Dolphin Dreaming………………………………………………………….…...Katie Dukes

Dolphin dreaming

Katie Dukes

In September of 2020, with travel options limited by COVID-19, my girlfriends and I headed to Assateague Island for a weekend of oceanside camping. I brought my inflatable SUP, but with only the one board among us I wasn’t motivated to go it alone. Instead, I focused on walks, wild pony spotting, and of course, eating.

But one friend encouraged me to go out on the water, urging me to make use of our limited time by the sea. So out I went, past the lapping waves, with the ladies supporting from shore. It wasn’t long before I saw the dorsal fins heading my way. I knelt so I wouldn’t fall, my legs shaking with excitement as they approached.

Wild dolphin encounters are so powerful. The small pod came past me slowly, calmly, allowing us to get a good look at each other, sharing eye-contact. I wondered if they could feel the profound love and respect I have for them. My friend, in addition to e n c o u r a g i n g t h i s e x p e r i e n c e w a s , unbeknownst to me, capturing photos of these treasured moments. She is a talented photographer, and I’m so lucky to have those images.

I am not an experienced SUP surfer, so getting my board in, even through small waves, is always an awkwardly hilarious endeavor. When the time came, this too was captured on film with amusing results.

Moral of the story: get yourself some friends who will push you to live your dreams and commune with dolphins!

Photo by Kristin Rutkowski @kristinrutkowskiphotography

Katie lives in Pasadena Maryland and loves life on the Chesapeake Bay. She enjoys SUPing, sailing, snorkeling and diving - if it involves water she’s probably into it.