This is a new one for me. Over Christmas we headed for the warmer waters of Ft. Myers. Of course I wanted to kayak all eight of the days we were down there and I pretty much got my wish. The Great Calusa Blueway Canoe and Kayak Trail runs all around the barrier islands and we spent a lot of time exploring.
One afternoon we dropped the boats in on Lover’s Key and kayaked out to the Gulf. We had put in on the interior of the key and headed for the pass to the Gulf side. When the keys opened up to the gulf Stacy my father-in-law asked which direction we wanted to go. I chose to head up the shoreline to our left.
We paddled up the shoreline, the waves pushing us in towards shore, looking at people and boats. It was obvious this was a resort area; people wearing obnoxiously large sunglasses with gold embossed logos sat on wooden umbrella’ed lounge chairs watching their kids play in the water.
Soon this scenic vista ended when gnarled branches barred access from the landside of the key. A little later I saw people spaced in areas that had been cleared, it looked like everyone was in their own little cubicle. We were back to folding beach chairs and towels. This strip was surrounded by water and boats were moored offshore with lines stretching from branches. Where we could see to through the trees, kayaks and canoes were pulled up onto shore. Stacy confirmed that the only access to the island was by boat.
Then I noticed a large older gentleman standing with his back to me. I did a double take as I noticed that it was really hard to see his swimsuit. I had seen a guy yesterday running around in a thong and I thought maybe this guy was wearing a thong. Ahead of me another kayaker was bearing down. His eyes were straightforward and as he came beside me, without looking my direction (beach direction) he simply stated, “Don’t look to closely, its what you think”, and then he was gone. Of course I looked back at the fat guy with the great tan right as he turned to face me. Well he wasn’t wearing a thong, that’s for sure.
After we passed naked Wilford Brimmley (think oatmeal and mail order diabetic supplies), I noticed everyone was naked on this section of the beach. They were standing around talking, butt-naked, as if it was just natural for them to have family get-togethers in the buff. I think the most clothing anyone had on was a Santa’s hat and it looked as if many had come in canoes. I wondered if any had wicker-speckled butts. Hmmmm, Canuding; a new sport.
This wasn’t the kind of wildlife we were expecting.
Sorry, no pictures.