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bartenderdave | profile | all galleries >> Galleries >> Ding Darling Paddling: Florida tree view | thumbnails | slideshow

Ding Darling Paddling: Florida

Warm water, exotic birds, a few gators, margaritas, and leisurely paddling with longtime buddies Jan and Vicki.
Sunrise over Ding Darling USFWS Refuge, Sanibel Island. Gulf Coast Florida.
Sunrise over Ding Darling USFWS Refuge, Sanibel Island. Gulf Coast Florida.		 The NanSea, 30 ft houseboat, home for a week.
The NanSea, 30 ft houseboat, home for a week.		 Power lounging in our bedroom/dining room/parlor
Power lounging in our bedroom/dining room/parlor		 Hatch boy sprouting aft. Tons of storage aboard this baby!
Hatch boy sprouting aft. Tons of storage aboard this baby!
Host Jan, whomping up some salmon croquettes, after two rounds of margaritas.
Host Jan, whomping up some salmon croquettes, after two rounds of margaritas.		 Host Vicki at rest; usually found cooking or snapping photos.
Host Vicki at rest; usually found cooking or snapping photos.		 Becky dialoging with sister Lisa, front deck of the NanSea,
Becky dialoging with sister Lisa, front deck of the NanSea,		 Riot Polaris off the NanSea; a bit tricky to board but a good poly double.
Riot Polaris off the NanSea; a bit tricky to board but a good poly double.
And not bad as a single, even with lardass in the stern
And not bad as a single, even with lardass in the stern		 Better this way. Gabby Hayes at the rudder control.
Better this way. Gabby Hayes at the rudder control.		 Vicki and Jan in their WS Aurora, a good open cockpit boat for the mangrove islands.
Vicki and Jan in their WS Aurora, a good open cockpit boat for the mangrove islands.		 Offshore outside the mangroves, NanSea in the distance.
Offshore outside the mangroves, NanSea in the distance.
Trucking through the mangroves, growing in salt water.
Trucking through the mangroves, growing in salt water.		 These channels run everywhere; easy to get lost without a GPS and chart.
These channels run everywhere; easy to get lost without a GPS and chart.		 Mangrove sapling getting started in the salt. The roots put leaves above the salt; and bring air via stalks.
Mangrove sapling getting started in the salt. The roots put leaves above the salt; and bring air via stalks.		 Local fishing for mullet, algae eating foodfish for everything larger
Local fishing for mullet, algae eating foodfish for everything larger
Two lb Red Drum, typical predator on mullet; good tasting!
Two lb Red Drum, typical predator on mullet; good tasting!		 What eats Drum, sea trout, snook, etc. A four foot requiem shark on the hook.
What eats Drum, sea trout, snook, etc. A four foot requiem shark on the hook.		 Whelk spiral egg casing, an inch in diameter and 20 inches long, sandy Gulf beach.
Whelk spiral egg casing, an inch in diameter and 20 inches long, sandy Gulf beach.		 Little alley in a fresh water area, algae and tannins color the water.
Little alley in a fresh water area, algae and tannins color the water.
Egret resting; hell of a place for birds in quantity
Egret resting; hell of a place for birds in quantity		 White pelicans, running to 9 feet in wing span; brown cousins dominate.
White pelicans, running to 9 feet in wing span; brown cousins dominate.		 Sea grape, about 3-4 inch leaves, running to several feet tall. Not salt tolerant.
Sea grape, about 3-4 inch leaves, running to several feet tall. Not salt tolerant.		 Palms everywhere, about 20 species found here, but only 3-4 native to Florida.
Palms everywhere, about 20 species found here, but only 3-4 native to Florida.
Happy camper with beauteous babes.
Happy camper with beauteous babes.

comment | share
Guest 28-Mar-2008 16:54
Awesome phoos Dave! Thanks for sharing! Suzi
jane 28-Mar-2008 12:00
Great photos. Thanks for letting us tag along.
bartenderdave28-Mar-2008 03:58
Lis and Wendela, Glad you enjoyed the photos. Vicki took almost all of them. I might have taken one. Vicki has a terrific eye for composition. We, also, are really glad our friends will be back in the land of rain and good people in a month or so.
Guest 28-Mar-2008 01:31
What great photos! It makes me homesick for my friends to return. I'm glad it won't be long.
XO
Wendela
Lis Stubberfiel 27-Mar-2008 21:30
Hi Vicki,

Looks idyllic and lots of fun. Thanks for sending me these photos.

XO,

Lis
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