It's time for a break from Maine in winter, and so I will be driving to Florida, to visit parents near Sarasota, and also to attend Sweetwater Kayaks symposium Feb 25 - 27. Conventional wisdom is that it takes 3 days to drive to Florida. Right now, I'm thinking the drive could be somewhat more leisurely, and I may want to stop and put my boat in the water along the way, and/or at various spots along the Gulf coast....I plan to leave Maine Friday, February 18, and be at the symposium on Friday, February 25. I'm wondering if any Paddlewisers have any suggestions for good paddling spots / put-ins along the east coast or Gulf Coast, or "must-see- paddle" places, or good camping spots / cheap motels (or good spots to eat!)....(I have a particular curiosity about the coast of South Carolina and Georgia, but am interested in the whole route as well.) Thanks for any information you care to share, publicly or privately. Anne Burton just tired of winter in Maine *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
> -----Original Message----- > From: Anne Burton [mailto:aburton1_at_maine.rr.com] > > It's time for a break from Maine in winter, and so I will be > driving to > Florida, snip Before you go, check out former and sometimes current Paddlewiser Clyde Sisler's web site (http://www.csisler.com) - his journey from North to South was a lot slower than yours will be but he basically covered the same territory - maybe it will give you some ideas. Some of Clyde's old trip reports are worth reading just for their entertainment value! Enjoy your journey! Dave Seng Juneau, Alaska *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Thanks for the tip, Dave. I'll check Clyde's website. I'm also having a sudden moment of paranoia -- I've driven my boat(s) on the top of my car all over Maine, but I'm suddenly having a fear of flying objects (rocks) on the road. Does anyone cover their boats as they drive? If so with what? *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
> -----Original Message----- > From: Anne Burton [mailto:aburton1_at_maine.rr.com] > Sent: Friday, February 11, 2000 11:58 AM > I'm also having a sudden moment of paranoia -- I've driven my > boat(s) on > the top of my car all over Maine, but I'm suddenly having a > fear of flying > objects (rocks) on the road. Does anyone cover their boats as they > drive? If so with what? I drove from Chicago to Seattle with my kayaks and the canoe on the roof without any problems. I was more worried about a thief in the night stealing one. (whoops - didn't mean to give you something else to worry about)<g> I've seen some of the super-lightweight non-gelcoated canoes with covers, but that's primarily for UV protection. A cover that could protect the kayak from projectile damage (flying rocks) would probably have to be padded pretty well. I've never seen one, but maybe somebody else has. That first gelcoat ding is the most painful - after that they don't hurt quite so much. I must admit, my Ascente' is a bit battle scarred, but none of them have come from plebian road rocks - they've all been honorably earned on trails and in the water. Dave Seng Juneau, Alaska *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Well, I hadn't thought of the "thief in the night" -- that is, until my father recently brought it to my attention. You'd think a kayak on top of a car would be awkward and inconvenient to steal, but you'd probably be wrong, I guess....It's only 18 feet long, it'll probably fit in a standard size motel room. *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Anne Burton wrote: > It's only 18 feet long, it'll probably fit in a standard size > motel room. I once brought my kayak into a motel room (blush). It was in a somewhat rough neighbourhood, and I felt paranoid. I asked the motel owner if he minded (in fact I asked if I could measure the room first to see if it would fit). He looked out the window at the kayak on my car and said "You mean that boat?" I said "Uh huh!" He shrugged his shoulders and said "ok". I bet he's had stranger things happen. Anyway, I could get the kayak into the room, but had to work to get the door to close - and the bow prevented me from closing the bathroom door. Mike *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
At 11:34 PM 2/11/00 -0500, Michael Daly wrote: >Anne Burton wrote: > >> It's only 18 feet long, it'll probably fit in a standard size >> motel room. > >I once brought my kayak into a motel room (blush). > This is bordering on "more information than I really care to know". *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
About half way though your trip you will cross the dreaded "grits line." Suddenly on your breakfast plate will be this chunky, gritty, un-requested, unidentifiable mass. A simple "No grits please, I'm allergic to corn." with your order will usually take care of the problem without offending. -----Original Message----- From: Anne Burton <aburton1_at_maine.rr.com> To: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net <paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net> Date: Friday, February 11, 2000 7:43 PM Subject: [Paddlewise] Road trip! >It's time for a break from Maine in winter, and so I will be driving to >Florida, to visit parents near Sarasota, and also to attend Sweetwater >Kayaks symposium Feb 25 - 27. Conventional wisdom is that it takes 3 >days to drive to Florida. Right now, I'm thinking the drive could be >somewhat more leisurely, and I may want to stop and put my boat in the >water along the way, and/or at various spots along the Gulf coast....I plan >to leave Maine Friday, February 18, and be at the symposium on Friday, >February 25. > >I'm wondering if any Paddlewisers have any suggestions for good >paddling spots / put-ins along the east coast or Gulf Coast, or "must-see- >paddle" places, or good camping spots / cheap motels (or good spots to >eat!)