Midwest couple now running Kayak Lake Worth

Emily and Bryce Billings

Three years ago, Emily and Bryce Billings got married, pulled up their Midwest roots and moved to South Florida.

They wanted to live and work by the water, Emily says, and South Florida fit that bill. They started in Miami, gradually moved up the coast to check out Delray Beach and eventually settled in Lake Worth. Its laid-back feel and affordable homes near the water captured their hearts. They rented for a while and bought a home there in December.

Then in May, the former owner of Kayak Lake Worth needed to sell the business or close it. The mobile kayak business now required more time than Ian Esplin had to spare because he also had a full-time job and a family, Emily says. So the Billings couple bought his business with the hopes of turning it into a 7-day operation.

Luck or something else?

But reality soon came in the form of the rainiest summer on record, according to the National Weather Service, dumping over 40 inches on the area between June-August. The rains often came with powerful thunderstorms, preventing them from operating the kayak and paddle-board business every day of the  week.  

June 2012 full moon tour

They even had to hold back from kayaking under the harvest moon in September because thunder storms were threatening, Emily says. "We care about our clients' safety," she adds. 

They will try again this month on Oct. 29, a Monday, to kayak under the full moon in the Lake Worth Lagoon. The tour goes out from 5-7 p.m. that night, at a cost of $40 plus tax. 

For people who want to learn how to kayak, the couple will teach a basic kayaking class the previous Saturday, Oct. 27, from 9-11:30 a.m. at Bryant Park in Lake Worth. Participants will learn about the lagoon, and kayaking basics such as how to get in and out of a kayak and standard maneuvers. The class costs $45 per person, plus tax, payable in advance.

Snook Islands popular

Public access to the Snook Islands Natural Area just opened in February. That means the Snook Islands tour is the most popular one for Kayak Lake Worth. They offer 2.5-hour kayak rentals for $35 each, plus tax. The natural area is accessible on the northwest side of the Lake Worth Bridge. The course is about 3 miles, so kayakers don't have to worry about getting lost. Kayak Lake Worth gives its clients maps and tidal charts.

Guided ecological tours also are available. They cost $60 per person, plus tax. The tour includes a guide, kayak and gear, water, a light snack and an online photo album. The tours are available for the Snook and Bingham islands.

The Snook Islands are man-made, created from dredged sand from Peanut Island (near Riviera Beach) that filled in a 1.2 mile section along Lake Worth's golf course. Mangroves and spartina (known as cordgrass) were planted in 2005, according to Palm Beach County's website. Oyster reefs also were created. As a result of that work, the Snook Islands habitat now brings hundreds of species of birds and marine life to the area.

Bryce Billings on a stand-up paddleboard

Old Florida feel

Bingham Islands, located in the lagoon between West Palm Beach and Palm Beach (just south of the Southern Avenue Bridge), are best toured at high tide. The area is impassible at low tide, Emily says.

Kayakers will see different types of wading birds, including herons and egrets because Bingham Islands contain an Audubon-designated bird sanctuary. Dolphins and manatees often are seen in some of the deeper channels. 

On a weekday, the lush mangroves will take kayakers back to experience what Old Florida must have looked like. The calm and shallow waters north of Southern are perfect for stand-up paddleboarding, Emily says. 

And now, for my numbers

I had my best walking day last week on Saturday, Oct. 13, 2012, when I walked:

Steps: 11,377
Miles: 5.7