Canaveral National Seashore,Mosquito Lagoon

Who knew I would spend four days downloading photos from Indy. Tuesday, 6-12-12, was my half day for June.  I left work, thinking either Rock Springs Run or the Canaveral National Seashore.  Having seen a light chop forecast on Monday night,  I drove past the exit to Wekiwa Springs State Park and headed for the coast. 

Into Mosquito Lagoon at 2:45.  Looked right, nothing, left, manatees at the fishing pier.  I went left.

I used the camera's video functionhttps://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=3328480214787

and

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?v=3331679934778

One manatee did not appreciate my watching the group, er, fun.  So it swam under the kayak, raised up so the boat was on its back, and carried me away from the dock. A difficult balancing act, so it also grabbed the yak at the back, and pushed.

Escorted about 30 yards, it then headed back to the group. After a decent interlude, so did I.   This is the second time I've been bounced from a mating herd.  Both in Mosquito Lagoon.

Another video

After twenty, twenty-five minutes of manatee watching, I paddled on.

Time for dolphin watching.

Three in one

Tail shot

I'd say there were six to eight dolphins. In the area off the Eldora State House dock.  I think I've written in the past that this is a prime dolphin spot, as there is channel heading across the Lagoon as well as north south travel. Probably why the community of Eldora was where it was in the 19th century. I'd take photos, lose track of the dolphins, paddle, see them again, repeat.

The manatees were resting.

Not a good afternoon for birds.  Great egret

Maybe I was mesmerized by marine mammals

Last video of the day 

It was sunny near the coast.  Clouds to the west.  Usually, the afternoon sea breeze moves storms inland. Usually

With lightning across the Lagoon, it was time to get off the water

Not before one more manatee picture before landing at 6PM

Quite the clouds.  It began to drizzle. I headed to the beach.

The rain reached the Atlantic shore.  Not enough to stop me from going for a short walk at Parking Lot 2.

Boardwalk over the dune.  I got in the car and went to Lot 1.

Sea turtle tracks

Empty nest

More tracks

Evidence of assholes.  Some trash I picked up and a pile of sand someone left on a table.  Lazy assholes.

Boardwalk, kayak, car, Lagoon.  Next stop, Turtle Mound.

I assume this dig on top of the 54 foot high shell mound is sanctioned by the National Park Service.  I've done some digging of my own, but can't find anything about it.  Hopefully I'll remember to ask the next time I enter the Seashore.

Boardwalk back to sea, and Lagoon, level.

 The rain stopped, but I failed to clean the lens.  Hoped to show you better photos of the mesh bags filled with oyster shells used to shore up the base of the Mound.

This Restoration in Progress sign was on the ground. I put it where people might see it.

The crab is at Mary McLeod Bethune Park, a mile out of the Seashore. Stopped, thinking the Lagoon side, it stretches from Ocean to Lagoon, would be a good sunset spot.

Dolphin

Pelican

If  I've stopped here before, its been years.  On the Lagoon side, that is.  On land, on the Lagoon side, to be specific.  I often paddle here to see manatees in the cove.  They congregate here at times when they aren't seen anyplace else. I was told one was present.  I did not see it.  Not that it mattered.

Bethune Park is not mentioned as a kayak launch site. Until now.  I saw no signs prohibiting it.  And, the website has a canoe icon.  There's an opening with wide black plastic netting at the manatee cove. Netting on the ground. Erosion control, I assume.  If current trends in my personal economic status continue, I may be launching here. Free.