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Day 64 (Superbowl Sunday)

2/7/2010

29 Comments

 
Daily stats
Start: 7:50 AM- Chaz… Springs
Finish: 5:15 PM - Island off of New Port Richie
Time: 9:25
Daily dist: 35 miles
Total dist: x miles
Companions: None
Weather: Chilly (by Florida standards) with a 10 mph north tail wind
Notes: Charlotte dropped me off at the landing and I had a great down wind run. I put on three extra miles and an extra 45 minutes to the time by paddling into Port Richy for a TV interview.
Charlotte and I were up by 5:00 AM in order to have time to drive all the way back to the boat launch and get the Ikkuma re-packed and on the water as early as possible. We weren’t in such a rush that we didn’t have time for some pancakes, bacon, and eggs for breakfast however. All my gear was nicely dried and rolled tight from yesterday so re-loading my boat was a quick process. Charlotte took a few pictures of me on the water and then we said our good bys and I was on my way with plans to meet up with a TV reporter for an interview later in the day.

Picture
Charlotte waves good by from the dock
I have to explain that for the Florida section of this trip I have been utilizing the Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail guide. The guide has been a wealth of information regarding route information such as re-supply points, water stops, showers, restaurants, motels, and camp sites. For the most part I’ve been completely happy with the information the guide has provided. Today, however, I discovered an omission of some vital information that needs to be rectified for future users. Especially young men that have been on the water for two months.

Since early yesterday, I have been in contact with Chris from the local TV news station trying to figure out how I could meet up with a camera crew and reporter for an interview. We didn’t have time to meet up in the morning and the only camp site the paddling guide shows in this area is tucked back in the marshy shore line far from any road access. So, in order to meet up with the camera crew I needed a spot where both of us would have access so we could do the interview and I could continue on to the campsite. The town of Hudson, a few miles before the camp, looked like it might work but was less than ideal. Two miles down the coast from the camp a park near New Port Richy was indicated on the guide as a place to get drinking water which could work. However, I didn’t want to have to do a two mile backtrack for the interview so I fired up Google Earth and started looking around the water stop location to see if there might be a place to camp. What do you know a quick search revealed an island just a mile off shore from the New Port Richy entrance. Being just a couple miles from the park indicated on the guide, this spot would enable me to do the interview and still make it a bit further down coast to the island before dark.

Picture
Ok then...
Everything went well during the day today and the 10 mph north wind helped me make good time. As I neared the island I called the TV news producer in order to coordinate the exact location where we could meet. Somehow the producer’s GPS showed a different park (other than the one I had found) so I altered my course and ran inside the Port Richy river entrance looking for this other park. After paddling a mile inland, seeing nothing but huge houses, I started to doubt that there was a park where the producer thought there was. I pulled out my cell phone to discover that the reporter that was sent had called twice trying to contact me. When I got him on the phone we discovered that he was indeed at the original park my map showed a mile back out to sea and another mile up the coast.

After already paddling nearly two miles out of my way and with daylight rapidly running out I was not interested in back tracking to the other park. So we both turned on our GPS’s and were trying to find land/water access where we could meet. As I scrutinized the tiny screen on my GPS with my phone pressed against my ear I drifted around a large house on a bend in the channel. Right then I looked up and my eyes picked up lettering on the roof of a dock side restaurant a quarter mile away. One by one, past the edge of the house, ten foot tall bright orange letters of the name of the restaurant were slowly revealed; H-O-O-T-E-R-S. “No way,” I exclaimed to the reporter, “a Hooters!” Not only did we both instantly know where I was there was a boat ramp right next door. So that was it, “Meet me at the boat ramp by Hooters.”

Picture
Hooters Restaurant - a landmark every man can find.
Ten minutes later the bright red Channel 10 news van rolled into view and we did a quick interview and he shot some video of me paddling back out the channel to the island two miles away. The island itself turned out to be a real gem an absolutely perfect, easy access, clean, level, comfortable spot with a view of the interesting off shore stilt houses found along shore here. So here is my question. How on earth in the Florida Circumnavigational Salt Water Paddling Trail guide can the only campsite shown in this area be some back water spot stuck up in a mangrove swamp. Meanwhile, (completely unmentioned) just two miles away, sits an absolutely beautiful island WITHIN EASY PADDLING DISTANCE OF A HOOTERS RESTAURANT! It’s moments like these that make me question the overall integrity and content of the entire guide book.

