Finding the “magic on the water and music in the air”

Capt. Kirk is on leave for a while. In the meantime, enjoy a version of this classic from our archives.

Those lyrics and accompanying melody of my good friend and amazing singer/ songwriter, the late Jim Morris, always come to mind as I head out onto the waters in our area of Southwest Florida. In fact, the songs of this great musician and storyteller seem to crop up in many of my daily travels.

Our good friend has been gone for several years now, but whether I am boating on the Great Lakes, the waters of the Pacific Northwest or the Chesapeake, he comes to mind, as he seems to have covered much of the water world in many of his songs. Even in places not associated with real water activities — like Montana or Idaho — his songs about fishing and the stories of fly fishing the streams and lakes for trout with a fly rod are haunting, to say the least.

He was certainly in our thoughts when Nancy and I took our skiff down Charlotte Harbor to self-isolate on the beaches of Cayo Costa. The weather was typical for summer, and the wind was calm as we rounded “Fat Point” (Punta Gorda) out into the harbor. The early morning cumulus clouds, all white and fluffy, hung lazily in the western sky, and their reflection in the glassy water was a perfect mirror image. It was so flat that any movement of marine life was easily noticed on the surface.

We saw sharks swimming lazily along, and jellyfish, as well as big schools of baitfish. These glass minnows looked like tiny raindrops on the surface of the water. Every once in a while, a big splash and swirl would appear as larger fish fed on the minnows. There were sightings of huge sea turtles and bottle-nosed dolphin that broke the calm surface as the spray shot up in the air, creating a tiny rainbow in the low, early morning sun. Magic, indeed.

I remember when Jim wrote that song and described this very kind of day. Of course, there are many days like this, but because Nancy and I were here, now, experiencing it, the song and voice and melody flowed through our veins.

Jim Morris COURTESY PHOTO

You have to be the type to enjoy a life of being on or around the water. So many people really love this sort of thing — but get so caught up in the daily rat race that they work harder so (they think) they will have more time later to enjoy life. I’ve got big news for you, Bubba: It ain’t so! Our lives are like an hourglass, and each grain of sand is equivalent to an experience in life. Yes, sometimes bad stuff happens, but you build your life and future on the good things. Having more experiences in life is like having more sand in the hourglass.

Appreciating each day and noticing what surrounds us is coming back in style lately. The pandemic and the devastation of Hurricane Ian have made many of us rethink what we do, who we spend time with and where we go to enjoy life. If there is a good side to disaster, it’s that it often brings the smaller family unit closer together. Family picnics, barbecues in the backyard and fun outdoor activities are becoming as popular as they were decades ago.

It also seems that people’s schedules have become more flexible, especially for those who work at home. The scenario of an office being jam-packed with people is fading in favor of the work-at-home movement. It does seem to be more productive. It also gives people more time to go out and enjoy the activities they have been putting off due to getting ahead at work.

It is amazing to see the increase in sales of RVs, new and used boats, camping gear and grills over the last few years. People are finding that the old ways their parents and grandparents took part in, as family units, were really enjoyable. I, for one, am glad this is coming back around.

Nancy and I had a good swim in the warm gulf waters and headed over to the island of Cabbage Key for lunch and some cool refreshments. The business there was slower than usual, but it was a weekday, not to mention summer.

Taking our time cruising through the dozens of mangrove islands, we watched osprey, pelicans and frigate birds. Looking down into the clear water under our boat allowed us to see starfish, hermit crabs and fish of all kinds. This is the kind of magic that’s all around us. Music about the outdoors and the island life takes us away from our daily existence — if you let it. Take the time to go out and enjoy it. Make the time. As the saying goes, “Don’t get so busy making a living you forget to make a life.”

There are other ways to get out on the water if you don’t have a boat. Our friends at King Fisher Fleet in Fishermen’s Village offer tours on passenger boats that will take you on a day trip to the islands, as well as fishing charters. Go out into the great outdoors and experience the magic for yourself.

Fair winds; calm seas. ¦

— Capt. Dennis Kirk and his wife, Nancy, are avid mariners and outdoor enthusiasts. Since the 1970s, their love of nature in Southwest Florida has allowed them to experience the dream of writing about their travels and adventures of sailing, fishing or flying out of their homeport on the Peace River, the old DeSoto marina.

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