Kayaking through the Mangroves

A short distance from the mooring field is an area of Mangroves that can be explored by kayak. Mangrove plants, or walking trees as they are sometimes called, are an important component of the Florida ecosystem. They provide shelter to many fish and creatures. Their unique structure recycles important nutrients and they protect the banks from erosion.  One afternoon Tom and I decided to check it out.  We were a little hesitant because there have been several snake hunts underway in the Florida everglades to help eradicate the unnatural, human introduced, (of course) population of boa constrictors that are damaging the ecosystem due to the large amounts of prey they are eating and their rapid reproduction.
The mangrove area is thick and at times you have to lay down in your kayak to get under the branches.  I was actually more concerned about spiders than snakes but still! Anyway we took off to explore map of water trails in hand.  There is supposed to be a loop through the mangroves but we never made it all the way.  They were so thick and passage so narrow you couldn't paddle. It was more of a push yourself under and through. After a while it became more annoying than fun so we turned around and came back out the same way we went in.  Did see bugs but thank goodness no snakes.