Jay Honeck wrote:

This was my first low-level flight (low meaning, like, 500' AGL -- I'm
no dare-devil) over water, and the sensation of speed going past island
rock formations was fun, and the beauty of the scenery simply
breath-taking.

Jay, you really need to try 200 AGL (or shall I say AWL?) sometime,
over the water, when it's calm and the water is not crowded with boats.
It's a *lot* more fun than 500AGL. Trust me. Just stay 500 feet away
from the boats.

I do that from that to times over Puget Sound water. (for those not
familiar, that's Seattle area). There's few things that clear my mind
better than a hour of 200AGL flying over the open water.