Sou and I went fishing yesterday in the fading afternoon light.  The simple repetition of cast, reel, cast, reel, cast was relaxing. The fish weren't biting or weren't fooled by the ruse.  Never mind though. Standing lakeside and watching the sandhill cranes, herons, and the wind in the pines while spending quiet time with my wife was reward enough.

Paddling in the Keys and Everglades National Park

Crossing from Key Largo into Everglades National Park

Taking a break and going for a swim

Taking shelter from the sun.


Sou and I rented kayaks in Key Largo this Memorial Day weekend. We paddled into Florida Bay, through some mangrove channels and into Everglades National Park. After a 3 mile open water crossing, we arrived at North Nest Key. While we had perfect weather on the crossing, 3 miles of open water is a long way! We kept paddling and the island didn't seem to get any closer. We stopped for a swim break during the paddle. North Nest Key is surrounded by beach and mangroves. We camped right on the beach and woke up early the next morning for the return trip.

Random alligator

By the side of the road, no water in sight.

Keep out!

While out on a bike ride yesterday morning, I came across this sign. 

Canoeing on the Wekiva River

Sou and I headed to the nearby Wekiva River to go canoeing on Saturday morning.  From the put-in, we paddled upstream towards Wekiva Springs.  During our paddle we saw an alligator, herons, egrets, and turtles.   We had a refreshing swim in the blue waters of the spring that remain a constant 72 degrees throughout the year.

Brown Pelican

While canoeing on the Inter-Coastal Waterway in FL

Castillo de San Marcos

St. Augustine, FL