Day 45(about as good as it gets) 01/19/2010
Daily stats Start: 6:15 AM- Dauphin Island AL Finish: 2:00 PM - Perdido Cut AL Time: 7:45 Daily dist: 35 miles Total dist: 1,337 miles Companions: None Weather: Absolutely flat calm almost all daywith temps in the upper 60's Notes: The nicest day of paddling so far on this trip, actually one of the nicest days I’ve ever spent paddling. All day long I kept retracing my steps over the last week to make sure that it was indeed just eight days ago when I had to thaw my tent poles with my cook stove in order to get them apart, because today was absolutely gorgeous. Sorry for everyone who had to work, it was about as good as it gets out on the water today and I was thinking about you. Everything came together right today, the water was glassy smooth and my paddling cadence seemed to match the roll of the ocean in such a way that the kayak almost seemed to levitate above the water. It was paddling zen.  A calm start to a great day Of course with a day so sublime I don’t really have that much to report. Early this morning, just after crossing the entrance to Mobile bay, I did see literally thousands of Cormorants flying east in long single file rows. At first the flocks came through in trickles of 50 or so birds. Then it was like someone opened a faucet wide open and the birds came in continuous rows at least a half mile long. At the end of the day I also had a little adventure finding a spot to camp. The beach I had spotted on Google Maps turned out to be situated directly under the nose of two multi story beach condos. So after a 32 mile day I was without a place to call home for the night. Thankfully just inside Perdido pass I discovered a small island in the middle of the bay. It's dry land but not by much yet a very nice spot to camp. Tonight the island is playing host to the usual number of Great Blue Herons and one kayaker. Commentsdad 01/19/2010 10:29:01 pm Hi Jake, Ray M 01/20/2010 12:07:33 am Just happened upon your blog by chance...I did a google search of "lucky son of a gun" ....and your blog popped up!! Jan Kleck 01/20/2010 7:38:57 am The sublime days are the days we love to hear about. And the pictures? Sublime. And the birds? I ask you - how many people get a chance to sleep with multiple Great Blue Herons? Paddle on peacefully! John Cronin 01/20/2010 7:50:27 am Jake, that is my kind of paddling. Wish I was down there with you. Enjoy the warmth. Tootie 01/20/2010 9:11:31 am Hi Jake 01/20/2010 9:27:05 am I just checked your SPOT! It says you are crossing the border - Welcome to Florida. :) I truly hope the sunshine state offers some wonderful companions and hospitality. I know I would like to be one of them. Well - one to offer the hospitality anyway. Don't have much skill in the paddling area. Andy 01/20/2010 9:37:01 am Glad you are into some calmer waters. Watch out for those herons though - they're cute but they'll bite your fingers clean off. Victor Sorensen 01/20/2010 2:49:16 pm Hope you have a great trip around Florida, looking forward to seeing you in the Mid Atlantic! Mike Gallagher 01/20/2010 4:58:35 pm Glad to hear that the only blues you are carrying are the blue around you. Say goodby to Vicksburg and the Cape and hello to creation. Cousin Alice 01/20/2010 5:18:19 pm Hi Jake! lyn stachovak 01/20/2010 5:37:58 pm Hi Jake, I just checked the weather channel.com and it looks like you're in for some rough weather? Hope you have a nice warm, dry and protected place to wait out the storm. Like Alice said, it was a "warm" 26 here today. Larry 01/20/2010 6:40:35 pm Jake, The Zen of paddling is really one of the things I enjoy most...when man, machine and nature kind of come together. Enjoy! Walk 01/21/2010 6:40:11 am Hi Jake, Leave a Reply | Best of the Blog
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