Kayaker says Gilchrist is a jewel

By Carrie A. Mizell

An English adventurer told Trenton Rotarians on Monday that Gilchrist County is the best place for any kayaker in the northern hemisphere to kayak in the winter.
Nick and Sandra Crowhurst spend two to three months each year in Gilchrist County kayaking along the coast, in the rivers and the springs. The Crowhursts have kayaked for 50 years, along with hiking, rock climbing, and sailboat racing.
The couple spend their winters in America visiting family in Minnesota and kayaking along the Florida coast. Ten years ago, Crowhurst said he was looking for somewhere warm to go. Minnesota, obviously was not the place, so he and Sandra opened their atlas and settled on Florida. Noting that the top, left portion of the state looked “bare” they decided to explore it.
“You have the Keys, the 10,000 Island, Tampa bay and Gilchrist County,” Crowhurst said.

Nick Crowhurst talks with Trenton Rotary Club members about his kayaking adventures after Monday’s meeting. Chances are good, if you see a very red Dodge Ram three quarter ton truck with a couple of kayaks on a rack, towing an Airstream travel trailer, it’s probably Nick and his wife, Sandra Crowhurst.

He quickly eliminated the Florida Keys saying, “The area is wrecked; there is too much traffic and too many stores down there.” The 10,000 Islands were scratched from the list as well. While Crowhurst said there are 95 miles of coast along the 10,000 Islands, there are only two access points. The area is too “buggy” for him and there are no bad weather alternatives. Tampa Bay was also a no go, due to Crowhurst’s aversion to overpopulation and rough waters.
In contrast to other areas of Florida, Crowhurst said Gilchrist County is ideal because there are no beaches, which means there are no hotels and no sprawl. If the wind blows harder than 15 miles per hour on the coast, Crowhurst said he changes course and goes into a river and if that’s still too rough he kayaks along spring runs.
“The 85 mile section of Florida’s Hidden Coast between Cedar Key in the south and the Aucilla River in the north is a magical playground for the sea kayaker,” Crowhurst said. “Its charm lies in its remoteness, its peacefulness, its wildlife, the intimacy of its creeks and the subtle beauty of its seascapes. The shallow sea borders a marshy, creek-laden area, which then gives way to a tree line, further inshore.”
Nick and Sandra Crowhurst have written a book, “Sea Kayak Day Paddles on Florida’s Hidden Coast,” which is available online at hiddencoast.net free of charge. The purpose of the book is to supply information to visiting sea kayakers who may want to explore the coast and creeks of the Hidden Coast on day trips, rather than paddling a camping trail.
The islands off Cedar Key are featured in the book, along with Shell Mound, Deer Island area, McCormick Creek to Deer Island, Munden Creek and Hog Island, Lock Creek and Shingle Creek, Suwannee and offshore islands, Salt Creek to Coon Island, Shired Island area, Fishbone Creek to Butler Island, Horseshoe Beach area, and several more. Accurate maps, GPS coordinates and lots of useful information to first time visitors to the area and old-timers alike are available in this online book. Hard copies are also available.
Crowhurst told Rotarians on Monday that he and his wife inject $20,000 into the economy while spending two to three months in the area each year. He encouraged the crowd of business professionals gathered to consider the boost thousands of sea kayakers visiting a few months each year would give the local economy.
“You have the choice to keep all of this to yourself or to tell the world about it,” Crowhurst said.