES you to wear a lifejacket - properly fitted, properly worn** * **Kayakers must be able to paddle 8 miles and be able to re-enter their boats with assistance from another kayaker to get out of water that's over your head, should you capsize. Kayaks under 12 feet long are strongly discouraged** * **Bring PLENTY of water, sunscreen, and bug spray** The Wiggins Pass and Cocohatchee River area provides an outstandingly beautiful paddle. While conditions cannot ever be guaranteed, the water is often much clearer in and near the pass than many other venues in Collier County. Dolphins are present most of the time (about 80%, estimated). The bird count is usually pretty high, particularly if the tide is low enough to reveal sandbars for the birds to rest or wade while fishing. Great Blue Herons, Little Blue Herons, Tri-Colored Herons, Great Egrets, Snowy Egrets, Reddish Egrets, Brown Pelicans, Cormorants, Ospreys, Eagles, Terns, Gulls, and numerous other species of the smaller waders and beach birds are normally present. Jumping fish are also a regular occurance. Once in a while there will be manatees, leaping rays, sharks, or even a Great White Heron. You'll launch from the boat ramp on the east (right turn) side as you go north into the park. You can unload and reload your boat right at the top of the launch ramp before moving your vehicle to allow others access to the ramp. There may be competition with powerboats for launch access, but there is a small cut in the mangroves to the left of the ramp that can accomodate paddlecraft, only, so try to use that. Please double up your cars in the long trailer parking spaces, if possible. As mentioned above, Delnor-Wiggins Pass State Park requires a Florida State Parks Annual Pass, or a day pass you can purchase online, the day of the visit. You cannot purchase a day pass in advance of the day you'll use it. There is a park entrance fee. If you are alone in the car, it will be $4.00. If you have two or more in the vehicle, it's $6.00. But you can no longer pay the fee at the gate. Go to this site: https://reserve.floridastateparks.org/Web/Memberships/CustomerMembershipPasses.aspx. Enter your email address, then choose Delnor-Wiggins in the dropdown menu and pick the appropriate entrance fee window. Park officials have confirmed that there is no launch fee for a non-motorized vessle, which is what we all have, so ignore the launch fee window. To participate, you must do the following: 1. **Properly wear your properly fitted lifejacket (otherwise, you will not be welcomed)** 2. **Be aware of your surroundings and stay with the group** 3. **Be respectful to everyone and the environment** You need to know your own paddling limitations. There aren't likely to be difficult conditions on the trip, with none of it actually in the Gulf (unless you choose to), but it can be as long as 7.5 miles. All paddlers should be practiced at re-entering their boats with an assist from a fellow paddler, in case they fall out! By clicking the RSVP Attend button in Meetup or Facebook, you acknowledge that you accept full responsibility for any consequence which occurs as a result of your participation in this activity. If your equipment becomes damaged or lost, or you are hurt; even killed, you agree that it's not the fault of the event Coordinators or the Paradise Coast Paddlers Club. Bring AMPLE DRINKING WATER, serious sunscreen, and bug repellent. Dont apply the bug repellent and then leave it in your car. It won't help you there. Bring it with you. Be sure to check this posting the morning of the paddle, before you leave home, to make sure there isn't a weather cancellation or some other issue. If you have questions, post them in the comment section and a Coordinator will reply, or you can text or call Tom Long at 239.963.6162.