Re: [Paddlewise] Big Trip Dreams

At 01:41 AM 2/15/01 -0800, Dave Kruger wrote:
>Wes Boyd wrote:
> 
>> Suppose that, through some unexpected reason, you have the option to take a
>> two or three month kayak trip. [snip]
>> Where do you go? What would you do? Why? Would you consider doing the trip
>> solo? How would you organize the trip? Handle supplies? What boat would you
>> want?
>
>This is too tempting to pass up.  Like Wes, I'll probably never actually do a
>trip like this one, being a "prisoner" of my obligations.  My trip?  Couple
>options, both focused on the rain forest coast of North America.

I've had a couple of back channel responses talking about the Mississippi
or Missouri/Mississippi that I wish people had sent to the list --
especially since if the chance were to come at this point would probably be
initial response. I sort of like the idea of starting the Mississippi right
at Lake Itasca, and going clear down to Pilottown. But, I keep thinking the
Missouri, too, starting up at Three Forks and going all the way. In both
cases, I'd probably just resupply as I went along. I figure that I'd
probably go solo, mostly because I don't mind it, but partly because its
unlikely that I'd be able to come up with someone compatible that would be
able to meet my schedule.

Given more time -- 18+ months -- put in on Lake Erie, up through the great
lakes to Chicago, down the Mississipi to New Orleans, east on the gulf
intracoastal, north on the Atlantic Intracoastal, then either back to Lake
Erie via the Erie Canal, or north through Lake Champlain, Lake Ontario, the
Trent and Severn, and then back to the starting point through Lake Huron.
Now, that would be a trip! Somewhere around 6500 miles by rough estimate.
Just to tweak around with it a bit, I probably wouldn't want to head south
of Chicago much before the first part of September to avoid summer heat in
the south, so backing off to maybe the Trent and Severn to start earlier in
the year might have some points. You'd be looking at going 350-400 miles
per month, so there'd be plenty of time to be weathered in or to goof
around without killer days every day. Of course, given the time involved
and the location, it'd be tempting to use a bigger boat, such as a small
sailboat. Although it would be more comfortable, it would also be more
expensive.

But there are so many other possibilties, depending on time and money. If I
had just a month, Georgian Bay and the North Channel of Lake Huron would
rise to the top of the list. If it had to be in winter, probably something
in Florida, involving canals, rivers, and the Atlantic Intracoastal. On a
longer trip, the inside passage and Newfoundland come to mind quickly. Or,
dinking around on European canals.

I note that most of this is largely protected water. While others might
want to do trips that are exposed, looking at largely protected water
reflects my skill level, and taking advantage of the relative speed and
cargo capacity of the kayak, mixed with its capability to handle rough
stuff, but not looking for the rough stuff for its own sake.

It makes you wonder how people can manage to get free for such big trips
and finance them. Although I would have difficulty with the getting free, I
could probably manage a month or two trip financially, if it were a
one-shot deal. A couple of years, like the big trip mentioned above, well,
that's another animal. I know a guy who is a really serious hiking bum. He
probably spends 200-250 days a year on long hikes each year. But, for him,
its a life style. He works a few months while he lives with his brother in
the winter to grubstake the next years hiking. If I'd had the foresight at
age 20 or 25, I could have made a life like that, but there's no way I
could convert now without hitting the lotto.

Ah, to have had 20-20 foresight instead of hindsight!

-- Wes
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