Cayo Costa is almost all state park and is one of my favorite places. We love to take the boat up there. If the wind is from the West we go in on the sound side where it’s quiet and walk over to the beach. If the wind is from the East and the sound is choppy we go on the gulf side and anchor the boat just off the shore. Time for a picnic. Often when we do this we have enough people around that I can forget being a dad for awhile and just lie in the sand and be quiet for a few minutes.

Once I was playing with Will’s "Godzilla" two foot rod in the surf and caught a small bonnet shark. What fun.

Skye learns how to drive and tow her sister in a tube on a calm winter day. She has an adult with her.

Louise is making her way around Fish House point. It's import to idle around this historical landmark where the fish and ice were kept for pick up before the commercial fishing industry collapsed.

We often boat to the island to the North, Cayo Costa. It can be quiet and when everyone is either shelling or napping I get a break.

Skiing in December in a wetsuit.

Trust your driver and O'NEILL we want commission!

The story of this shot began with some 40 yr old wood skis from my uncle and family coming for the holidays. So next year I bought skis. Universal beginners all ages ski. They are like wind surfers under your feet but you pop right up.

This was our trusty chariot for a couple of years. We could plane with the five of us but add two five gallon cans of paint and we'd take thee hrs to get from St James City. Better two quick trips of an hour each than that one long one. They are great for an all around boat as you can pull it off sandbars and bottom paint anywhere. With a 25 horse two-stroke tiller style we didn't use much gas. Yamahas were popular here then; almost as good as cash.

This house boat is a floating residence that can be moved anywhere on water. It looks like a Winnebago but it was made as a houseboat and not an RV.

Skye in a shorty wet suit driving while I check gear.