two dogs standing in a leafy wooded area with bare trees and scattered green vegetation | Two large dogs walking together on a paved path next to a mossy stone wall and green grass on a cloudy day

7 October ~2012

I went backpacking on three consecutive weekends in September, to make up for the time I would be leaving the dogs behind while traveling to the Florida Keys.

Black and white dog standing on a rocky incline overlooking a forested valley with mountains in the backgroundtwo dogs standing on a large rock overlooking a mountainous landscape under a cloudy skyMan wearing a large backpack and wide-brimmed hat standing in an autumn forest with three dogs around him

I was hoping to spend the first weekend in Florida llike I do in Denver - with some dancing on Friday and Saturday night.

Friday went well at Cowboy Bills on Duvall Street - there was room on the dance floor, the band was excellent, and I found a woman who knew how to triple step and swing.

On Saturday I was hoping for more of the same, but got stiffed by every woman I asked to dance.

After the band's first set I left with what my ego severely diminished. All everybody seemed to know how to do is get drunk and bop up and down in front of the band with shitfaced grins.

Except for the lady with her baseball cap on backwards who leaned up against the wooden cowboy statue in the corner in a obscene manner, while somebody took her picture. Then she got up on the stage and stood up close to the lead singer as he tried to perform. He wasn't too impressed but was good natured about it.

Sunday was better, after some coffee and the beautiful weather morning for my trip out to the reefs in the Florida Key Wildlife Refuge. Throughout the day we saw dolphins, a sea turtle, found a conch shell, and paddled our kayaks through hidden passageways on a mangrove-covered island. It was like being in Disneylands jungle ride, without the big hippopotamus jaws opening around you.

The absolute best part though was the coral reefs we visited, snorkeling and looking at the array of fish below. I followed Jen, because she seemed the most knowlegeable. (and definitely was the most photogenic).

Coral reef underwater scene with small yellow and black striped fish swimming among various coralsVarious fish swimming around large coral formations under clear waterTranslucent jellyfish floating underwater near the surface with sunlight filtering throughColorful coral reef with various corals and a dark fish with blue spots and a bright yellow tail swimming among themUnderwater scene showing coral formations and a dark blue fish with bright blue spots and a yellow tail swimming among the rocksUnderwater view of coral reef with small colorful fish swimming aroundUnderwater coral reef with small striped fish swimming nearby in clear greenish-blue waterUnderwater view of coral reef with several small striped fish swimming around the coralsperson snorkeling underwater in clear greenish water wearing a mask and finsperson snorkeling underwater near coral reefs with snorkel mask and finsCalm water reflecting a partly cloudy blue sky with silhouetted mangrove trees and two people kayaking near the shoreHand holding a large conch shell above clear shallow water under a partly cloudy skyPerson in a visor and swimsuit sitting on the railing of a sailboat with the ocean and sky in the backgroundSailboat in the distance on sparkling ocean water with dolphin fins breaking the surface close by under a partly cloudy sky

Sunday erased any bad vibes I had about my trip after Saturday Night. How did I get so lucky to have an all woman crew, of Wendy, Jen, and Annette?

Four people smiling and standing closely together on a boat deck with ocean in the background, one person wearing a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses

In the evening I took a solo kayak ride out to photograph the sunset. The wind was strong and the current heavy. I didn't set my anchor, and while concentrating on working my cameras the current moved me a good quarter mile south. I got a good workout paddling back up to the inlet where my cabin was.

At its end my day was one that makes a person realize, how blessed it is,

just to be on this Earth.

(or Sea).

view from a kayak on dark water at dusk with dramatic clouds and a faint orange glow near the horizondark ocean waters beneath a dramatic sky with dark clouds and a subtle orange glow near the horizon at sunset