We are up at 5am this morning getting the camp broken down and gear stowed into the hatches of our kayaks. Tradition has it that our 1st breakfast in the backcountry consists of, what I call a heart attack on a roll (fried eggs, bacon, and cheese on a hard roll) washed down with strong black coffee prepared in a Nalgene Bottle using a French Press insert. This was suppose to be the last of our fresh food for the next 5 days, relying on prepared meals that I dehydrated. As we eat the sun is rising over the mangroves and a glassy gulf. By 7:00 we are ready to make a short 25’ drag across the mud flats and are in the kayaks 15 minutes later paddling against a slight sea breeze. With day time temperatures predicted to be in the low 70’s and winds out of the east gusting to 25 mph we are trying to make as much distance this morning as possible, there is nothing like paddling a small craft in pitching seas.
Today’s paddle will take us south along the coast 15 miles to Highland Beach which is known for its several miles of white sand beaches. Highland Beach was settled in the 1880’s where the inhabitants would harvest the wild growing royal palms that now decorate the byways of Ft. Myers. The harvested royal palms were moved on roads that were cut through the thick jungle.   (You need to Login or Register   (You need to Login or Register
Passing between Turkey Key and New Turkey Key I spot a pod of dolphin working the shoals between the two Keys, they appear to be paying no attention to our progress until one of the dolphins pops up along side of my kayak and we make eye contact, what incredible animals they are.
I turn to watch Bruce as he stops, pulls out his fishing rod and starts working the calm water over the shoal where the dolphins had been. I have moved out of the protection of Turkey Key into the  shifting wind which is now out the east and gaining strength, I continue on the next 5 miles on my own to Hog Key where we are to meet for lunch. Two years ago we spent the night here and were awaken by the grunts of feral hogs that this key is named for.   (You need to Login or Register   (You need to Login or Register
After an hour has past I begin to get a little concerned until I spot this yellow speck on the water rounding the peninsula, as Bruce grows closer I see that he is wearing a smile from ear to ear. I yell out to him asking him where he’s been and he produces a stringer with three sea trout from 15 to 20 inches.
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I guess there will be fish for dinner tonight!
After lunch we continue a 7 miles paddle south to Highland where we make land fall around 3:00, and set camp. Bruce and I set off to explore the beach where Bruce discovers an antique bottle intact, one of those bottles that use a cork top to seal it. I find the beach covered with deer tracks and tracks of those ever present raccoons. The raccoons of the gulf are well known to travelers there for pilfering of food and especially fresh water which is in short supply. Visitors to this area should take special care of their water supply raccoons have been known to puncture soft sided water containers to get to the contents.
Upon returning to camp I go about the chore of preparing Bruce’s catch for dinner, while he gathers wood for our evening fire. The filets of sea trout is seasoned with lemon pepper and blackened in olive oil and margarine, the fish is served up with reconstituted hominy and string beans. We eat and watch a magnificent gulf sunset.
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Tomorrow we are off to Lost Mans 5.