Sunday, November 22, 2009, stopped at Long Key State Park the day after a beautiful wedding and fun reception. Good craic, as the Irish say. Or in this case, crack, as in stone crab.The remains, Sunday morning.
On the topic of shells, a sea turtle swam under my kayak. That was later in the day, after I helped clean up. I was amazed the Love Lane courtyard wasn't full of flies, ants, seagulls, chickens and raccoons. They had plenty of food, spiral ham bone, a few potatoes, pumpkin soup in a pumpkin, or maybe just rain water, soggy cole slaw, a last slice of roast beef, wedding cake crumbs. 
It rained hard early in the morning, well not too early, it was not raining when two unknown persons carried a sleeping nephew and set him on the bed I was sleeping in. I moved. Maybe the rain kept the bugs away, or they were swimming in empty wine and champagne bottles.
I trust I earned my free lodging my cleaning up the reception remains. The star couple came over, as did the mother of the bride. I was ready for the 11:30 brunch, only to be told it was a 12:30 lunch. Too late for me, as after eating and saying good-bye it would be about 2. So I said good-bye to the most important people, Elena and Aaron (and Arlo and Ashley and Monica and Tyler) and headed out of Key West.
I stopped at Long Key State Park, mile marker 67.5. Put the kayak in the water at 1:45 at the marked trail in Long Key Lakes, an island studded lagoon. I headed to marker 20, taking the trail backwards, as paddlers were in the water at marker 1. Taking the reverse route, I could avoid them.
It rained hard early in the morning, well not too early, it was not raining when two unknown persons carried a sleeping nephew and set him on the bed I was sleeping in. I moved. Maybe the rain kept the bugs away, or they were swimming in empty wine and champagne bottles.
I trust I earned my free lodging my cleaning up the reception remains. The star couple came over, as did the mother of the bride. I was ready for the 11:30 brunch, only to be told it was a 12:30 lunch. Too late for me, as after eating and saying good-bye it would be about 2. So I said good-bye to the most important people, Elena and Aaron (and Arlo and Ashley and Monica and Tyler) and headed out of Key West.I stopped at Long Key State Park, mile marker 67.5. Put the kayak in the water at 1:45 at the marked trail in Long Key Lakes, an island studded lagoon. I headed to marker 20, taking the trail backwards, as paddlers were in the water at marker 1. Taking the reverse route, I could avoid them.
I left the Trail and the Park, entering Zane Grey Creek. The author was a visitor and avid angler. Homes line the west side of the creek for about half its length.
It becomes uninhabited before emptying into Long Key Bight.
and the Ocean
This was my second visit to Long Key State Park. The first was New Years Day, 2007. Then, I had not paddled out to the open water. It's a short trip, how short, I don't know. The creek is clear and deep, slow no wake. A manatee zone. Just one boat in the Creek other than me. I looked along the mangrove lined creek edge of manatees, circled an island when I saw some bubbles, and then as I paddled back, a large shape with a flipper passed below. Manatee ! I turned for a better look, as it was headed in the other direction. It was not a manatee. Even better, a sea turtle. My prior sea turtle sightings have just been a head, briefly above the surface. Now, one of these amazing creatures was under the yak. Very cool. Sorry, no photos. I returned to the the Lakes, paddled around a bit, before landing just before 3:30.
It's nice to go to Key West for a wedding, and get a little paddling in. I'm finishing this Tale Tuesday night, two day before Thanksgiving and 4 days of paddling. Where? Who knows? 
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