Kayakers do it really fast, and then roll over.

After ever changes of dates and constantly moving around the plans, some friends and I headed to the Everglades for some weekend paddling in the Everglades National Park. We left late Thursday and headed to Naples where we crashed for the evening so we could get an early start. We were waking up by 5:30 and left by 6:15 so that we could get to the ranger station just before they opened so that we could get the necessary camping permits. After loading up the boats we headed off to Rabbit Key. We were fortunate to be riding with the tide and got to the outer islands pretty quickly. The water crossings throughout the weekend were a little rough with the constant wind, but it wasn't anything that we couldn't handle. I am quite glad that I had a rudder since those without one were constantly having to paddle one-sided or make course corrections.

After setting up camp at Rabbit Key, we took off for some local paddling. At one point Service went back to secure the food after noticing a large group of raccoons heading to the site. We waited for a while but eventually split up to go our own way. I circled Crete and Rabbit Key before decided to add in a little more before sundown and circled Lumber Key. Dinner consisted of some rice, steaks on the grill, and such. We were not in danger of running low on rum since each of us brought at least a 1.7L bottle. Having done this a few times before, we made sure to seal up any food or scented items in the hard covered kayaks due to the raccoon problems. I woke up in the middle of the night and swore that there were raccoons walking directly under my hammock, and even Dave in the nearby tent said he heard them as well. Fortunately they didn't take any swipes at my ass hanging overhead, so I quickly went back to sleep. The kayaks were covered with sandy pawprints in the morning, but all of our stuff was undamaged.

The next day we did a 8 mile paddle to Picnic Key. Setting up camp was interesting as it seemed kids kept popping out of the woods in various places. It was like 'Children of the Corn' in how eerie it was when they would pop out of nowhere. Apparently there was an Outward Bound group on the island with the kids being set off for 'reflection time', whatever that means. Anyway, it was a nice spot to hang out for the evening with the fire pit dug and burning by sundown. The paddle back to the ranger station Sunday was a little tough since we were fighting the tide as well as a near headwind the whole time. at the very end, only a hundred meters or so off shore, I came across some more dolphins that were really close with one doing a few zigzags under my boat for a few seconds. With the wind and constant salt spray I couldn't take the camera out. Unfortunately the heat and the bugs are going to be too bad to really be able to do any more camping in the Everglades until next winter, but it was still a fun trip overall. I saw manatees through the trip as well as a couple of manta rays, raccoons, eagles, egrets, and other marine life.