Photo by Special to the Daily News

Daryl Thomas and his dog Dax of Isle Capris enjoy their first day on the Paradise Coast Blueway. Thomas was among hundreds of people who gathered Saturday for the grand opening of phase one of Collier County's new Blueway system of kayak and canoe trails, which span from Goodland to Everglades City and will eventually connect to the Florida Salwater Circumnaviagtion Trail surrounding the entire Florida peninsula's perimeter.