A Great Day on the Water

 After I series of days that were cool and very windy, BJ and I were both glad to see the calm water and bright sun.  We had been talking about a serious kayak day as soon as the weather turned better and finally the day was here.  I was especially anxious to try out my new kayak I just got – a Native Watercraft brand Manta Ray 14, bright yellow so it could be seen easily on the water!!

We decided to do a trip around No-Name Key which is just NE of Big Pine Key, about 30 miles up US 1 from Key West.  It had been several years since we have kayaked in that area and we were glad to have the chance to explore it again.   We loaded up the kayaks on the Jeep and headed toward No-Name Key.  We noted on the way that the tide was really low, but thought water around No-Name was going to be deep enough.   

We got to the launch point on No-Name and there were three other couples there and preparing to leave as the tide was too low to comfortably launch the kayaks.  It would have been a very messy, muddy, difficult launch and it was still several hours before tide would turn.  After short discussion we were invited to join them as they headed for another launch point on Big Pine Key. 

We got to the new launch point and it was great, a boat launch that would have been difficult for a boat trailer but was perfect for launching kayaks.  There were several keys in the distance so we all headed off; however, after about 20 minutes we parted with them and headed to a key a little further out then they wanted to venture.

 

We shortly ran into some very shallow grass flats that had the kayaks rubbing the bottom but eventually got to Annette Key and it was beautiful.  We went on the outside of the key (north side) and the water was clear and calm.  It was like we were gliding through the air looking down on grassy fields and the fish were little birds flying below us!  The key was about a mile and a half long and we enjoyed it all the way.  At the end we were undecided if we should move on to the next key (Cutoe Key) or head toward our launch point so we stopped and had lunch and shared a beer!

Eventually, we decided to save Cutoe Key for another day and continue on around Annette Key and back toward the launch point.  Sun was bright and day remained calm and we really enjoyed the trip back via a different, but equally beautiful route.  We saw beautiful grass beds in the crystal clear water.  Fish of various sizes and shapes would dart across the sand patches we glided over from time to time.   By the time we returned to the launch point the other couples were long gone.

 We had been gone for 4.5 hours and kayaked about 8.5 miles total.   As we were loading the kayaks on the Jeep a key deer came out of the woods to drink some fresh water from a puddle in the road.  He was aware of us and kept and eye on us, but we did not seem to bother him too much.   He was still alongside the road grazing as we drove off after another wonderful day on the water in the Florida Keys!