Returning To Our Roots

A couple of days ago we decided to bring our kayaks down to Phil Foster Park in Riviera Beach and paddle out to Peanut Island. This was a destination that we used to spend a lot of time at many moons ago, and this trip sure brought back so many memories. We launched at the beach under the Blue Heron Bridge and the wind was blowing like crazy right "on the nose," along with the tide against us.

We persevered though and eventually made it. At least the island gave us some protection as we got closer to it. It was funny to see all the old party barges still there for the weekend crowds.

Dave noticed that this dinghy motor was actually a mower engine that was made into an outboard.

There always seem to be sunken boats around too and the tide flies through this area with the island being right at the inlet to the ocean..

Peanut Island is now a park, but when we first started going there in the early 80's it was all natural. In fact we had to beach our 22ft. sailboat close to the spot in the photo below, when we took on water due to the centerboard trunk gasket leaking from trailering it down I 95 from home. Now this area is a snorkeling park. That is the ocean inlet in the background.

There is a walkaway all the way around it (about a mile), with tons of places to snorkel, picnic, kayak the back waters, and even rustic camping.

I am not too sure I would want to camp here with these iguanas running around!

The old Coast Guard Station is still on the island, but the C.G. have moved their base to the mainland. We remember when this was a popular spot to see all the C.G. Cadets literally "learning the ropes" and washing the utility boats. There also used to be an abandoned underground bunker that JFK used as a bomb shelter/command center. The family owned (and probably still owns) a home in Palm Beach. Before this was a park you could go explore, find it if you were lucky, and then go in it, which Dave did one time. Then when the island became a park, there were tours given, but now that no longer exists. I just read that it would take over $4 million to make renovations to it and the Coast Guard Station. The docks were destroyed in Hurricane Irma. 

There is a small marina so that private boats can access the park. A couple of shuttles also bring people over from the marinas on shore. It was wonderfully quiet on the weekday that we were there, but weekends are crowded.

On the west side, the port is in view and is thriving. There were three Tropical Shipping container ships there, along with a small cruise ship.

Cracker Boy Boat Works and Riviera Beach Marina add to the hustle and bustle of the area.

What looks like big white buildings in this photo are actually mega-yachts that have been shrink wrapped for either storage or most likely so that they can be worked on without any debris or paint escaping to other expensive boats and the environment.

Dave took a quick dip in the water before we headed back to the mainland. With the tide coming in from the ocean, it was crystal clear, just as we remembered it. Once the tide turns and it pulls the brown water from the Intracoastal Waterway, it doesn't look this nice with underwater visibility greatly reduced.

As we drove back north to Jensen Beach, we had one last great memory of what we knew as Ocean Beverage. 'Bags' this one is for you 😉...