Views From Our Kayak: Canaveral National Seashore and Merritt Island

Dolphin's Delight!!!!!!!!

Pulled a LeBron James today. No, I did not go home, but could not handle the heat and cut my paddle at the Canaveral National Seashore short. The picture does not have too many details to be seen but a leaping dolphin from the kayak has to be the opening pic regardless. Had a less than three hours paddle at the waters of the Mosquito Lagoon due to the brutal heat, but what a time I had!!!!!!!

Manatee

Put In / Take Out: Canaveral National Seashore is huge. For this trip did launch from the Parking Lot #7. Check the link and see the map for more details. Look for the Eldora Fishing Docks.

A SUP and a kayak near the Eldora Fishing Dock

Was in the water maybe 20 minutes after 8 AM. The Mosquito Lagoon looked like a plate, ideal conditions for paddling. By the way, it is called Mosquito Lagoon for a reason so be sure you have insect repellent. If you do not, good luck trying to enjoy your time there. Back to the paddle, headed to the Eldora State House, South of the Put In, looking for manatees. Saw several of them but they went under before I was able to shoot a pic. Saw something pink moving at the other side of where I was so paddled there. It was a Roseate Spoonbill. That got me started. Here are the pics of my time at this area.

Eldora State House

Spoonie

Manatee shows scars on his head.

Dolphin swims near the Eldora Fishing Dock

Dolphin

Had left my eye glasses in the van and since I was not far from the parking lot went back for them. It was then when realized that I was soak and wet in sweat and the heat was only increasing. Decided to paddle near the Eldora State House for maybe a couple of hours and then would see what to do next. Back to the water...

Manatee at the distance

Manatee with scars courtesy of propellers

Dolphin

Head Shot

Swimming close to the kayak

Goes under

Mosquito Lagoon Dolphin

Dolphin 2 shows up

And then dolphin 3 swims in front of me

Dolphin #4

Dolphin

Leaping

Manatee at 11 O Clocck

Mosquito Lagoon scene

Manatee

Great Blue Heron

Osprey

At 11 AM took a break under a shade. Applied sunscreen for the third time and decided that it was enough. Only had one bottle of water left (had three of them) and it was scorching by that time already. So called it a paddle and return to the Parking Lot 7. But it was early and Merritt Island is on my way home so decided to pay a visit. Went first to the Bio Lab Road...

Black Necked Stilts

Great Blue Heron

Gull

Gulls

Black Necked Stilts

Tri Colored Heron

TBD

Cormorant

Snowy Egret

Tri Colored Heron

Spoonie

Spoonie and Snowy Egret

After the Bio Lab drove around Black Point Wildlife Drive. That was a mistake. Should have gone home but...did not. Came out of there with only a few more pics...

TBD

Green Heron

Reddish Egret

And this is it for this one. Thanks for coming and know we appreciate your support. I have enjoyed this blog and the people I have come to meet thanks to this. But this one may be my last post for an indefinite time. My family is going through a tough moment and needs my complete attention. I do not know, maybe it will be one or two weeks before I can post again, or may be more than that. Really do not know. I only ask for you to pray, if you are a believer, or at least send us positive thoughts. Hopefully we will come back soon to share with you Views From Our Kayak.