And on the seventh day, Fran rested: Crystal River

Okay, it hasn't been seven days without rest and paddling may not compare to creating the universe and everything in it, but Fran's arm and shoulder muscles are sore and her energy reserves declining. Let's do a zero day.

Yesterday on our way past the jetty a crab tender swung by to make sure we were okay. We chatted with Michael a bit and queried about a place to stay in Crystal Springs. We had earlier called an RV park but they wanted $87 for a tent site! Michael said the most economical place, frequented by fishermen, was run by his family and just $69. We have loved staying at small family owned places, so headed to the Kings Bay Lodge.

When we ask for the cheapest lodging in town our expectations are not high. In Steinhatchee the room was a tiny square made of cinder blocks with a squirrel running around in the ceiling and it worked just fine.

The room at the Lodge is amazing, with a full kitchen, dining table, two beds, a couch, and two recliners facing the TV. And we watched the Fiesta Bowl with the Oregon Ducks. Ah, this is living! 

We spend the time tending to little chores. We shop, pick up the package at the Post Office, do laundry, patch the neck gasket on my drysuit, epoxy the chips on my Greenland paddle, check out the sticking skeg on Fran's boat, charge up the electronics and dry stuff out. 

But mostly we relax. We have a tremendous and huge breakfast at AJ's café, a wonderful find, and we spend an hour chatting with Sue and Matt, proprietors of Aardvark Florida Kayak Company. They run a high quality shop.  

Here in Florida there is considerable variety in the shops. At Cedar Key we watched one outfitter setting a group out on a trip. His paddling instructions were completely wrong and there appeared to be little safety net. The inexperienced group set off for an island several miles offshore with no guide and it was not clear if anyone knew how to do a rescue. If the wind picked up or someone had trouble it wasn't clear there was any plan. The old Lifeguard Instructor in me cringed. 

Matt commented that that was all too common in Florida. We had heard earlier of a Boy Scout group losing two Scouts when their canoe was blown too far out into the Gulf and capsized. It is good to have folks like Sue and Matt who try to lead and teach safety. 

Fran and I have been fortunate to belong to a very safety conscious paddling club (OOPS, Oregon Ocean Paddling Society), and have expert instruction available from world class folks like Alder Creek. Perhaps the generally easy conditions here allow less attentiveness to safety, but too much laxity can lead to trouble.