Dave's Yak Tales: November 2012

Sunday, November 25, 2012, the last day of Thanksgiving weekend. My usual Key West routine is to have breakfast, and go. Stopping to kayak on the way home. But, on Thanksgiving, my nephew Arlo told me he was taking the boat out. My kayaks could come too. I said I could leave later.

Breakfast was the Thanksgiving plate Monica brought home from her dinner Saturday. It did not have the deep fried turkey, because there were leftovers from the Rowan pot luck in the fridge. So adding that, and the gravy from my Saturday dinner, I had another feast at breakfast. Even ate both the green bean servings, something that I would not have put on the plate had I prepared it myself.

Elena dropped Olivia off for a visit. She helped her Oma sweep the porch and water the plants.

Great Uncle Dave supervised.

Monica and I drove to Stock Island and the Cow Key Marina. Arlo, Ashley and Bill motored over from Evan and Camila's in the L'll Raskell. The boat has been in the Haskell family for 27 years. Arlo said it would be easier to load the kayaks here than at Evan's. I asked if he got a family discount on docking, as Aaron's stepfather runs the place. No, but as long as he buys gas, no problem. I saw a sign next to a ramp, $10.00 launch fee for kayaks. And, I assume, stand up paddle boards.

The marina is a site on the Haskell wedding trail. Elena and Aaron had their rehearsal dinner here. I hardly recognized it without a pig roasting.

It was 12:07 when we set out. The young lady above, and the unseen gentleman in the boat had Packers gear on. They are from Canada.

Through a short mangrove channel

Into the open water of Florida Bay

Monica and Arlo

Open, but shallow. Arlo said at low tide, we could walk back. One has to watch for "Bubba sticks" PVC pipes that mark the deeper water

Bill and Ashley

Kenji

Into the Mud Keys at 12:29. Slow motoring through a mangrove lined channel

To a small beach where to boats had landed. A small beach, room for one more boat. One boat was occupied by friends, the other by friendly people.

Lots of coral fragments in the shallow water.

Kayak on the water at 12:55

Not the moon, lens spot

Hey, hey, hey, its Fat Albert

I circled the key where we landed, and met Monica

The other boat had paddle boards

Arlo

Kenji waits his turn

Ashley

Great white heron

Reddish egrets

Kenji gets his turn

The multi talented Ashley, yaking and suping.

Kenji was not able to be on his favorite place on the Li'l Raskel on the way out. Someone had put kayaks in the way.

We left just past 3.

Seagulls chased us, assuming we had been fishing

Joined by a magnificent frigate bird

Kenji is friggin magnificent himself

Back to Key West, right, Stock Island, where the Cow Key Marina is, left. "Stock" refers to livestock, not securities.

Whale !

Or, flipped sailboat

Back to Cow Key Marina around 3:40.

Got the kayaks off the boat and on the car, changed, said my good byes. Arlo refused money for gas. I then told him it was a belated birthday present. Besides, I can't be pool boy for two nephews when we meet again at Sanibel in two weeks. Told Evan I was his after a generous discount at the bike shop.

I did a web search for Mud Keys kayak trips. One outfitter charges $500 for four people. Includes dinner. My tour included ham and turkey sandwiches, beer and wine. I was born into the right family.