The wind forecast was a little high this morning, so we took our time with breakfast and didn’t rush right down to the boat. Around 10, we walked down to pick out a tandem kayak and paddles from among all the watersport equipment at the docks. Today is jungle safari day for us, and we’re excited for what adventures lie ahead.
We tied the kayak up alongside the sailboat, one line at the bow and one at the stern. This would keep the kayak’s lines from getting fouled in the prop. If we were sailing further we might tow the kayak behind once we get out of the anchorage, but we’re only going a few miles.
We unfurled the jib and sailed over the ICW, where we started the motor. The ICW can be like the autobahn, with some boats flying through like Crockett and Tubs, while others politely slow down when they pass a little Catalina 22. We motored through Tarpon Cut, and then across to the mangroves.
Dropping the hook in about 6 feet of water up near the mangroves, we ate lunch and talked. That’s what these trips are for – to have the real conversations that you don’t get to on the phone in the middle of busy lives.
After lunch we climbed into the kayak and headed over to find a channel through the mangroves. In this case, the nautical charts are not accurate, but Google satellite imagery showed right where the channel entrances was, although it was completely obscured by overgrown branches.
We entered a jungle-like canopy of green leaves that turned the small channel into a safari adventure. The tandem kayak was perfect for this passage as we had to duck under branches, dodge limbs, and pull ourselves along by the mangrove roots in between the paddling sections.
We explored several passageways, watching the fish in the crystal clear water below. After half an hour or so we found it. A rope swing tied high in the branches above us.
We tied off the kayak and climbed into the trees where we could walk out on the branches to the rope swing. With all the care and concern of a couple of 10 year olds, we swung out over the channel, and let go, landing with a splash in the warm water below.
The funnest challenge was to try and swing all the way across the channel, into the air, and arm-outstretched, grab a leaf from the trees on the far side. More than two hours later, we finally decided to stop because we knew it would take us a while to find our way back to the boat and sail back before dark.
We kayaked out to Blackwater Sound, but decided to turn and find our way back through the tunnels to our boat. Eventually we found her, tied the kayak back along side, and motored through the cut to Buttonwood Sound where we raised sails and killed the motor for the sail back to Key Lime.
The wind had shifted eastward, requiring a relaxing series of long tacks until we could get close enough to motor in without shame.
That night we went to Key Bites for dinner, and Pinecrest bakery for dessert. Back at the cottages, we walked down to the beach to watch night fall over the water. We sat in beach chairs using the club’s wifi and talking til after dark.
On to Key Lime Day 4…