Dinghy Exploring in Key Largo

While anchored in Thursday Cove, Key Largo we decided to do some dinghy exploring in Jewfish Creek. We found a pretty cool mangrove lined canal, and heard something large moving just inland, but didn’t see it.

This video was later as we headed home to beat the setting the setting sun. It was a wonderful day of exploration, going places that boats don’t so often go, including Lake Surprise.

As you can see, we were cutting the timing very close as we headed into the waters of Barnes Sound to get home in Thursday Cove.

Ultimately, we reached the safety of Pearl Lee just before “skeeter o’clock” and were greeted with the beautiful view you see at the top of this post.

What a great day!

Manatees!

We decided to visit the Florida Power and Light (FPL) Manatee viewing area while in West Palm Beach. It’s a wonderful facility and totally free to the public. Just be sure to go there in the winter, when manatees are attracted to the warm water from the power plant.

You can observe from ground level or go up to the second floor balcony. Go up, you’ll be glad you did. The angle allows much improved viewing. The gentle giants treat this area as their hot tub, so they hang tend to hang out here until they get warmed up.

As you can see there were several enjoying the warm water on the January day we were there.

In addition to the outdoor viewing area, they have educational displays inside, and even offer various seminars on related topics. It’s nice to see FPL giving back to the community in such a tangible way.

Spotted Ray at FPL

We even saw a spotted ray and some other fish enjoying the warmth. We can’t stress enough what a beautiful facility FPL has created here. All because they noticed that manatees congregated in the warm outflow.

All in all a nice way to spend a couple hours, or more if you’re so inclined. We really enjoyed our stay and would certainly recommend it if you’re in the area during southern Florida’s “winter”.

Note to photographers: Don’t forget your polarizing filter. I did, and ended up shooting most of these pictures through my polarized sunglasses. ~Tom

Snorkeling in Palm Beach

We did some snorkeling while in the Palm Beach area. First, I just snorkeled around the boat giving the bottom a good scrub. Pearl Lee was starting to develop a hula skirt! I also learned that with a wet suit on (more for protection than cold) I’ll need a weight belt to get below the surface.

We had some soft stuff and a few barnacles. We probably shouldn’t wait so long next time. All in all, a good learning experience.

Learning to snorkel

Kristi decided to go with a friend to the base of the Blue Heron bridge. We had heard some good things about it, so they drove up by car. She struggled at first, breathing with your face in the water is an unnatural act, but Eventually mastered it.

They found a sunken row boat, some shopping carts and other things. All presumably put there for fish habitat, but they didn’t see a lot of fish. Still they had fun, and made plans for the following day at Peanut Island.

Snorkeling at Peanut Island

We took the dinghy a mile and a half up Lake Worth Lagoon to Peanut Island. We found a very nice dinghy dock on the leeward (downwind) side of the island, nice and calm. Then we found out what a long walk it was with snorkel gear and picnic supplies.

At Peanut Island the water was clear and it was like swimming through an aquarium! We found colorful fish everywhere, as well as the odd barracuda, and others. Here’s a short video we made:

We’re new at snorkeling and underwater photography, so bear with us. We’ll get better at both. In the meantime, here are a couple more pictures we took. As always on our site, you can click the picture to see it better.

Gar? Sure looks related

 

 

Shiloh!

Cannons mark battle lines at Shiloh

(10/13/16)

While staying at Aqua Yacht Harbor we decided to take a short trip to Shiloh National Military Park.

If you go, we highly recommend the CD audio tour. It lets you see the various battle fields in chronological order while explaining the what’s and why’s.

This old house still bears some bullet holes

Although the orchard is no longer an orchard and other vegetation has changed you get a clear idea of what went on.

Particularly interesting to us was the naval bombardment from the river, which we had just come down in Pearl Lee.

Silent cannons

History comes alive in places like this. Although the cannons don’t thunder, and men don’t scream, the ancient echoes still seem to linger. Seeing places that you’ve only read about gives a much greater sense of what transpired here than any book or movie ever could.

Shiloh National Cemetary

The Shiloh National Cemetery is here as well. It’s good to go to places like this and reflect on our history and what so many of us owe to so few. This is hallowed ground and hopefully will be treated as such for generations to come.

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