During the entire time I spent aboard the kayak, in a reserve near Orlando, I wondered if it was possible that, unintentionally, I would disturb one of the alligators resting on the shore. It was the first time I tried to pilot one and I had problems with the oars at first, taking the boat to an uncomfortable distance from the edge of the river, a favorite place for reptiles to nap.
“Avoid the banks”, a more experienced practitioner of the sport told me, “and also the branches if you don’t like spiders”. “It’s easy to say”, I thought, while the bow of the boat pointed exactly in the opposite direction to where I wanted to go. One thing they didn’t tell us during the short training, still on dry land, at The Paddle Center in Kissimee, a city neighboring Orlando, is that people who tend to confuse right with left may have a little problem steering the kayak.
But one thing they did tell me, is that little by little you get the hang of it and the handling becomes more intuitive. Soon, I already thought I was born for that. And it was simple to glide over the calm waters of the small waterway of Shingle Creek, a green oasis next to the concrete jungle of Florida’s outlets and parks. Before long, I moved away from the rest of the group and found myself alone among the huge cypress trees and the silence.
The Paddle Center, which operates within this reserve, has more than 10 km of confluence of small rivers that form a perfect waterway for practicing some water sports, such as kayaking, canoeing and stand up paddle. The place was once considered one of the best in the niche in Florida.
My concern about the alligators increased a little when I stopped to rest and saw one of them a few meters away, motionless as a stone. And there he stayed, until I passed him again and he plunged into the river, right below me. How many more were hiding underwater? Would it be possible to accidentally hit one of them in the head with the paddle? To us, being in their presence feels like a constant threat, but Floridians are used to it.
“The natural reaction of alligators in the presence of humans is not to attack, it is to move away or dive into the river,” explained the center’s instructor. Only 5 alligator attacks are reported per year in the state, and fewer than 30 have resulted in death since the 1940s. And these attacks are more common in places where alligators are fed by people, associating them with food. “The alligators here need to hunt their own dinner,” he assured. With the ecosystem balanced, there is no reason to be afraid.
The Shingle Creek region has been occupied since the 19th century and received its name because of the houses built by former residents there with wood from cypress trees. Shingle means tile, in reference to the huts, which can still be seen scattered throughout the reserve. In addition to water sports, there are also spaces for fishing, picnics, trails and recreation.
Service – Kayak rentals at The Paddle Center start at US$13 per hour, for a minimum of two hours. It is possible to rent on the spot, but reservations are recommended to ensure the equipment is available for you and your group. The center is open every day, from 8am to 6pm in summer and until 5pm in winter. More information on the official website.
Attention: It is not a good idea to travel to the United States without international health insurance, as hospital costs there are very high. Read here how to find cost-effective insurance.
*The trip to Florida was an invitation from Experience Kissimmee
