Panama

Spent a week in Panama in a remote location. I still need to unpack and organize all of the treasures that cleared customs. Photographs taken were over 2000. I still have not observed over half. Panama still has my head spinning for many different reasons. More to follow.

Thirty five and a half hours before the full moon, I went sailing. Van Morrison sang "Someone Like You" as the sun disappeared over the far horizon. I turned the boat toward the east as the moon silently appeared over the bow of the boat. The moon beams guided the way home but it was Van Morrison's voice that led the way.

On the second longest day of the year, I traveled to one of the most remote locations in Florida, The Florida Everglades. I usually don't travel to the Everglades in the summer, mainly because of the bugs. They can be horrible, at best, in the winter. Summer they can be epic. Borderline plague. So thinking all these thoughts through, I hauled my boat, the Muspa, to the small outpost of Chokoloskee Island and set out to see one of my favorite trees in bloom, the Royal Poinsettia. There is a Royal Poinsettia tree located on Hog Key many miles from where I left the mainland behind. For over ten years I have wanted to observe this particular tree in bloom. I know they bloom earlier, farther to the south, but I thought it was worth a shot. On the way to Hog Key I stopped by Plover Key, a key I have never been to before. The shells were plentiful and the beach relaxing. The tides allowed me to stay for a while before I caught the high tide at Hog Key. The long weathered Poinsettia had a few red flowers which I expected to see a red glow from miles away. This tree has weathered many hurricanes and storms. I will try earlier next year to see this magnificent tree in bloom.

I decided on my return trip to travel the back country and go up rivers I haven't been up for over ten years. The Chatham River holds many secrets, this is where I left the Gulf behind and traveled into the watery mangrove forests. The notorious Edgar Watson had a place on a 40 acre shell mound at the turn of the century on the Chatham River. He was known to have killed a a few people and every now and then people who worked for him would turn up "missing". Truth or fiction traveling by his place does have a different feel about it. I didn't stay long. Weaving in and around the mangroves, I continued into Huston Bay traveling through Oyster Bay then into the magnificent Sunday Bay where the water averages 3 feet deep. Twisting and turning my way into the Lopez River where I had the tide in my favor and skipped across Chokoloskee Bay back to the boat ramp. At the end of the day, sixty miles were traveled. Beautiful cumulus nimbus clouds observed along with pink roseate spoonbills, a four foot shark in very shallow water, a large tree stump that I left bottom paint on as I pulled my anchor. Memories of the water and what lie underneath me, I have logged in my mind for the next excursion to the intriguing Florida Everglades.

Suddenly its June, where did May go? The last part of May was spectacular. The clarity of the water was deliciously inviting. I spent as much time as possible on the water enjoying the sights, smells, and listening to the sounds of water. I enjoyed guideing two couples from Arkansas for the entire day. We tried to explore as much as possible. The trip started out by observing 14 manatees by North Captiva Island. We traveled north past the historic fishouses in Pine Island Sound. Then to one of my favorite lunch spots the Tarpon Lodge. After a fine culinary cuisine we traveled to secret spot number 2 on Cayo Costa. The beach was quiet and void of people. The guests said,"This looks like a corona commerical." We then continued our adventure by traveling to Cabbage Key. Nothing like being at Cabbage Key in the late afternoon. I happened to run into some old friends from Cayo Costa and made some new friends as well. Back to Cayo Costa we went for more beach combing. The latter part of the afternoon was extremely enjoyable we had the whole beach to ourselves. After enjoying the pristine beach on Cayo Costa we headed south to Barnchol Phil's resturant on North Captiva. The unique island atmosphere only enhanced the black beans and rice. It was now time to point the boat south and make our way back to captiva. The wind had calmed with only a slight hint of being out of the south. It was a great day on the water meeting new friends and showing new clients around. I look forward to when they return in July.

SUNSET - MOONRISE IN MAY

This week was outstanding on the water. I had a wonderful time taking out long time clients, Brian and Nancy Johnson. Our trip started in the late afternoon around 4:30, we traveled to a small restaurant on North Captiva called Barnacle Phil's, a favorite local watering hole, known for its black beans and rice. After a delicious early dinner we traveled to Cayo Costa to go shell collecting. The low tide was extremely low at 7:30pm with the full moon. We collected shells on the beach the hour before and after the low tide. The beach was empty of people and the sunset was full of life. I have never seen a bad sunset from the beach at Cayo Costa. We found live starfish and lightning whelks, took pictures of both and promptly put them back in the water. The beach was full of solitude. After the sunset we walked back toward the boat as the moon was rising over the island. The quietness and the full moon reminded me of a stretch of beach I enjoyed in the Ten Thousand Islands four moons ago. Brian , Nancy and I followed the moonbeam on the water south back to Captiva. Some trips you can plan and they work out great, other trips, the surroundings take over and the trip leads itself. This trip, the tides and moon lead the way, all the way back to where we began.

What a beautiful week on the out islands. The May weather never ceases to amaze me. This week on Cayo Costa Island, the water looked like the Bahamas. A good friend from Colorado finally made it down here to southwest Florida. Capt. Brian finally put his long pants away and wore shorts for the first time since January. The last time I wore shorts was in January on my excursion to the mesmerizing Everglades.

Today I took a long time client out to look at the characteristics of boats on Boca Grande. This client is looking to have a custom boat, built in the Bahamas. I was able to run the Muspa out in the Gulf of Mexico along the shoreline of North Captiva then continuing North past Cayo Costa into Boca Grande Pass. The long stretch of beach on Cayo Costa brings back fresh memories of sea grape leaves, jelly fish, picnic tables, strawberries and finding old bottles. Cayo Costa holds many special memories and thoughts, both past and hopeful future. Oh, how I relish the month of May. I look forward to being there tomorrow, walking on the sand, feeling the air, seeing old trees and smelling old memories.

May is my favorite Month in Florida. This week was spent enjoying the beautiful waters around Cayo Costa Island and North Captiva Island. Between the two Islands is Captiva Pass where the water flows from the Gulf of Mexico to Pine Island Sound . The new moon was this past week and the tides have been super low towards sunset. Two days I spent watching the sunset, drifting on the tide with the engine off, observing the wildlife and listening to the sound of the tide take me out into the Gulf of Mexico. Spotted eagle rays jumped out of the water, osprey flew by with fish in their talons, loggerhead turtles swam by the boat, small blue crabs clung to the floating sea grass and 6 foot tarpon gulped air as they rolled by. May is a magical month in Southwest Florida.

P.S. I mentioned in the last blog that sea turtle nesting has started. There is currently one nest on Cayo Costa Island.