Crowds? What Crowds?

We are taking advantage of some gorgeous weather (finally!) and have been out on the water during the weekdays. There have been so few people out boating, which suits us just fine. We took 'Coqui' down to Peck Lake and it was wonderful. 

Walking over the dune to the ocean, we found not a soul on the beach in either direction!

Oh, there's the crowds...of sandpipers, that is.

Today we had a really interesting kayak trip from Chastain Beach, on south Hutchinson Island, and across what we affectionately call the "Sea of Stuart" to the spoil islands near Sewell Point (these were made when the Intracoastal Waterway was dredged). Along the way we saw three small sharks and 3 manatees including a mother and her calf. The water was crystal clear with the incoming tide. We hit the southernmost island first, but we still can't seem to find out what its name is. We may call it Girl Scout Island since the northern island is called Boy Scout Island. We paddled between the main island and the small barrier islands, and Dave spotted a southern stingray swimming along the sandy bottom. It sure was a sparkly day. The last time we were here, the tide was so low, we could barely make it through this channel.

There are picnic areas set up on the western side of the island and we stopped for a quick walk around.

We saw this box with writing and had to see what it was for. I thought maybe there was a charge for landing there, but much to our surprise it was poop bags...and not even for dogs!

Since we didn't need the box's services 😉, we ventured on in the kayaks to the northern point of Boy Scout Island. These fallen trees and their roots are enormous. I call it wall art...

As we were eating our snacks on the beach, we saw lots of baitfish jumping on the surface of the water, and a few cormorants and pelicans trying to catch them. That's when Dave spotted a shark fin in the shallows, also looking for lunch. It was so intriguing to watch it cruising around with its fin out of the water. We estimated the shark to only be about 4 ft., so I don't think it would take a very big bite out of us. 😉 

As we left the island and headed back to the little beach where we launched the yaks, we spotted three more manatees that surfaced really close to our boats. What an extraordinary outing, and it's too bad it can't stay like this. Alas, the Christmas crowds will be in town soon and then we will need to hide for a while. Until that time though, we will be out on the water as much as possible.

😎