EVERGLADES BOAT TRIP Day 1

Every now and then you need to go out and stretch your legs in your own back yard. So that is just what I did. After many nights of studying the charts and many days getting all the extra first aid items, Alieve, eye wash, ace bandages, etc. I went to the last untamed wilderness, The Everglades. I put the boat in at Chokoloskee, Florida, which was crazy. The tide was so low the trailer bottomed out in a hole at the ramp. That was very interesting. I did not know for a while if things were going to work. Finally got the boat off the trailer and promptly hit a cement block and dinged my brand new prop. I then idled across Chokoloskee Bay to the mouth of the Lopez River, poled my way across the river and finally headed out Rabbit Key Pass to territory unknown.

LAST SUNSET 2009

The last sunset of 2009, was a good one. The blue moon was even better. It was slick calm. You could have skipped a rock to Mexico. I have been busy helping orchestrate a photo shoot for a magazine. The early morning light and sunrises have been, "stop the boat, stunning." Cabbage Key is always fun to visit; it is a small 100 acre Island that you can only get to by boat. This week I was up there early in the morning, for breakfast. Cabbage Key is very old Florida, and a favorite destination for boaters from all over. The restaurant was built in the 1920's as a house, then later turned into a restaurant. The interesting thing with Cabbage is the atmosphere. You never know who you may run into, someone running from the law, or someone who is the law.

December at Cayo Costa - Low Tide

The week started with fog, and lots of it. This time of year we get convection fog, also called Sea fog. This always makes things fun on the water. Well, the fog cleared and wow, just stunning, the light for photography at sunset has been "perfect" . Great conversations were had about the Everglades, a trip I usually make once a year to explore the Glades, checking out spots that I have researched throught out the year. This is one of those trips where it is the Captain Brian's holiday. I always look forward to the Glades.

The wildlife has been unbelievibile, two days ago I saw seven Bald Eagles, two, I heard the distinct call before I saw them. There must be 600 white Pelicans between Captiva and Cayo Costa. Today the water was so clear, I could see a 5 foot shark in 6 feet of water. It reminded me of May, my favorite month. Things here on the Island are pretty slow, but certanily the wildlife knows nothing about that. Every day is a new day, you never know what you will see.

Early Morning Fog, Late Night Light

Bald Eagles

Photo by Captain Brian

Boat = Break Out Another Thousand

Just finishing the final details of a three month project on the topside of the boat. The work done to the topsides and gel coat has exceeded my expectations. The December Full moon was unbelievable, You couldn't tell where the sky started and the water ended. The second Best December full moon I have seen to date. This month there will be two full moons in December, also called a blue moon, I look forward to seeing the second on the 31st. Capt. Brian

Great Family, Great time

The Johnson Family, from Minnesota, a favorite client, Melissa, took excellent photos of white pelicans, her dad found many sand dollars and Mom just loved the whole thing. She took home a moon snail, also called sharks eye.