So, Where's Your Deserted Island?

That's our boat "Summer School" in the picture frame above. She's moored at a favorite sandbar on the edge of North Key. Long ago, we named that sandbar after ourselves, as in "Ourlastname Beach" because it was such a favorite spot with the kids. We've been hitting it since they were little and wonder of wonders, we were all able to go out together Sunday. No one had soccer, work, school, dates (arrggghhh), or any other conflicts. It was sweet.

So we went to sea to play.

Beyond the bar is a deep channel that runs between Seahorse Key and North Key. The boat is on the flats side of the bar where the water is shallow and perfect for playing, fishing, beachcombing, ... whatever.

There were a few watery wrestling matches and even I was pulled into the water by two mischievious mermaids. In the center pic, Katie has started something she can't finish and Jr. has just dunked her with Emma's help. It was fun to watch them being silly together. August will bring dramatic changes to this trio as Emma moves to a college dorm.

Let's talk about something else ...

Can you believe that we had this island to ourselves for almost the entire day? At one point, a boating family pulled up (on our beach!!) to let their little kids romp, but then they were off to go fishing. Later when I strolled far down the shore, I spotted one other boat beached far ahead of me. I turned around at that point as I didn't want to ruin their feeling of having the island to themselves.

There were eagles, ospreys, waders, pelicans, sharks, a mangrove mangel march, ruins, salt creeks slipping through green spartina, and evidence of recent hurricanes.

We made a full day of it. I could easily get a week's posts from this trip ... and I just might.