Is there any paddling in Orlando? I have to do a trade show next week and am thinking of bringing the boat. Any suggestions? Cya *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
>Is there any paddling in Orlando? I have to do a trade show next week >and am thinking of bringing the boat. Any suggestions? > >Cya > > We have lake and river paddling. The St. Johns is big and slow and hot in the afternoon. The Wekiva River is my favorite for every day paddling. It is cool, scenic and mostly primitive. Joe Sanford *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
I have been down the Wiekiva a few times. Its been, yikes, a good 15 years since the last trip. The Spring/River starts in Altamonte Springs which is on the north side of O town. At the spring is a state park where you can rent canoes. There is also another outfit that used to be outside the park that rented as well. There is a marina a few miles downstream from the park where the rentals pull out. You can put in at the marina and head to the St. Johns. I did this many, many years ago, 20+, with my dad. Its about a 20 mile trip and we had to have my mom pick us up at the St. Johns. I don't know about any outfitters that might pick up. What is really sad is that the park used to be out in the middle of no where. Now its heavily developed getting to the park or marina as well as around the river. There used to be old houses/huts ON the river but I think they have been taken down. >From O town take I4 to Altamonte and get off at 436. I think its 436. Its the exit for the Altamonte Mall. I can drive their blind folded but I can't remember the roads anymore.... But that is the general area. On what I think is 436 you make a left from I4 and the road to the park used to have an Albertsons on the right side. Turn right and you should see signs for the park. The Marina was before the park. Most of the directions should be valid but like I said its been a few years.... 8-) Its a very pretty river and the water is COLD. I can remember swimming at the springs in August and having to get out of the water since I was shivering so bad. Course with the heat and humidity it only took a few minutes out of the water before you were ready to get back into the spring! 8-) Hope this helps... Dan McCarty *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
I am going to Florida over Xmas and am interested in a great ,scenic place in the everglades where we can rent good touring Kayaks (or sit-on-tops) for daytrips with a guide. Suggestions appreciated Thanks *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Gordon, Florida Bay Outfitters (FBO) is located in Key Largo...check their site at www.kayakfloridakeys.com what part of the Everglades are you planning on paddling? If you enter via the west coast that's the 10,000 Islands area.....via the main park entrance to Flamingo becomes yet another area. Estero Outfitters are on the west coast - Koreshan State Park (or whatever it is). I'm not familiar with other outfitters, but if you email Monica or Frank Woll at FBO they will know. Johnny Molly has a relatively new book out called Paddling the Florida Everglades (sorry, book is at home and the title may not be 100%). I can check some of my books for outfitter addresses, but I'm only familiar with the ones in the southeast area. keep in touch via the back channel sandy kramer miami *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
The first question is are you talking about the Everglades or Everglades National Park. The actual paddling in the park is in the 10,000 Islands area of Florida. You depart from Everglades City or Flamingo and either paddle out through the mangroves to the Keys (islands) on the Gulf or paddle the more inland waters but it's all salt or brackish water. Everglades city is loaded with outfitters. Look the place up on the internet and you can't go wrong. A typical paddle is 8 or 10 miles and then camp out on a white sandy beach. You can also stay on chickees, platforms amongst the mangroves or on dirt. Dirt is the least desirable from an insect perspective. You have to book a campsite at the ranger station and you can only do it in person. It's first come, first serve, so plan on being there the night before you wish to depart. I may be paddling there myself this Christmas. Stay in touch. cya *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Bob Denton wrote [edited]: > > A typical paddle is 8 or 10 miles and > then camp out on a white sandy beach. You can also stay on chickees, > platforms amongst the mangroves or on dirt. I remember reading a trip report in Canoe & Kayak magazine (or maybe it was Sea Kayaker) a couple years ago about a canoeist or kayaker who went camping in the Everglades and reserved one of those wood platforms. I believe they have a Porta-Potty on them, a picnic table, and space to pitch a tent. Well apparently the water level was a little high and when the author paddled to his platform there was a big fat alligator sunning himself on it. A paddle trip to the Everglades sounds intriguing. -Bob Matter Hammond, Indiana *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
BTW I have a good scan of the Everglades Park map, if you'd like a copy. *************************************************************************** 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/ ***************************************************************************
Bob, One of my favorite paddling "loops" in the Orlando area is to start from Blue Springs State Park (a first-magnitude spring, near Deland, which is home to plenty of Manatees in Winter and flows into the St. John's river), circumnavigate Hontoon Island (state park, island has a wonderful hammock trail leading to an extensive Timucuan midden and first-growth live oak) and return through one of several canals cut in the Huntoon Dead River, for logging, many years ago. I usually see gators, bald eagles, deer, and other wildlife. Another nice aspect of this trip is that much of the travel on the St. John's in this area is speed controlled (manatee zone), so you can sprint past the idling powerboats as you go. This is in contrast to most parts of the St. John's which have powerboats buzzing past you at 50mph+. Greg Stamer Orlando, Florida _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com/intl.asp *************************************************************************** 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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