🌊Kayak Adventure: Secret Beach (Midnight Pass) 🛶

📍Location
Meet at: Turtle Beach
📍 8701 Blind Pass Road, Sarasota, FL
We’ll paddle toward the stunning Midnight Pass and surrounding mangrove islands.

🗓 Date & Time
Sunday, May 30
⏰ 10:00 AM – 2:00 PM (4 Hour Adventure)
👉 Please arrive 15 - 30 minutes early (9:30-9:45 AM) to unload and get ready. Since some people will be renting kayaks and the maximum rental is 4 hours, we will leave at 10:00 AM sharp, or as soon thereafter as the rental kayakers are ready. This will be a full four hour adventure! If you rent a kayak for less than 4-hours, you will need to monitor time on your own and return early. If you are renting, rental start time should be 10:00 AM!

🌴 About This Adventure
Join me for a guided coastal kayak experience through one of Sarasota’s most beautiful natural areas.
We’ll explore approximately acres of uninhabited, mangrove-covered islands offering a peaceful and scenic escape into nature.
🌿 Along the way, expect to see:

• Ospreys, Cormorants, Pelicans, Egrets, and Herons
• Dolphins 🐬 and Manatees 🐋 (if we’re lucky!)
• Oyster beds and schools of small fish

🌊 On the return, we’ll stop at a secret beach only accessible by water, where we’ll:

• Beach our kayaks
• Relax and swim
• Eat lunch and enjoy the view

🚣 Kayak Options

• Bring your own kayak (free)
• OR rent nearby (4-hour rentals available):

👉 Siesta Key Kayak Rentals (only rental place at Turtle beach that I found with a 4-hour rental).
https://sarasotakayakrentals.com/siesta-key/single-kayak-rentals-in-siesta-key-turtle-beach/
(Highly recommended to reserve in advance if renting)

DISCLAIMER (SUPs): I generally discourage SUP paddle boards for this trip, because they are slower than kayaks, more difficult to use, and more difficult to balance on. This is a kayaking trip and we will cover some distance. If you bring a paddle board, you might not be able to keep up and we will not wait for you! If you can keep up on an SUP or don't mind being left behind, you are welcome to bring one.

🎒 What to Bring

• Plenty of drinking water 💧
• Snacks or lunch (for beach break)
• Clothes you don’t mind getting wet (bathing suit, shorts, T-shirt)
• Sunscreen ☀️
• Hat
• Sunglasses
• Camera 📸
• Water shoes (optional but helpful)
• Dry bag or waterproof phone case (recommended)
• Gloves (if your hands are prone to blisters)
• Lifejacket (if you are not renting; rentals should provide you one).

⚠️ Important Notes

• This is an informally guided group adventure (I will be leading the group)
• All participants should be comfortable on the water
• We will paddle together at a relaxed pace, but there may be moments where you must paddle against a moderate-strong currant. Expect a bit of a workout.
• Weather/wind conditions may require rescheduling
• Participate at your own risk

🧭 Paddle Details

• Duration: ~4 hours total
• Distance: ~3 miles total
• Difficulty: Easy to moderate (beginners may struggle at moments)
• Includes breaks + beach time
• I am estimating that the we will kayak for about 1.5-2hrs total and spend about 2-2.5 hours resting and at the beach.

🅿️ Parking
Free public parking available at Turtle Beach
⚠️ Arrive early—this lot fills up quickly

🙋 Host
Lucas
I’ll be guiding the group and making sure everyone has a great, smooth experience 👍

💵 Cost
This event is free to attend if you bring your own kayak 🛶
If you need a rental, you can book a 4-hour kayak through:
👉 Siesta Key Kayak Rentals

🙏 Support the Meetup (Optional)
This is a free community event, and I love putting these together for everyone.
That said, there are real costs behind the scenes (Meetup fees, organizing, planning, coordinating), and many members choose to contribute to help keep these events going.
If you enjoy the experience, please consider making a small donation—most people typically contribute $5–$15, but any amount is appreciated 🙌
Your support helps:

• Keep events like this free and frequent
• Improve future experiences
• Grow a great local community

👉 Totally optional—but genuinely appreciated if you had a great time 👍

⚠️ Liability Waiver & Assumption of Risk
By attending this event, you acknowledge and agree to the following:
Participation in kayaking and outdoor water activities involves inherent risks, including but not limited to: drowning, collisions, capsizing, weather changes, tides/currents, marine life encounters, equipment failure, and physical injury. These risks may result in serious injury or death.
You confirm that:

• You are physically capable of participating in this activity
• You are able to swim or otherwise remain safe in the water with a flotation device
• You will wear a life vest where required and follow all safety guidance

This event is not a professional guided tour or commercial operation, but rather a social group activity organized by a Meetup host.
To the fullest extent permitted under Florida law, you voluntarily assume all risks associated with participation and agree to release, waive, and discharge the event host (Lucas), organizers, and any affiliated parties from any and all liability, claims, demands, or causes of action arising out of or related to your participation.
You further agree:

• You are responsible for your own equipment, safety, and decision-making
• You will follow all applicable laws and waterway regulations
• You will not hold the host liable for lost, damaged, or stolen personal property

If you are renting equipment, you are solely responsible for complying with the rental provider’s terms and safety requirements.
By attending this event, you acknowledge that you have read, understood, and voluntarily agreed to this waiver.