Moonlight paddle in Key West by Regina Nicolardi

Upon our departure from Key West, we had to make a decision as to where we would spend one last night in this magnificent archipelago. After deliberation we knew one more night of camping on beautiful Bahia Honda was the way to go. Then it occurred to us one spontaneous step further, to paddle the shores of Bahia Honda under the full moon.

As night fell and we awaited moon-rise, our plans were held at bay as one of the keys electricfying lightning storms rolled in. The light show provided us with some impressive entertainment, but also spoiled our plans of launching into the night. We awoke well in the wee hours to find the storm had cleared and the moon was out in full.

Quietly slipping the boards into the warm night waters, we took in the moon over the channel then rounded the western side of Bahia Honda to explore the northern mangrove shores, where to our discovery, looking to the east the sun was preparing to burst over the horizon. With the massive full moon lighting the night to our one direction and the glow of the breaking dawn to the other we found ourselves with our final moments in the Florida Keys immersed in its awesomeness.