Southwest Florida Exploration

Location: Ft. Myers, FL area Instructors/Guides: Rick Wiebush and Jeff Atkins (if seven or more people)
Cost: $795

This is the first of three Cross Currents Florida adventures this year. The rationale is pretty straight-forward: In south Florida in mid-March, the average air temperatures are 80 degrees (high) and 55 degrees (low). The average water temperature for that time period is 70 degrees. That’s roughly 40 degrees warmer than here in the north!
Join Rick and Jeff for this fun-filled adventure that will involve a week of day trips in southwest Florida during the dead of winter up here. This is an extra special trip because we’ll be paddling in several places that only one of the previous Florida trips have visited. The paddling will be mostly flat water, about 10 – 12 NM each day, and will include a wide range of environments and wildlife. The trips will include:
• winding our way along the East River, which takes us through a series of mangrove tunnels and lakes in the 10,000 Islands/Everglades area.
• riding the current out and back across Chokoloskee Bay to one of the outer islands in 10,000 Islands area of Everglades National Park.
• a journey to Cape Romano with its’ mysterious “dome homes” that are being swallowed by the sea.
• a circumnavigation along the sandy beaches of Cayo Costo.
Due to the pandemic, people will be choosing and arranging their own housing this year. One of the options will be a group house that will be limited to 6 – 8 people (if anyone wants to do that). Other options are motels or local airBnBs. The rental house will be centrally located for all our paddling destinations. If you don’t want to stay in the house, we’ll tell you the location before you make your independent reservations. The cost of housing is not included in the fee.
The $795 course cost includes lunches each day, pick up/drop off at the airport (if flying), and guiding. If needed, we can transport your kayak (from/to Baltimore) for an additional $100.Trip cost does not include transportation to/from south Florida, most meals, any park entrance fees, your beer/wine/liquor, and other miscellaneous expenses.