Exploring New Waters: Crystal Beach to the Spoil Islands
It’s always exciting to put in at a brand-new launch, and our recent paddle out of Crystal Beach did not disappoint. It was a classic, hot Florida summer day, but the breeze and the water kept things moving.
Our goal for the day? A small spoil island sitting roughly halfway between the mainland and the beautiful outline of Honeymoon Island on the horizon.
The Paddle Out: Fun in the Chop
Leaving Crystal Beach, we were immediately greeted by some lively, choppy water. Rather than slowing us down, the chop just added a great level of playfulness to the ride. The group handled the conditions beautifully, keeping their eyes on the horizon as the mainland began to fade behind us.
Distance: ~Halfway to Honeymoon Island
Conditions: Hot, sunny, moderate chop
Private Island Oasis & A Runaway Kayak
When we arrived at the spoil island, we realized we had the entire place to ourselves. It’s a small, quiet spot with a rustic fire pit right in the center that looked like it had hosted many stories over the years.
The Setup: We claimed the shady spots around the fire pit to set up our lunch camp.
The Cool Down: The heat was definitely up, so a few paddlers jumped right in the water to cool off.
The Rescue: Just as we were settling in, a sudden gust of wind caught one of the kayaks on the beach and sent it drifting out. Fortunately, the team jumped into action quickly, executed a flawless rescue, and brought the runaway boat safely back to shore!
High-Flying Guests and Hidden Springs
After packing up lunch, we launched from our private oasis and headed south toward the next spoil island. Not long after getting back on the water, we got a spectacular treat: a Coast Guard C-130 did a incredibly low flyover right above our group.
From there, we searched for the local spring. We paddled around the area hoping to catch a glimpse, but the high tide got the best of us—the spring was buried deep under the high water, keeping its secrets for another day.
We wrapped up the afternoon with a steady paddle back to the Crystal Beach take-out. It was a warm, active, and thoroughly rewarding day exploring a fantastic new route with an amazing crew of paddlers!
Next Trip Details:
- Location: Hillsborough River
- Date: Aug 2nd
- To Sign Up: Call the shop or stop by to get on the list!
If you want to be part of our next adventure, don’t wait! We are already filling up our next outing. Call Osprey Bay Outdoors or stop by the shop to get on the list. All boats and all skill levels are welcome!
