Exploring Big Pine Key on SUP by Regina Nicolardi

From Bahia Honda State Park we hopped over a few keys west to explore the secluded coast of Big Pine Key.

To find our boat launch we drove back off of Route 1 crossing from Big Pine to No Name Key, and parking along State Road 4a to find a small canoe launch. The slip into the bay was not quite as wide as our boards themselves. The shallows of the low tide meant wading out, for some of our crew this meant discovering first hand there was barely much water at all, and instead found themselves waist deep in mud.

Once out on the water, we followed No Name's west coast. At the northern point of No Name we made our crossing to Big Pine Key. Paddling across the Bogie Channel, we hovered above a vast stretch of clear waters.

Along the shores of Big Pine at a landmark known as Doctor's Point we happened upon small shark after small shark, first cruising, then darting through their nursery in the shallows.

Next we took a chance and dipped into the interior of Big Pine, cruising through a series of interconnected salt ponds before eventually popping out in residential canals and a large cove known as Doctor's Arm.

Parched from the hot summer sun, we cruised back to our launch and wrapped up the day at the notorious No Name Pub. With cold beverages and conch fritters in hand our group was now looking ahead to our next destination, Key West.