Yak Attack



Something Like This Maybe

 Awoke earlier just around 12:30 a.m. with renewed thoughts of getting that kayak to put on the top of the Jeep just for places like this -- and some lakes or streams in Colorado.  Googled some kayak dealers in the Ft. Myers area and looked over some selection of Ocean Kayaks or fishing kayaks -- ready to stop at a couple places on the "mainland" to begin the search (on my way to Sanibel Island).  It is some 36 miles around to get to Sanibel Island and Google says a little over an hour each way (probably because of all the stop lights and small roads with low speed limits).

Maybe I will take one out for a spin at some place off of this not even quaint or friendly island -- most likely spot seems to be Bunche Beach just before going across the causeway to Sanibel Island.  That way I can see if I can handle one of the 11 or 12 footers that would fit nicely on my Jeep -- then, hope the stock market treats me favorably for a couple days to cover the costs.  Making a list of all the accessories (maybe even a GPS and fish finder) to get it outfitted properly -- sand colored "Prowler 11T Kayak Angler" looks like a good one (if it comes with rod pods) and it is trans-ducer friendly.  Wonder how much good a wind-sock is like the one on the kayak I saw at Fiesta Key?  Will have to read his blog to see what I can learn from him and his travels.

On this note, for those of you interested in reading his blog, his name is Josh Tart and his blog is http://www.paddleforwells.com/.  Thanks to Mike Holland in PEI for digging this out as I attempted but, didn't catch up with Josh before I left Fiesta Key and his kayak was still there the morning I left (minus his fishing poles and video camera it seemed).

One thing I recalled (when I awoke earlier too) on my journey back to the mainland from Fiesta Key is meeting this guy at the Racetrack gas station in Homestead -- I had just turned onto FL 997 from the Overseas Highway and parked on the shoulder to scope out the layout of the gas station to see where their diesel pumps were located, when this rather scrufty and scrawny guy came down the grassy hillside by the station as I stepped out of the Winnebago.  He came to beg for a few dollars to get him some gas so he could drive down the overseas highway to Big Pine Key where he worked as a shrimp boat sailor -- I looked him straight in the eyes (while he showed me his scars on his arms) and his eyes were the color of the light greenish (turquoise) color of the water in the Keys.  He acknowledged that no one else had looked him straight in the eyes -- Whoa!  What they missed.  I gave him about a third of my laundry change and he blessed me (maybe a seaman's blessing).  Hope he brings me good luck on my kayak hunt -- and the stock market too.

So, now to go back for a little more sleep and see what additional thoughts I will awake with -- Good night to all and good fishing (or hunting).  Will let you know later about Sanibel Island and if the beaches there are really "shell-lined" and worth the stop.