On the last day of our New Year's trip to the Amami Islands in southern Japan (all Amami posts), we went for a canoe ride among the Mangroves that grow in one spot, on the mid-eastern coast of the main Amami Ooshima island, where fresh water from a river mixes with the salt water of the East China Sea.

Fumie took on the role of Guest Services, and I was Propulsion and Documentation. (That is, she held Anthony while I paddled and occasionally tried to take a picture with one hand while trying to not drop the oar with the other.)

The tide swings here were something like six feet, and we where there somewhere toward the lower end. From the color on the trees, the water got another four or so feet higher. The exposed roots were creepy.

The exposed roots and trunks were covered with what at first looked like caked on mud, but it was actually a very delicate bark.

We went with a group of others, along with a guide, and paddled about 3km over the course of an hour. It was quite nice, although difficult to use the camera with only one hand. I'm glad that I didn't drop it (or us) in the water. It was also a nice bonus that it didn't rain while we were on the water.