Canaveral National Seashore - Back to where we left it

I see you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Events in your life, good or bad, all of them leave a mark on you. You have to keep going. It was not a plan to paddle today but I was encouraged to go back to my routine, even if I do not find it as fun and exciting as it used to be. I felt there was some unfinished business left on my most recent paddle. Had to cut the paddle short because the heat. So this morning, after finally deciding to return to the water, thought Canaveral National Seashore was a good place to go.

Juvenile Tri-Colored Heron

Put In / Take Out: Parking Lot #7 at North Quadrant of Canaveral National  Seashore, near the Eldora State House.

Osprey

This time I headed West after leaving the Put In. Explored the are near Orange Island. I know because saw campsites #1 and #2. Manatees and birds were ruling this section in a windy morning. Let me show you the pics I got from this part of the paddle. Saw a Short Tailed Hawk (first I thought it was a Peregrine Falcon), a Wood Stork, and a Roseate Spoonbill all in flight.. Was able to shoot pics but came out bad so will have to take my word for that.

Snowy Egret

Great Blue Heron

Great Egret

Osprey

Osprey

Manatee playing with a buoy

Manatee

Juvenile Tri-Colored Heron

Juvenile Tri-Colored Heron

Somehow made a mistake and the settings of my camera were changed to Monochrome pictures, or something like that. Realized the issue after a few minutes but decided to keep a couple of pics...

Took a break under the shade provided by the trees in the campsite #2. Was thinking about heading to Turtle Mound but decided to go South instead. Am glad I did that as a pod of dolphins were heading that same direction. The pod of four became a pod of seven, and then a pod of 9, including the famous dolphin with the split fin. It was choppy and windy at the time and I struggled to obtain decent dolphin pics.

Dolphin

Typical dolphin fin pic

Mosquito Lagoon Dolphin

Dolphin hunting at the lagoon. See the little mullet at the right near the end of the splash?

This one was not a total fail...was able to catch a mullet mid air

 Dolphin

Dolphin

Dolphin pod at the Mosquito Lagoon

Mosquito Lagoon scene

Dolphin pair

Followed the pod South for about 30 minutes. Sometimes the swam North and across the lagoon. One of them even jumped over the wakes of a boat. It was fun but I was exhausted because the heat. It was time to go back. That did not stop me from taking a few more pics...

Osprey

Osprey

Little Blue Heron

Now, that is something I would like to do

Green Heron

Snake in the lagoon

Snake

Brown Pelican

Near the Take Out area manatees were in a mating frenzy, three different mating mats, lots of splashing...

Mosquito Lagoon Manatees

And this is it for tonight. Before I leave would like to say thanks for those of you who contacted me or expressed some concern about the personal situation we were going through. Even when we are not out of the woods things are looking better. Things are never going to be the same or back to normal but this is life. Even when right now kayaking does not feel the same as a few months ago it is still a window, an escape valve. Will make the most of it. Remember to check our Facebook page every now and then and more important...enjoy and RESPECT the wild life around you. See you soon to share more Views From Our Kayak.

Mosquito Lagoon