Earlier in the week I learned that some friends would be paddling to Jack’s Island this morning. It’s near my house and since I had yet to visit, I was excited to join.

The juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron on my neighbor’s dock was not thrilled with me when I dropped in the water a little after 8am. After paddling under Gulfport Boulevard, I entered Boca Ciega Bay to find it absolutely glassy. Such a quiet, calm morning!

I was the only person, but I wasn’t alone. I was joined by dolphins, manatees, pelicans, and terns as I kayaked past the little community of Gulfport.

When I made the turn into Clam Bayou, I was on schedule but the winding mangrove tunnels waylaid me. I wasn’t too worried about being lost since I could hear my friends. It gave them something to laugh about when I popped out of a thicket to join them.

We headed back past Gulfport to Jack’s Island. Yes, I could’ve just met them there but it would’ve been a short paddle and not nearly as much fun. The shallow, seagrass meadows that surround the island were teeming with bait fish. Easy to see why this special area has been protected as the Boca Ciega Bay Aquatic Preserve.

We spent some time relaxing and chatting before loading back into our vessels. I waved goodbye and headed north while the rest of the group headed east. I was home in 20 minutes, good thing too, since it was really starting to get hot. Such a wonderful way to spend the morning!