Dolphin at Every O'clock!

               We arrive at a somewhat unkempt campground on the intracoastal waterway just north of Titusville.  "Well," we thought, "we'll stay one night."  But as we settle in I notice a dolphin jump.  We investigate and find there are a lot of dolphin and manatee around.  We are so shocked and decide to spend a few days to investigate and observe.  We find there are not only dolphin and manatee regularly passing by our RV, positioned feet away from the seawall, but also an abundance of birds of all kinds - herons and other wading birds, a river otter, skates, Flamingos flying overhead and lots of fish.  We get out the blow up our kayak and go out and have many moments of being close to the dolphin and manatee.  (Thanks Welton and Susan for the Kayak!)

              We have identified quite a few dolphin individually - a mother and pup that fish nearby often, two adults that have chunks taken out of their dorsal fins, and at least two others with intact fins.  I can see these two right now and just saw the mom and pup a minute ago.

              I like to pull the kayak north along the seawall and then jump in and float south letting the current take me along.  This way I can be the least disturbance to the manatee and dolphin and they will come closer. The kids are interested, especially when Phillip notices my excitement.  Though for them, I just don't think they realize what a unique experience it is to be near these animals in the wild.

            We hear all night the sound of the breathing and  splashing of the dolphin and manatee as they pass by and the squawks of the heron fishing near-by.  Right now, a manatee is passing by - maybe fifteen feet away. Neal calls the area along the seawall "the manatee highway."  We love it and are glad to see so much nature up close.  This is on par or maybe beyond my other favorite place - Spencer Island, Nova Scotia. We'll post pictures later.  Gotta' run. We're packing up.  On to Merritt Island.