Looking for Three Hole Harry

Sunshine Key Resort, Florida

Finally, on our second to last day here, the winds died down enough for us to get the kayaks out.

We launched the kayaks here at Sunshine Key, in search of  “Three Hole Harry.”   To read about him, click here.  

This is a picture from last April, of Harry and Al.  He is a 5-6 foot nurse shark.

Yesterday, the water was not quite as clear, and unfortunately, we never did find Harry.   I did find a ledge where there was something that resembled a tail of a large fish, but I couldn’t get a good enough view to tell for sure. 

We stayed in this area for quite a while, looking for ledges and tropical fish.  Al spotted a few lobster, including one dead one, and I spotted a juvenile French Angle fish.  Cool!

This was the Bay side of the island and once the slack tide started, we decided to head under the bridge and go into the Atlantic side.

Al spotted a few more small lobsters, but he didn’t go in after them.  (the water is a bit chilly)

We puttered around for a while, then decided we needed to stretch our legs.  We found this pretty little beach area between Bahia Honda State Park and Sunshine Key.

There was a pretty mangrove tunnel.

I found this cute little hermit crab.  Can you see his little eyes?

and a nice area to beach the kayaks.

I hung the camera from a branch, set the timer and took a pretty ugly picture of us, my hat hair, dive booties and all…..but at least the back ground looked good.

We planned on paddling around the whole island, but then we started noticing some dark skies.  I checked the radar on my trusty Droid phone and we decided to head back to the marina at Sunshine Key. 

We paddled back under another bridge and into the marina.

We ended up giving up paddling for the day, although the rain never came, there were a lot of storm clouds on the horizon.

 

We did find this friendly fella at the marina.

Evidently,  Manatees living in salt water really like a drink of fresh water.  These people had a garden hose and were giving the Manatee a drink.

A face only a mother could love?

Probably not the best idea, but she said when the boaters rinse their motors out, the manatee will get behind them and drink the fresh water.

We went back home, then decided we’d go back to the Sunset Bar and Raw Bar for happy hour. 

We had a pretty good sunset, but the cloud bank threatened to ruin our view.

Around sunset what we thought was a few guys in a band playing music and singing.  It turned out to just be one guy.  He was terrific.  Of course he played some Jimmy Buffet songs.  When he sang something by Willie Nelson, I had to check to make sure Willie wasn’t there.

We usually leave right after sunset so we don’t have to drive home in the dark (its an old age thing I guess), but last night we stayed.

We were rewarded by the beautiful changing colors of the swimming pool.

You can see here where it’s turquoise.  Also, notice in the ocean the green lights?  Those are underwater lights by the boat dock.

the pool then starts to change to  pink/purple color.

then, my favorite, a deep ocean blue, which reminds me of the time we went across the Gulf Stream on a dive boat.  We all got out and snorkeled in water just about this same color.  It was 2000 feet deep, crystal clear and deep blue.  It was incredible.

Al says if we go back, I will be limited to two drinks.  Apparently, I don’t handle three very well.

On the way out we decided to  walk down to the lower level and walk out on the dock. 

Once we got down on the dock, it was a whole different experience.

Here is the transportation of someone who came for happy hour.  I hope he didn’t have three drinks!

These are those pretty green lights you can see from the upper deck. They attract fish and there were a lot of Snook swimming around.

Here is one I took of Al on the dock.  I used my flash so the other lights didn’t show up.

This is a picture of the beautiful tree next to me where we sit.  It reminded me of North Carolina.  To the left is the dining room.

They also have a huge tv screen downstairs for the football games they show.

It’s a lovely place.

Even the parking lot was festive.

We sure love this place, as you can probably tell.

The plan for today (Sunday) was to spend it kayaking.  It was supposed to be calm, and sunny, but we awoke to clouds and scattered rain showers all around us.  I guess we’ll have to go to plan b and see if it clears up.  I sure hope so, since today is our last day in the Keys.