I woke up yesterday morning and decided I really didn’t want to tackle my long list of chores. Instead, I checked my weather apps: sunny, low 80s, light breeze. Then I checked the tide chart: rising tide. In other words, a perfect morning to kayak out to Shell Key.

I loaded up my gear and 45 minutes later I was paddling on glassy water. Since it was still early I pretty much had the place to myself and it was just glorious! The water in the gulf was incredibly clear and sparkled in so many shades of blue.

I wandered the beach for a couple hours before reluctantly tearing myself away. I snuck into a couple shady mangrove tunnels on the return trip (it’s easier for me to find the openings on the way back than it is on the way out). Talk about timing, right after popping out of the last one I was treated to a dolphin show.

There were four of them, circling in the water (rounding up a school of fish). I was excited to see that one of them had a torn dorsal fin, I first met her three years ago in the same area. How do I know she’s female? Last year, she had a baby dolphin with her! As the pod headed south a couple of the dolphins launched themselves out of the water – I think they were having a good morning, too!