Classic Kayak-Off to a GREAT start!

-The Classic Kayak- 

This trip officially kicks off our 2010-2011 Season--YAHOO :) What a long, quiet summer we had. It is so great to be busy once again. I have been meaning to post before now about this group, but with Dallas out on the water and me flying solo with the boys, I don't get a lot of spare time it seems.

 I absolutely love our jobs and the work we are blessed to be able to do when we get to "work" with folks like Saji, Jess, Toby & Charlotte. You guys have been amazing guests to have, and we have had a wonderful time making new friends indeed :) Now we have friends to connect with when we go to New York, New Zealand and London. I can't wait!!!

 Before the trip started we were able to hang out with Saji & Jess a bit and now that it is officially over we are enjoying some extra time with Toby & Charlotte. I think you guys planned that so you wouldn't all abandon us at once :) I was actually telling Dallas that one of the hardest parts about our job is meeting such cool people and then having to say "farewell" so soon.

 I guess I should probably discuss some of the specifics about the trip too instead of just the awesomeness of our guests! After a long truck ride out from Georgetown to Barretarre we arrived at our "put-in" spot. Side note...the guys rode in the back of the truck on the way out (the ladies, Joss, Emit and I were generously given the seats inside the truck), and that seemed like a pretty cool treat for the Big Boys. Ah, the little things with Island Life!!

 Their first day was spent paddling to Norman's Pond Cay (about 8 miles from Barretarre) where they would setup camp for the next two nights (as pictured above). About an hour in to the trip, the group was lucky enough to encounter a huge Loggerhead Turtle that was around 300 lbs (135 kg for our Brit's & Kiwi). With the Loggerheads being endangered species, we don't see them very often. We see a lot of Green Turtles, but this was a rare treat for sure.

 Off from their beach at Norman's Pond Cay they had a regular visitor right around sunset both nights. The group had their very own pet Lemon Shark. Jess, Dallas has been imitating your amazing accent with this little "pet" since he came home :) FYI-She's our New Zealander (is that the correct way to say it?).

 Another Norman's Pond sighting (there's lots of fun to be had there) was this dead sting ray. Dallas said he's never seen one this big before. They found it in a little cove, and it seems so sad to me. Now, I know it's a sting ray, but it still makes me sad.

 One downer on the trip was definitely the bugs. The fires helped keep them at bay a bit, but they were still a pain to deal with (so I was told). Sorry about that guys. For any future visitors...stock up on the bug spray for when the wind is still.

 The group spent the days paddling to the northern end of Norman's Pond to swim in the cave and visit the Rock Iguanas around the point. Dallas was taking a lot of video footage on this trip for us to work on a video montage, so I don't have very many photos...or at least not just yet. I'll post some more once I get my hands on them :)

 Their final paddle was back toward Barretarre to Boysie Cay. This is a great location for a first or last day camp because it is a nice short paddle back to the mainland, and very pretty! There's a really cool blow hole right next to it as well.

 Before Dallas took off on this trip he wanted Joss to send him out with a toy because anywhere Joss goes... he's taking a toy of some sort with him. Joss and I chose to send 'Daddy' out with some of his favorite little trains (one for daddy, mommy, Joss & Emit) so he would have something out their as a reminder of us. Dallas recruited Saji, Jess, Toby & Charlotte to help him get some shots of the trains in action at the campsite. Joss was very excited when he saw his trains out there having fun :)

Again, you all have been such wonderful guests! Thank you for choosing to spend your vacation time with us on our little island. You were such a blessing after a very long and slow summer down here. Thank you for the sweet kindness you showed our little 'explorers'. Emit has a tight little grip on his new space shuttle, and Joss has had a ball playing with each of you at some point--throwing rocks, petting sting rays, blasting off the space shuttle, showing you 'Santa' and the scary slide... the list goes on :) THANK YOU for a Great start to our new season! You are why we love what we do!!!