That's a last minute trip...report. I was unable to attend the "Reunion" but took a few days off last week. My wife and I decided to do the tourist thing in the Keys but threw the bike and K-light in the van as an afterthought. We checked in to Amy Slade's dive resort, one of the less expensive places to stay in Key Largo and got a nice room with a kitchenette on the pool (as a walk in) for $100. It was a perfect late afternoon with a stunning sunset over the water on the way so I immediately yanked the K-light out and was on the water and paddling within 40 minutes or so, much to the amazement of the guests (mostly divers) getting ready for the sunset. I paddled a few miles north and then back to the "resort" as it was getting dark. I've been through the sunset ritual in the Keys a few times but it was funny to set it from the water. Thousands of faces, drinks in hand, staring out to sea... On my return I had a show and tell session with the K-light. I had to assure them that you couldn't dive from it. Getting back in would be a major problem. I had planned to do some diving the next morning, but opted for an early morning 20 mike bike ride instead. We packed up and headed over to Florida Bay Outfitters for some paddling suggestions. Bob, one of the employees? Owners??? went out of his way to show me a number of different paddles on some of the charts in the store. We decided that we'd head South and check out Indian and Lignum Vitae. As we crossed the bridge over Lignum Vitae channel, I noticed a motel on the left and stopped in to see if they had any rooms available. We got a nice apartment at the Star of the Sea that slept 5 or 6, full kitchen and cable TV for $100. We could see Indian Key from the room. I transported the Feathercraft on the Yakima racks so no assembly required. Another benefit of the Star of the Sea were the brand new Old Town doubles (Not SOTs) available for the guests. I took the K-light and my wife took an Old Town and we paddled over to Indian Key. We passed on the guided tour but explored the very interesting archeological site of one of the first settlements in South Florida which had an economy based on salvage. The Indians raided in 1840 and killed everyone. (That was before Indian owned Casinos). We dropped the K-light off at the motel and headed out to Lignum Vitae in the Double for the 2:00 tour. We found the botanical aspects especially fascinating and now know a lot more about what is growing in our back yard. There were a few other serious paddlers there in Sealution IIs, Neckys and other respectable boats. After the tour we hopped back into our Loon and dropped all the other boats in our wake. There was a certain minimalist pleasure in paddling a boat that probably cost less than my paddle. We arrived back at the Star and headed straight for the hot tub, then a drink in the hammock watching the sunset and an excellent meal at a somewhat touristy seafood restaurant up the road. A perfect day! For those of you about to get nailed by the snow storm, my heart goes out to you. Bob Denton Cya [demime 0.92b removed an attachment of type application/ms-tnef which had a name of winmail.dat] *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
In a message dated 01-03-04 19:26:29 EST, gulfstream_at_flinet.com writes: << There was a certain minimalist pleasure in paddling a boat that probably cost less than my paddle.>> I'm sure that elicited knowing chuckles from a bunch of us! << We arrived back at the Star and headed straight for the hot tub, then a drink in the hammock watching the sunset and an excellent meal at a somewhat touristy seafood restaurant up the road. A perfect day! >> This is why I absolutely love living in South Florida. Sandy Kramer who is an hour away from Key Largo *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
Meanwhile, we in the Northeast are socked in by a storm that hasn't fully materialized yet. We've been promised ice, sleet, wind and about 2 feet of snow. So far we've had about an inch of snow and some freezing rain. Not pleasant - it was enough, copupled with the threats from the weather channel, to keep me home from work today. But unless something real happens tonight, I'll have to go in tomorrow. I want to be back in Florida right now, and until Spring finally gets here. Joan > << We arrived back at the Star and headed straight for the hot tub, > then a > drink in the hammock watching the sunset and an excellent meal at a > somewhat > touristy seafood restaurant up the road. A perfect day! >> > > This is why I absolutely love living in South Florida. > > Sandy Kramer who is an hour away from Key Largo > *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
In a message dated 3/5/01 6:22:17 PM, volinjo_at_juno.com writes: << Meanwhile, we in the Northeast are socked in by a storm that hasn't fully materialized yet. We've been promised ice, sleet, wind and about 2 feet of snow. So far we've had about an inch of snow and some freezing rain. Not pleasant - it was enough, copupled with the threats from the weather channel, to keep me home from work today. But unless something real happens tonight, I'll have to go in tomorrow. >> Down in the DC area we were promised the "storm of the century" which isn't much as this one is just over 2 months old. A few flakes of show, a bit of wind and a fantastic day before. Sat. it was warm, calm (well 50), and the sun was with us enough to brighten the way without being blinding. We had a fantastic paddle across the Potomac and on her tributaries. Even got a bit of sun burn through 2 layers of sun screen. Had thought of paddling on Sun. so I could paddle in the snow but. . . what snow! Sandy, you and Peter can just keep rubbing it in, but few days are a treasured as the warm ones that usher in the spring in the Mid Atlantic. Few places are as beautiful in the spring. We buy that with a cold that puts the earth to sleep for a few weeks. Someday I'll visit a place that is warm in January. Then I'll come home to a Maryland spring. Thanks for sharing the warmth with us up here. I always enjoy the stories. Maybe the next PW reunion I'll be able to attend. Joan Spinner *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
As a former Annapolis resident, I'd then head to South Florida for a nice cool, dry summer. cya -----Original Message----- From: owner-paddlewise_at_paddlewise.net [mailto:owner-paddlewise_at_paddlewise.net]On Behalf Of JSpinner_at_aol.com Sent: Monday, March 05, 2001 8:48 PM Cc: PaddleWise_at_paddlewise.net Subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Last Minute Trip Report Then I'll come home to a Maryland spring.. Joan Spinner *************************************************************************** PaddleWise Paddling Mailing List - Any opinions or suggestions expressed here are solely those of the writer(s). You must assume the entire responsibility for reliance upon them. All postings copyright the author. Submissions: PaddleWise_at_PaddleWise.net Subscriptions: PaddleWise-request_at_PaddleWise.net Website: http://www.paddlewise.net/ ***************************************************************************
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