The Longest Month

I fire up the email this morning. First message. “The temperature in Port St. Joe today will reach 72.” I don’t have to look at the calendar. It’s exactly one month until our annual kayaking trip. Let the madness begin.

Every spring, we head south in search for the warmth of air and water. There’s something very special about it and the wait becomes agonizing about this time. There will be numerous emails and calls flying back and forth as the excitement builds.

I’ve led hundreds of outings, but still feel the electricity with this one. For that matter, many of the participants have been on numerous trips. So, I’m wondering, what’s the deal?

We have warm weather up here. Not all year, but a passable portion. We paddle virtually every month.

Our group trips are always a blast. It’s like going away to camp for adults with your best friends. But, we do a half dozen or so a year without this level of buzz.

Exotic location? Nah, this group gets around. They’ve been to more glamorous places than the Florida panhandle. And, with better accommodations. True, this is a McMansion hard by the Gulf shores. But, the best trip we ever had, we billeted at a worn out former hotel on the bank of the Homosassa River.

As I sit here and the email counter ticks upward, I’m thinking there’s something pent up that makes it special. It’s been close to half a year since we’ve traveled, bunked and partied together. This event signals the beginning of the season with more to come.

It’s going to be a long month.