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Marilyn                                                                                                   Elizabeth

These past 3 days have been amazing!  Paddled 7 miles on Tuesday with the wind again from the NNE but paddling on the leeward side of the island makes it much easier.  Stopped off at the Jones Pier and met a colorful character, Richard Jones born 91 years ago in the cracker style old FL home behind his famous fruit stand.  Have stayed on Orchid Island off Jungle Trail Rd. for the past 3 nights in a darling cottage on the river. Marilyn Mazzoil, dolphin expert at Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute has invited me to stay as a guest of her and her husband Byron.  Their hospitality and kindness, great meals and friendship will never be forgotten.

Yesterday, May 13th Marilyn let me join her and fellow dolphin researcher, Elizabeth Titcomb, on their monthly dolphin survey of the Banana River.  These 2 women are absolutely incredible!  While Marilyn drives the boat, Elizabeth holds the camera with a lense  at least 2 feet long and balances herself on the bow of the boat.  Each time a dolphin surfaces, she clicks away and takes pictures with the camera as Marilyn maneuvers the boat to get the perfect angle with light, ect.  Then the data is entered into an onboard computer to be cataloged and later studied.  You’ll never see 2 human beings more dedicated to the protection and study of dolphins.  What an honor it was to witness their work.

Tomorrow, Friday May 14th, time to say goodbye to Orchid Island and continue north.  Next stop, Captain Hiram’s at Sebastian.  Looking forward tonight to seeing the last and final launch of the Shuttle – Atlantis.  Signing off for now.

Bye Bye

Snookie

Snookie with Elizabeth and the HBOI Dolphin Research vessel

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