Paddling Among Manatees

This super-friendly manatee came alongside our canoe and swam upside down alongside a neighboring kayak.

There is an antidote to the awfulness that's running amok in our world at this time: canoeing among the manatees in Lover's Key State Park. Jo and I joined all our other resident volunteers (there are five other couples here), plus another handful of visitors who were on a kayaking adventure this morning.

The brisk wind kept temperatures in the low 70s as we paddled along in our Kevlar canoe. The expedition was led by Justin, a young park ranger. He backed up his kayak to the red mangroves along the bank and pointed out an immature white heron that was poking his beak into the water in hopes of spearing a small fish. As Justin spoke, an enormous manatee rolled over and nudged his kayak as if to say, "don't forget that I'm part of the display, buddy!"

The manatee's closest relative is the African elephant. They have a huge set of molars that are used exclusively to munch on grasses and leaves. We often see them rise out of the water at our campsite to nibble, oh-so-gently, on the red mangroves leaves that brush the water.

This fellow then set about gently nuzzling the kayaks that were close to him. He allowed us to get close enough to stroke him. His leathery skin is slimy with mossy growth along his back.

He left us and slowly paddled over to another set of kayakers who rounded the bend.

We canoed around Black Island, visiting with cormorants, blue herons and outrageously-plumed snowy egrets who were hunted close to extinction more than 100 years ago for their extraordinary plumage. The feathers were used in ladies' hats as a fashion statement but, somehow, good sense prevailed and the birds have been saved so we can admire them in their wild state.

We just arranged to return to this delightful piece of heaven on earth in mid-October for six weeks. We find such an environment to be good for our souls.