Yeah, I know, it seems kind of early in the trip to be taking a layover day (meaning we don’t break camp and move on). But we have 80-some days to get to Key West and we want to be smart about our bodies and work into the long-distance paddling gradually. Tomorrow’s stretch is 15 nm (nautical miles) to the next camp. That’s going to be a long day for us so we wanted to be rested up.
So what do we do all day in camp, on a strip of sand between the ocean and a lagoon?
Right off we set up our shade tarp because the Florida sunshine had again made its appearance despite NOAA weather radio’s fog advisory this morning.
Then we read, studied the maps, dried out our gear, cooked, ate, did dishes. Life gets pared down to the simple basics when you’re out multi-day sea kayaking. Food. Shelter. Water. Cleanliness. A bit of entertainment.
And then an hour’s stroll along the ocean side of the key.
Where the tracks along the fine, blond sand were impressive: Bird. Raccoon. Human. No one’s actions can be hidden in the sand!
And here, in a small little stretch of sand by the wave line, the shorebirds must have held a recent convention:
We’re camped at a primitive campsite along a stretch of the Gulf Islands National Seashore. A spit of sand running west to east and jutting east of us towards the entrance of Pensacola Bay.
Waves on the ocean side. Calm on the lagoon side.
And a Great Blue Heron for company all day, so gracious and patient and majestic. What must it be like to be a Great Blue Heron? Wouldn’t it be incredible to be able to experience that for just one day or one hour?! In their focus, is there peace? Do they enjoy the sunset? Do they welcome the night and sleep?
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