Finish - Grande Tours
Roughly 70 miles along the coast from Tampa Bay you will come to Boca
Grande Pass into Charlotte Harbor. The Grande Tours finish is
located a few miles north of the pass at Placida, Florida adjacent to the
inland waterway Finding Grande Tours
Grande Tours is tucked just a bit out of the way from Intercoastal as you
approach the Boca Grande area. You will need your chart to interpret
these directions. I'm using Maptech Number 31 Edition 1.
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Click to get larger views.
Thanks SansSouci.
An aerial shot of Grande Tours. The always open railway
bridge is shown. Looking south. The swinging bridge is just out of
the picture on the right side.
Contact and Operating Info:
Open 7 days 08:30 to 16:00;
Launch Fee $5;
Additional Parking $5 per day;
Bunk House $20 per day, 2 per room, has A/C, & hot showers;
Day use of showers at $5.
Note that during a challenge WaterTribe has full use of
the bunkhouse and restroom facilities. Challengers can claim a bunk on a
first come, first served basis without paying any fees.
Grande Tours has kayaks for rent, eco tours, bikes, and nice
pontoon boats that make stable photography platforms.
Access to Grande Tours is easy. Just find Placida north of
Boca Grande pass on a Florida map and go there. They are very close to
the corner of 775 and 771 on the east side of 775.
Grande Tours
12575 Placida Road (775)
Placida, Florida 33946.
941-697-8825.
captmarian@grandetours.com
www.GrandeTours.com
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Thanks AndrewsCanoes
Here is another view showing the route in red.
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If you approach the area from the outside you will see the fixed bridge as you
enter Gasparilla Pass. Unfortunately there isn't a clearance gauge on the
bridge pilings so you will have to eyeball the clearance. Bird Key offers a
beach that you can use if you need to step your mast. Stay on the causeway side
of Bird Key or shoals will get you. Kayakers -- no problemo. You can also pass
between Bird Key and the causeway and go on down to the swinging bridge between
Placida Harbor and Gasparilla Sound. There are two clearance gauges here one
for the lowest point of the bridge (left side of southbound channel) and one
for the highest point of the bridge (right side of southbound channel). Note
that the swinging bridge has a south bound channel and a north bound
channel. My sailing kayak would be able to scoot under the highest part
of the bridge at low tide but not at high tide. It all depends on mast height.
After you get by the bridges you have to pass through the old railway bridge.
This section is always open since the rail system isn't used any more.
Just after you pass through the railway cutout you will see two channels on your
left. Take the second channel. They aren't very far apart. The channel is off
the Intercoastal flashing red marker number "20".
The channel leading to your left will have markers "1 green" and "2
red" but remember, it's the SECOND channel leading to the left. The
first channel has the same numbers so it's easy to get confused especially at
night.
Follow the second channel almost to the marina that you see dead ahead but turn
left just before you enter the marina.
While paddling in using the second channel, keep looking left and you will
immediately see a low bridge. Vertical clearance is only about 6 to 8 feet. The
distance between the 771 bridge pilings is about 12 feet. Grande Tours has a
couple of pontoon boats that are 10 feet wide that go through all the
time. Squeeze between the bridge pilings and you will see another spur of
railroad ending in the water. Go around the end where there is a channel, but
STAY CLOSE TO THE END OF THE RAILROAD BRIDGE. There are some nasty pilings just
under the water on the right side.
Now stay close to the left bank of mangroves. Not too close or you will run
aground. But not too far away either or you will run aground. the channel isn't
marked but stay 10 to 15 yards off the left bank and you should be OK. This
whole area has lots of oyster bars. Be careful if you have an inflatable or a
pretty boat.
Grande Tours is less than 5 minutes from the railroad spur. Bear left always.
If you go to the right you will get lost.
From the Intercoastal after the swinging bridge it only takes 15 to 20 minutes
to get to Grande Tours, and I was lollygagging.
Fresh Water
Grande Tours has fresh water available. They also have an
outdoor shower, restroom, a bunkhouse, and a bivouac area. Physical
Check In Station
An ORANGE LOCKBOX
will be located on the picnic tables next to the canoe ramp at Grande Tours In
the ORANGE LOCKBOX
you will find a logbook. You must sign the logbook and fill out each
section adjacent to your name.
A TIME CLOCK
will be in the orange lockbox. If you are finishing the Ultra Marathon,
be sure to use the time clock to stamp the logbook. Most of the time
there will be a race official there to help you. If you arrive at
O'Dark-Thirty, there might not be anyone awake so be sure to do it either
way.
Note that the same logbook is used by the challengers going on to
Key Largo. They do not need to use the time clock BUT YOU DO. Landing
Waypoints for Grande Tours and Cayo Costa
The canoe landing at Grande Tours is on a deep water channel just
around the corner from the intercoastal waterway.
Lat/Lon Checkpoint 1
Grand Tours Kayak Landing
026° 50.13 N
082° 16.11 W
The lockbox is on a picnic table next to the landing.
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The outside north end of Cayo Costa has a nice beach that is
usually easy to land on. If the weather is contrary, you may also pull in
on the inside of the island.
Lat/Lon of Cayo Costa
Beach Landing
026° 41.21 N
082° 15.54 W
This at the beach in front of the campground. Due to surf conditions you
may have to pick a different landing point. Just up the beach from this
point you will find the next position given below.
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Lat/Lon of Cayo Costa
Campground Trail
026° 41.21 N
082° 15.52 W
This point is standing on the beach just at the start of the trail leading into
the campground that passes right by the restroom.
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Accommodations at Grande Tours
Grande Tours is (or has) remodeling its bunkhouse. The
information below is from last year. This year there will be hot showers
and A/C in the bunkhouse.
Grande Tours has a bunkhouse with four bunks. These bunks will be
reserved for our use Saturday and Sunday night. They are on a first
come first served basis. You must provide your own bed roll. There
will be a sign up sheet outside the bunkhouse that will let you know if there
is room. If there isn't room, stay out so you don't disturb the lucky
(and faster) ones.
In addition to the bunks there are a few picnic tables that can be
used as platforms for bivvy bags. Don't use the table that has the
lockbox on it because it will also serve as the kitchen table for cooking and
eating. There is plenty of room to pitch tents as needed.
The bunkhouse has a single restroom with its own door. Anyone
can use it even if your don't have a bunk. Please keep it clean.
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