Re: [Paddlewise] Sea Kayaking - this guide book's accuracy?

In a message dated 6/24/2002 4:26:00 PM Pacific Daylight Time, 
a.ferguson_at_chem.canterbury.ac.nz writes:


> So that's New Zealand (and Scotland), how accurate are the rest of the 
> descriptions for the other destinations?

I've been to both the Everglades and Baja, that are included in Hansen's 
book. However, I bought his book for an overview of many places and not for a 
desired accuracy of places contained therein. For example:

The Everglades is not a 1 (of a possible 5) as far as a physical challenge. 
The navigation issues alone in the Everglades are worth more than that. When 
I visited there it was a 1 as far as the seas were concerned, maybe even a 
.25, but lots of folks say the seas on the outside crank up pretty fast when 
the wind blows. I think a 1 rating is deceptive to those who do not have the 
necessary trip planning experience to prepare for when it does. In my 
opinion, he should have stated the inside waterway was a 1 and the outside 
was whatever else he wished to give it.

Secondly, Everglades City shares a boundary with the park and has at least 
two lodgings available. Hansen has Flamingo with the only digs. Last, power 
boaters should have been listed in the "Heads Up" primer as they whip through 
the channels quite fast and often the waterways are very narrow. Nigel Foster 
or Johnny Malloy have great Florida guide books and their info is superb. A 
private group hosts www.wildernesswaterway.com and it is really a great 
source of info that costs nothing but a thankyou.

Hansen is a former Baja guide and he presents a good overview there. He 
recommends Andromeda Romao-Lax's book on Baja which is a must. Just looking 
over the book again makes me long for winter so I can go back down there. 
Still, I would have listed at least one Mexican kayaking company in the 
contacts section. He lists two American companies for guides. For a man who 
made a living as a guide in a foreign country and a large part of his 
reputation as well, I wonder why he wouldn't list commendable Mexican 
companies.

I think the book is intended to be an aperitif, not a How To, on places to 
go. Any competent touring kayaker should spend a lot of time researching 
places they wish to go and rely on more than one source. Factual issues can 
be rectified that way. Thanks for the Heads Up on New Zealand. I'll call you 
instead!

Rob G

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