Kayak Trip to Stiltsville!

RATING (http://files.meetup.com/270488/Trip%20Ratings.pdf) - Intermediate SK3, approx 6-7 miles, 3+ hours, Medium Speed, open water crossing, tidal rips possible.

Enjoy a morning tour of Biscayne National Park and the remaining structures of Stiltsville (http://www.stiltsville.org/pages/history.html).

For more info check out the Cape Florida State Park site (http://www.floridastateparks.org/capeflorida/).

TRIP DESCRIPTION - We'll launch from the beach in an area specifically set aside by the park for kayaks. The trip goes south along the ocean side of Key Biscayne past the Cape Florida Lighthouse, across a boat channel and onto the flats that surround Stiltsville. We will head southwest through the houses, perhaps stopping off for a bite if we are invited aboard. Please bear in mind that these are private structures, and while we may be invited to visit, we're not entitled to board. After reaching the furthest point southwest we will return by a different route.

TRIP TIMING - Please plan on being in line at the gate when the park opens at 8AM, and in the water and paddling away at 9AM. The tide will be high shortly after we launch, and will be falling while we are exploring - we do not want to get stuck on the flats at low tide!

CONDITIONS - The winds can be stiff and the seas choppy at times. Current can be noticeable in the deeper channels, especially around Cape Florida. Tidal rips are known to occur over the bar southeast of the Cape Florida light. Please assess conditions prior to launch in light of your own capabilities.

WEATHER - We are making this an early trip to avoid afternoon thunderstorms, but will cancel the trip if early storms move through. We will take shelter as necessary if we are caught out by a storm.

KAYAK RENTALS - Are not available for this trip. If you reallllly want to go and don't have a kayak, it's been observed that begging in the comments sometimes makes kayaks appear. Option "B" would be to copilot a tandem, there's a few of those in the group.

PARK ACCESS - Access to the park is $5 per car for up to 8 people or $3 for a single driver only. We will meet immediately after the park opens at the Northeast parking lot (first left, less than 1/4 mile after the gate).

LAUNCH - Bring a kayak cart if you have one, it's 755 feet of path and sand from the closest point in the parking lot to our launch site.

LUNCH - Bring one! Also plenty of water to drink.

GEAR (http://kayaking.meetup.com/130/pages/GEAR!!/) - BASICS plus SUN CLOTHING, SELF RESCUE GEAR, VHF. Please visit the GEAR (http://kayaking.meetup.com/130/pages/GEAR!!/) page link for specifics!