Kayaking in the Mangroves

Last Sunday, I went kayaking with some friends from work at the Weedon Island Preserve in St Petersburg, Florida.  It was my first time kayaking, and I didn’t know what to expect.

The first part of the trail weaves through mangrove trails, which were probably closer to tunnels. Everything was so still and serene. I felt like I was able to get a look at something that was really special. The water was incredibly calm and acted like a mirror reflecting the beautiful patterns of the mangroves into a complex optical illusion. Sometimes, it got so complex, it made my head spin a bit, and then I wanted to draw it.  Where each branch met the water, small, black crabs would scurry when you got too close. Likewise, the branches of the mangroves were filled with beautiful white birds, which would take flight through the mangrove tunnels as you got near to them. It was very much a fantasy world made real.

Outside of the mangroves, the trails opened into these open areas of calm, swallow water, which reminded me of northern lakes. As you paddled along, fish jumped high up and out of the water.  It  was a bit surreal to glide along in the water, fish jumping beside me while I appreciated, the calm and quiet beauty.  I could have stayed there for hours, floating along and enjoying those moments.

Anyway, it was a really cool experience, and a huge thank you to my friend Harry for organizing it and allowing me to use a few of his photos in this post. The photos below totally crack me up because one minute I’m screaming (I’m guessing a fake scream) and the next, I’m laughing. Typical, silly me.

A few weeks later, I was able to visit Weedon Island again with my camera. For more photographs, see  Weedon Island and Spiders.