08/27/2006 – Dauphin Island

Launch: Southeast end of the island by the rock jetties. Launch Cost: Free. Route: South to the southeast end of Sand Island, then northwest along the north side of the Sand Island to the Pier, then east back to the launch site. Distance: Approx 9 miles. Average Speed: 3.2 mph. Time: Approx 3 hrs. Pace: Slow. Weather: Partly cloudy. Temps were nice until the sun came out. Had planned on pedaling over to Fort Morgan across the Channel, but developing storms caused me to make a change of plans. One has to be flexible kayaking in this area.

(1) Above left. About half way between Dauphin Island and Sand Island, I got to experience another beautiful sunrise. Life is good! (2) Above right. Here is another photo of the sunrise.

(3) Above left. The FAA would be in panic mode if these were planes. The several moving clouds I saw on the horizon were masses of birds. (4) Above right. This poor tern, though aware of my presence, looked like it was about to expire. We all get old.

(5) Above left. This was the reason why I chose not to go across to Fort Morgan – you can never tell whether pop up storms will have lightning in them or not. (6) Above right. Back on the Dauphin Island side, the gentleman standing in the water was crabbing while catching a few rays of sun.

(7)(8) Above left and right. Here are a couple of more photos of the clouds to the east. Sure glad I didn’t try to go to Fort Morgan. The clouds were more impressive when you got to see the entire panorama.

(9) Above left. Looking toward the north, there was not a cloud in sight. More and more of the beach houses and condos are being painted tropical colors like these. You would never see house colors like this in a normal neighborhood. (10) Above right. A fisherman standing in the water on the right side of the photo is trying to catch food away from this hungry dolphin. Dolphins have been rare to see this year, probably because there seem to be no shrimp boats running the area. I thoroughly enjoy every kayak trip in the Dauphin Island area.

I noticed something different this trip – silence. Why hadn’t I heard it before? In the past, horns from nearby Oil Rigs would be blaring beeps so loud that it would be irritating even though the rigs are miles away. If the horns are also off at night, camping on Sand Island might be a pleasurable experience again.