I am partnering with NRDC to paddle my outrigger canoe 1200 miles around Florida and west to New Orleans. My goal is to build support for a Healthy Oceans Act and steps to protect our oceans from global warming and ocean acidification. For those who do not know, I paddle to inform and for those who don't care, I paddle to inspire. I am documenting my journey on this blog during the month-long paddle.You can read more about the paddle, see photos, and take action here. You can also check out my personal website with information about this and other adventures here.

Wind at my back yesterday, stayed far enough out that I very nearly missed my cut off north of Honeymoon Island. Turning east to paddle the few miles into it I had perfect swells to ride in on. There were actaully some nice sized swells out there, on what was probably the last deep water I'll probably have for awhile. Paddling from Tarpon Springs to Hudson I was in mostly only three feet of water. Not ideal for an outrigger, but very cool for watching rays zoom away and other fish.

I think it was a little tarpon I saw doing a funny pop-up wheely for about ten yards. These little athletes do the funniest fish "flip outs." I've never seen a fish scuttle over the water like that. Fish leap when they get startled, but I think they also do it just for fun, too.

When I finally docked the boat in Hudson, there was still plenty of daylight. A little family of ducks hung out by the restaurant and hotel office. An ashtray filled with water sat in their midst, which the mother drank from repeatedly in the heat while her babies settled down in a nearby shady spot.

After getting checked in I strolled down for dinner, ate, and left for an ice cream parlor, decided I didn't feel like walking, and came back to eat and check out emails. A man came up and asked if he could sit down. I told him sure he could. After a brief introduction he shook my hand but held it too long so I had to very obviously wiggle my hand out of his grasp. I went back to my emails and he eventually left, leaving me with the faint but still oddly overpowering smell of aftershave and cigarettes. I paid my bill and left. The ducks had gone, and in the ashtray were about five or six cigarette butts.