Re: Everglades Years ago I did an extended trip in the Whitewater Bay/Cape Sable area, carrying 13 gallons (105 lbs) of water for two people in a Winddancer. Keep the water weight low and towards the center as much as possible; flexible containers are best for this. (Leave them full of air for floatation as you use the water.) One gallon per person per day is a workable minimum in 70 degree F weather (Feb. - March) at 10-15 miles per day, if you use salt water for washing up and for dish washing, also for noodle cooking. As for racoons, they will get into everything, particularly at night. Keep the water in a bulkheaded compartment with fiberglass hatch covers. Secure all small items of gear and tie dry bags together. On several trips, I have chased the critters dragging dry bags into the mangroves. Leave tent doors open when not in camp, or they will chew their way in. The brackish water I saw while probing into the far recesses of Whitewater Bay where mangrove meets the sawgrass would probably clog up any water purifier I have ever used. Reaching those areas would be more work than just carrying water along. (Bring a canoe paddle for those back channels, as a kayak paddle is too wide.) Typing this up makes me homesick for the sun. Andy Knapp Snowless Minneapolis *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.gasp-seakayak.net/paddlewise/ ***************************************************************************Received on Wed Nov 25 1998 - 21:38:23 PST
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