JIMMY JOHNSON, GIANT SHARK, and WATERTRIBE FINISH
Thank you to Jimmy Johnson for taking the time to listen to my goal setting presentation outline. That was very kind of you. I launched from his back yard and headed through Florida Bay to The Pelican Cottages for the WaterTribe Everglade Challenge finish. It was actually the nicest paddle I had in weeks. Paddling in the Bay knocked down the four to five foot waves at 1 second intervals. I am cruising along in a deeper area of the Bay, and thirty feet off my port side was an eighteen inch fin. It was very close and I could not see the body of the shark. It must have been at least a twenty-four inch fin, minimally. Figure out those dimensions and it was probably close to the length of my kayak and three to four times as big. I felt zero panic, only excitement, but that was the only glimpse I got of the magnificent creature. I kept up a scan, especially behind me in case it decided to trail me. Nothing. I did not look like anything to eat, smell like anything to eat, and it did not bother to determine if I felt like anything to eat. I kept up a steady relaxed paddle pace just as when I happened upon the shark. Probably because I would have liked to see it again, it went on its merry way. It was likely a Great Hammerhead, but I am no shark expert. The fin shape and size the shark can get up to match pretty well. Thank you to the WaterTribe participants and staff. I felt so welcomed and enjoyed talking with everyone. I gleaned so much information on how to solve problems with my kayak. The finish of the WaterTribe race was hosted by the Pelican Cottages. I already had wonderful experiences with the Pelican assisting me in my travels from Key Largo to Key West and back. They did a great job again this year providing the venue for the event. It was a really nice day, interesting break from all the chaos!!! Teresa