We awake to a perfect morning on the Atlantic Ocean, having stayed at the cozy Harbor Lights Motel in Islamorada. The alarm in our GPS bleeps its quiet tone to stir us from sleep while darkness lingers outside, allowing us to be ready before the sun makes its appearance. Once outdoors, we walk a few steps to the water’s edge and await as the twilight blue-gray sky warms with orange tones, signaling the return of our star. Nearly an hour passes before we move our location for another perspective of the rising sun.

A few miles south, with the sun only inches above the horizon, we stop on Indian Key Fill for a wide ocean view as the sun continues its ascent. The water is smooth, the wind calm, and the bright golden sun warms the two of us as we bask under the light of what will surely be a perfect day.

A growl of the stomach says it’s time for breakfast at Mangrove Mike’s Cafe back up on Islamorada. It turned out to be a great recommendation from A1A the day before. I had the Mangrove Oscar, a play on eggs benedict, this one featuring sauteed spinach, poached eggs, grilled shrimp, and bearnaise over an English muffin. Caroline had eggs and potatoes – big deal, my breakfast was great.

With tummies full and eyes satisfied, it was time to treat the body. Further southward we go, this time to take the advice of the other beach the lady at the Marathon visitor center told us of, Sombrero Beach. A perfect scene of serenity and tranquility, a postcard view of what almost anyone might wish for when going for a swim. Unfortunately for me, I have to pass on getting in as I am hurting from some lower back pain that had crept up on me overnight.

Caroline throws on her snorkel and mask and slides into the warm water for a casual swim with the fishies.

Back in the car still moving at vacation speed, we head for Big Pine Key for an appointment we scheduled with Bill Keogh of Big Pine Kayak Adventures. Arriving early, we backtracked to grab a bite at the historic No Name Pub but found the wait too long and had to opt for a quicker solution for lunch. Luckily, we did; at a nearby off-the-main-drag plaza, we spotted a pizza place selling slices. For dessert, they have chocolate-covered key lime pie on a stick from the Key West Key Lime Pie Company.

I nearly had to pass on getting in the kayak for our second adventure on open water. Once again, at Big Pine Kayak, my back was struggling with excruciating spasms, and we were considering canceling or Caroline going out on her own before a nearby couple, hearing our dilemma, offered to demonstrate some back stretching exercises that might alleviate my pain. That couple was Elyse and Leonard, the other two people who were supposed to go kayaking with us. Elyse is a massage therapist when not saving other travelers from disappointment. The exercises helped and allowed us to join the tour as planned.

At 1:30, we left the dock with kayaks and a dog onboard our tour guide Bill Keogh’s boat as he was taking us out for a back-country tour that promised to keep us busy for the next few hours.

This was Caroline’s and my first open sea, close-to-shore kayaking – just yesterday was our first time ever on a kayak. We had the best time and now look forward to more of it. Floating low in the water next to the red mangroves, going noiselessly through tree tunnels, watching barracuda, an upside-down jellyfish, and simply being out here away from any crowds over clear waters was a bit of the proverbial dream come true. If you know nothing of kayaking and would like a wonderful, patient, and knowledgeable guide you cannot go wrong with Bill over at Big Pine Kayak Adventures.

But wait, there’s more, as we weren’t done yet. We had paddled back to Bill’s boat he’d anchored, and were on our way to destination number two.

As you can see, we were approaching sunset as Bill brought us out to a pelican rookery a couple of miles away from where we were kayaking. We quietly drift up to a small island with what appears to be hundreds of pelicans.

For the next half hour, we hang out along a mangrove shore, watching birds waiting for the sunset.

Not only were winged birds in my gaze, but this one was, too.

Seems that we, too, were being watched by these feathered giants.

Then, as the sky started approaching the horizon, Bill brought us back to Big Pine Key at mile marker 30 so we might all get some well-deserved dinner after such an adventurous day.