I decided to do an early morning bay paddle along Shoreline Drive.  I wanted to get some miles in before it got too hot and to get some pictures of some of the large bayfront homes along Shoreline.  I launched from Emerald Beach at 7:00 am into a gorgeous sunrise behind a thick cloud bank and headed south.  I passed the fishing pier at Cole Park, took some pictures of the houses at Oleander Point, and paused near the Jackson Landing condos for a water break.  It was then that I noticed the dolphins circling in the distance.  As I approached they turned and headed right for me.  I was paddling backward trying to simultaneously get out the camera, stay ahead of the dolphins, and keep the sun behind me so I could get a good picture.  They were swimming so close that at first I could not even stop to get a picture.  I managed to snap a few and then I followed them back to the north for about 20 minutes.  Finally they disappeared and I turned back south to resume my house hunting.  I only managed to get to the Airline Condo piers before it was time to turn around.  It was a shorter trip than I planned, but I never pass up a chance to paddle with the dolphins.  Next time I talk with my real estate agent I must let her know that any style house is ok as long as it comes with dolphins.