[Paddlewise] Paddling off Key West Florida

   I just returned from my annual family trip to Key West. I brought  
my Shearwater Baidarka, a boat I dearly love, to paddle in the blue  
waters of the Keys. I took it out from Key West with the help of a  
falling tide and the hinderance of a strong headwind. A fast two foot  
chop made things bouncy and full of spray but exciting. I paddled  
through several mooring fields and watched the live aboards watch me  
as I passed just yards from their colorful and very salty sailboats.  
I was greeted by as many large dogs as friendly human faces. Hardcore  
sailors seem to warm to the sight of a wooden kayak.  I watched in  
fascination as a man sat in an inflatable raft and worked on the  
outboard hanging off the end of his sailboat. He did this with  
complete confidence in the same conditions I just described.
   Passing near a Key owned by the US Navy I was intrigued to see  
many wrecks left over from Hurricane Wilma strewn along the rocky  
beaches and in the shallows. Black cormorants sunned themselves in  
that odd wings spread out position they seem to prefer. They allowed  
me to approach within inches before croaking off their perch in  
distrust.
   Crossing a small channel I really had to huff to cross without  
getting pushed too far out. The current was really ripping and I had  
to do a bit of an eddy out and moon the rip to stay comfortably on  
balance. This last bit of work was fun as sometimes sea touring can  
be a bit bland.
   With the channel behind me I reentered the shallows. My goal was  
to paddle around a small Key that I hadnt yet explored . The water  
around this Key is shallow at all times so I hoped it would be full  
of bird life due to its relative inaccessibility by power boat. I  
could see the mangroves at the edge of the Key were covered in guano.  
Enough guano to mildly burn my nostrils as I got closer. As  
frequently happens the water right against the Key was a bit deeper  
than the surrounding area. A cinnamon colored nurse shark shot away  
as I drifted past. Several dozen mangrove snappers swam around my  
baidarka looking for a handout. I wish I had remembered something for  
them. They are never shy.
   Peering under the mangrove canopy I could see into the interior of  
the Key. Birds! Really big birds! The view was absolutely  
prehistoric. The timeless swamp of mangroves coupled with the alien  
smells and sounds of the colonies of various bird species made me  
feel like I was in another time and place. My wooden paddle and boat  
felt right in such a place.
   The return paddle was easy with a following sea and helping tide.  
I speeded up occasionally to surf a bit but mostly let the water help  
me home. The clarity of the water was amazing with a nice view of  
watermelon size sponges available when the surface smoothed out for  
just a split second. Perhaps i will return again next year in the  
double baidarka I  am building with a friend and I can share this  
journey with my wife.

Jim et al
***************************************************************************
PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed
here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire
responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author.
Submissions:     PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net
Subscriptions:   PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net
Website:         http://www.paddlewise.net/
***************************************************************************