....(I have a particular curiosity about the coast of South Carolina >and Georgia, but am interested in the whole route as well.) > >Thanks for any information you care to share, publicly or privately. > >Anne Burton >just tired of winter in Maine > > >*************************************************************************** >PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not >to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission >Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net >Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net >Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ >*************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
You have to be careful about this. I remember reading there are still old statutes in about half a dozen states making this a misdemeanor. Surprisingly, the ACLU has done little to challenge their obvious unconstitutionality, claiming it is a "back burner" issue. The safest thing may be to rent two separate rooms. Michael Daly wrote: > Anne Burton wrote: > > > It's only 18 feet long, it'll probably fit in a standard size > > motel room. > > I once brought my kayak into a motel room (blush). > > It was in a somewhat rough neighbourhood, and I felt paranoid. > I asked the motel owner if he minded (in fact I asked if I could measure > the room first to see if it would fit). He looked out the window at the kayak > on my car and said "You mean that boat?" I said "Uh huh!" He shrugged > his shoulders and said "ok". I bet he's had stranger things happen. > Anyway, I could get the kayak into the room, but had to work to get the > door to close - and the bow prevented me from closing the bathroom > door. > > Mike > > *************************************************************************** > PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not > to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission > Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net > Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net > Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ > *************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Hi, just want to add that I had my folding kayaks in several motel rooms. The best one was last year near Toronto, Ontario. King size. Rolled the pack in with the kayak cart. The skin fit easily into the room, full length. Nobody minded that, maybe earlier someone had shown up with a _rigid_ kayak, who knows :-) Then there is when I had my bicycle with me, completely disassembled in a little box, down to the bare frame parts, for then the airliner ticket would cover the transport. I had spread out all those parts, bearing balls, grease, etc etc on the floor when they wanted to clean the room... My brother an I once had a hotel room in Vancouver, BC. We entered it with _two_ folding kayaks. Got pretty full, not talking about the staircase and 250 pounds of luggage... P.S. rough neighborhood... we felt much better, sleeping with our fish bonkers under the pillow. Just lucky we didnīt bonk each other in the dark :-) Cheers Hendrik > Anne Burton wrote: > > > > > It's only 18 feet long, it'll probably fit in a standard size > > > motel room. > > > > I once brought my kayak into a motel room (blush). > > > > It was in a somewhat rough neighbourhood, and I felt paranoid. > > I asked the motel owner if he minded (in fact I asked if I could measure > > the room first to see if it would fit). He looked out the window at the kayak > > on my car and said "You mean that boat?" I said "Uh huh!" He shrugged > > his shoulders and said "ok". I bet he's had stranger things happen. > > Anyway, I could get the kayak into the room, but had to work to get the > > door to close - and the bow prevented me from closing the bathroom > > door. > > > > Mike *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
t's only 18 feet long, it'll probably fit in a standard size > motel room. <> I solved that worry problem by staying at KOA campgrounds - the Kabins are reasonably priced (have a/c and heating) and you get to park your car right in front. Once you go to the first one and get a directory it is easy to plot your trip. Plus (as you get to warmer weather) some of them even have lakes or ar near paddling areas. There are 800 reservations numbers if you know where you want to stay, but the main number is 406-248-7444. If the original writer wants to email me direct I can relay some numbers for the first night until she gets her own directory. I also try and choose the KOAs with hot tubs. This is especially good if you're traveling alone. I find that taking wine and plastic cups to the hot tub is a great "ice breaker." Sandy Kramer in Miami where the sun is shining and I haven't worn a jacket/sweater in days :) *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - All postings copyright the author and not to be reproduced outside PaddleWise without author's permission Submissions: paddlewise_at_lists.intelenet.net Subscriptions: paddlewise-request_at_lists.intelenet.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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