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Day 122

4/6/2010

9 Comments

 
Daily stats
Start: 9:30 AM- Island in ICW near Vero Beach
Finish: 6:00 PM - Island in ICW near Malabar FL
Time: 5:30 spent paddling 3:00 dropping Neil off
Daily dist: 21 miles
Total dist: 2345 miles
Companions: My good friend Neil for the first 15 miles
Weather: 80 deg.- ESE wind 10+ mph - mostly clear skies- beautiful FL day
Notes: Dropped Neil off for bus back to Vero at 1:30 back on water at 4:30
Neil was looking forward to sleeping in a bit so I spared him the alpine start this morning and instead got yesterday’s blog posted while he got an extra hour of rest. With the last bus running south at 3:30 we couldn’t dally all day however so at 8:00 AM we made breakfast, broke camp, took a couple pictures and were on the water by 9:30.
Picture
With a pleasant tail wind we made good time heading north up the Intracoastal Waterway toward the bus pickup point at the Winn Dixie grocery store near the Barefoot Bay retirement/vacation community about 15 miles up the coast. Along the way we enjoyed an absolutely blissful Florida day with perfect weather and beautiful scenery.
While considering how easy the local (and free) bus service makes setting up a shuttle, combined with the amazing camping and picnic spots available on the numerous islands along the ICW in this area, neither Neil nor I could figure out why more isn’t said about the great kayaking opportunities that are available in this area.

It seems as though in Florida when it comes to sea kayak camping the Big Bend Trail and the Everglades Wilderness Waterway get all the attention. They are drop dead beautiful places to paddle but can be challenging. While it’s not as remote or wild as the other two places, the ICW between Ft. Pierce and Malabar is nothing but pleasant and abounds with wildlife. For someone new to kayak camping I can’t imagine a better place to get started in the sport. You are never far from civilization via highway US1 that parallels the ICW and there are literally dozens of beautiful dredge “spoil” islands to camp on all along the way. These easily accessible tree covered islands are about as nice a spot you’ll find to kayak camp in the entire state.

Picture
My camp for the night on one of the numerus islands on the ICW
True you won’t experience the solitude of a true wilderness camp and will likely be within site (as I am now) of the cars and stop lights on the highway. However it’s all far enough away that you don’t hear it, and while you listen to manatees breathing in the dark water at night (like we did last night) you are reminded of how great being out on the water really is. If there is a paddler in South Florida that is bemoaning the fact that bug free Everglades camping is behind us for the summer I recommend driving north rather than south two hours and see what kind of adventure you can find on the water up here.

Picture
Sunset from camp, you'd never guess you're right in town
The plan for the day was to get Neil to the bus stop at the grocery store so he could ride it back to where he left his truck at the bus transit center in Vero Beach last night. This morning however, I realized that my paddling jacket and pants were left in his truck. So that little oversight meant that Neil would have to drive all the way back up to the take out to get me the last bits of forgotten gear. The extra driving erased some of the efficiencies using the bus service as a shuttle provided, but it did give me one last chance to have lunch with Neil and say a proper farewell.

Picture
The company of a great friend like Neil was the best thing that I could have had while transitioning back into this trip. After having said goodbye to a great friend for the last time for a while, and am now ready to head north at full speed to discover what adventures lie ahead.

9 Comments
Lyn Stachovak
4/6/2010 11:49:48 am

I'm so happy that you and Neil had a chance to be on the water together again. Now you're heading home... Enjoy yourself and (as usual) stay safe. Dad and I love you.

Mom

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Neil B
4/6/2010 12:02:53 pm

Jake,
Was awesome paddling with you once again. Really enjoyed the good conversation and watching you in action. I'm also proud to say I've officially participated in the Portage to Portage Project! 15 miles dang near killed me. Had a hard time hanging on the steering wheel on the way home, but it was nothing 800mg of ibuprofen couldn't handle :) Well, according to Heather, I stink... more than usual. Guess I better go find some soap.

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Heather
4/6/2010 12:24:39 pm

Hey Jake,
For the record, he asked me before I told him. I knew it was bad though when he handed me 5 month old Zachary, and all I could smell was, well, "Neil-off-the-water-from-five-hours-ago" for the next few minutes! :)
So glad we could be your home base for the past month. And so glad that Adam and Seth (did I mention Adam?) could get to know their "Uncle Jake". I thought on Saturday that we may have to "unvelcro" Adam from you.
Paddle on my brother!! Enjoy the sights of our beautiful Atlantic and say hi to some sealife for me. Perhaps you can stop at "16th Street" and tell me what stands there - or if nothing else, say hi to My Beach.
Much love!
Heather

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toni roth link
4/6/2010 01:30:31 pm

Jake - you're back!! And you are almost here! What are your plans the next few days - I'd love to find out if I could see you - even if it's to jump up and down while waving and cheering you on from the shore. I have one of those job things from 8 - 5 in the North Orlando / Lake Mary area... could maybe see you in the evening?

~toni

toniroth88@yahoo.com / 407-595-2110 call, email or txt!! :D

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Elmore link
4/7/2010 04:32:33 am

I join Jake in urging everybody to embrace the paddling opportunities in his or her backyard. It's not uncommon for people to be impressed when I tell them I've paddled in some awesome wilderness area like Big Bend, but many of those same people give me funny stares when I tell them I paddle daily on our downtown riverfront. Not only is regular paddling where you live easy to do and a lot of fun, but also it will give you the fitness and skill level you need when you do find time to travel to that great wilderness destination.

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Cody Baker
4/7/2010 04:44:15 am

Aw man i just missed you! I gave a speech about your trip in my college speech class, and yesterday i was preparing for my next speech and hadn't checked your website in a few days and you just passed by me in Palm Bay! At least you camped out on me and my girlfriend's favorite island out there.

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Museman
4/7/2010 04:54:34 am

Jake, I'm just catching up on your blog and already psyched for some more spray! Good luck on the rest of your journey and I will share some of "Steve's Latest Spray" when we return from our Baja expedition in May. It's only 165 miles, but worthy for a gimp!

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Portage Dug
4/7/2010 06:59:05 am

It is amazing how remote our own backyards can be, enjoyed from the water that is.
Portage, WI has many such places where civilization is just right over there dude. The Wisconsin River here around Portage sounds like the ICW where you are now. We have so many sandbars that motor boat traffic is limited. The Fox River is also very sandy and narrow here that there isn't much water craft traffic at all. The Historic Portage Canal is also remote in its own way as most people round here don't even know it is there and if they do they don't think much of it and pay no mind to what or who is paying attention.

Thanks Jake for your efforts to bring these great backyards to our attention. I for one am making a list of the paddling destinations revealed through your journey.

Paddle On!

Reply
pa
4/7/2010 11:19:33 am

Hi Jake,
I was talking to your Aunt Bernice today after the funeral. One of your followers from Spring Green, Jim Thering,wondered why I hadn't stopped to say hi when we traveled through last December. Well hello Jim, sorry I missed you but we had to keep up with this speeding Kayaker. Well paddle on and stay safe.
Love Ya,
Dad

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