Stuart Florida is Paradise!

I don't understand why there are so few paddlers in Florida.  If I judge it by the number of kayaks I see on cars or the number of kayaks I see on the water Floridians do not kayak as much as North Carolinians.  Maybe it is because Florida is now filled with people from out of state instead of the farmers, ranchers, and outlaws who started the state.  In any chase my trip was wonderful and I have the pictures to prove it.

I paddled by a lot of houses like this near the St. Lucie inlet.  Very few of these folks had kayaks in the back yard.  I don't know a lot of folks around here but I do know one very good paddler who takes her white water boat through the inlet to surf the reef break.  When the tides are right she has help on the way to the reef and on the way back.  Unfortunately, I was a little too busy to take pictures while in the inlet or near the reef break.

Fortunately I did take a picture from shore that lets you see the color and clarity of the water outside the inlet.

This is the same beach at the same time, looking the other way.

After I got back in from the inlet I headed North. After I went about 11 miles I stopped for lunch near the Jensen Causeway. After Lunch I put up my Flat Earth sail and started to head back.  There wasn't much wind so I kept taking the sail down and putting it up again.

Here is the boat taking a break at the Stuart Causeway.  It's a good thing that the Flat Earth Sail goes up and comes down so easily.  I wish all my sails were this easy to use, but each different design has it's own compromises.

As I got closer to the inlet the incoming tide brought in some really gorgeous and clear water.

I used my Lumpy paddle with no blister or hand soreness even though it was my first 24 mile paddle of the year. Thanks Bill!

Thanks Rachel for letting me come visit your beautiful home.  And Thanks for being my sister!