Picture
Several of these stilt houses are found in the area.
29 Comments
Aaron Stachovak
2/7/2010 12:29:50 pm

Dude, the best burger I EVER ate was my first weekend of leave from the Army when we all went to a Hooters. I bet you had the same burger today :)

Glad you are back on the water and making good time!

I wonder if Hooters serves breakfast?

Reply
BananaTom
2/7/2010 12:33:26 pm

Super Bowl Sunday left this South Louisiana boy, with a life long dream, coming true this day!!!!!!

So So Sweet!!!!

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Elmore link
2/7/2010 09:35:08 pm

Hooters and Super Sunday... a match made in heaven! Did you watch the game on their plasma screens? Here in Memphis, we woke up this morning (Monday) to find a deep blanket of snow on the ground. No such thing had been in the forecast, and I refuse to believe the Saints' victory is not somehow related.

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Jenny
2/7/2010 10:50:53 pm

Hi Jake, hope you had a fun night and got to see the Saints go marching in !!
Where can I see the interview ??

Jenny

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Steve Krause
2/7/2010 11:30:59 pm

My brother once e-mailed me a Hooters calendar. With each month was a photo of one of the finest owls in the world.

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Al Benton link
2/8/2010 12:48:10 am

Jake, sure glad you explained what we were seeing on the satellite map when viewing your island home last evening. They looked like buildings but appeared to be rather out-of-place. Interesting!

The website linked with my name today is a fun daily update of life on the Mississippi River where it all began (Plan B) near Grafton Harbor, Illinois. Bill includes a daily update (about half way down the long page) of your progress. Today he included your photo of Hooters as you approached the landing.

Al

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BC
2/8/2010 06:08:39 am

Hey Jake

Just a thought - are you geo-tagging your photos?

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Barb Tomita
2/8/2010 12:41:39 pm

Just wanted to let you know that your CKF buddies are avidly reading your reports. We're looking forward to your presentation at the Southwest Kayak Symposium in March. Good luck! -- Barb Tomita

Reply
lyn stachovak
2/8/2010 10:05:41 pm

OK, where are you and what are you up to. No news from you for an entire day?

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Jan Kleck
2/8/2010 11:00:17 pm

I agree with your mother - let her hear and she can let us hear!!!!! We need to hear!!

Reply
Lyn Stachovak
2/9/2010 12:24:09 am

Thank you Jan... It's good to know there's two moms out there looking after Jake. I did get a phone call from him this morning tho. He's in St. Petersburg and he's just fine. Doing a little repairing on his water bottle system and hanging out with fellow kayakers.

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Jan Kleck
2/9/2010 12:39:59 am

Thank you, thank you Lyn. Isn't it amazing how if we know our kids - and others' kids whom we love - are okay, then life itself seems okay! He's remarkable, and it sounds as if your other guys are great too! That includes your husband. I already know from Jake what you are like - unconditional love all around in that family! Cheers!

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Bill Strickland
2/9/2010 12:45:48 am

Jake,

Got the t-shirt - thanks very much - it's great. I'll wear it in spinning class today.

Looks like you're into some nice water these days, along w some nice camping spots.

Cheers,

--Bill

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Ann Daley
2/9/2010 01:08:26 am

Thanks, Lyn! As you saw on Facebook, I was wondering, too, what was up with him.
Jake, remember, there's more than one mom following your every move!

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Tootie
2/9/2010 02:18:59 am

I am so happy to hear that he called you Lyn and that he is ok. Worry about him, too, when I don't see a current posting on the blog. Look forward to reading the update every day. Hi to Dave, too

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Charlotte
2/9/2010 04:36:28 am

One more mom weighing in... All it takes is to meet Jake to love Jake. He obviously has a wonderful family, and now look at all us moms concerned about him too! I have worried since last nite when I didnt see a post, and until I just read that Lyn talked to him and he is OK. Glad you are out of the weather today, it has rained and rained and is cold and downright nasty in Citrus County and the Chass area.

Thanks Jake, for calling someone when you cant (or are too tired) to blog. We all need to know you are safe.

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Teresa
2/9/2010 07:38:55 am

And another mom is glad to hear Jake's okay - was wondering what was up when there was nothing new to read for another day!

Take care Jake - I enjoy your blogs every day!
Thanks Lyn for letting us know you heard from him and all is well! :>)!

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Jan Kleck
2/9/2010 09:54:38 am

How great to have all of us moms banded together in our common bond - motherhood. I'm so happy to be among such caring people - it really was so good Lyn to have you reassure us all. Thanks again to you and to all those other moms you reassured - I am happy to be on this blog with you all!

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Al Benton link
2/9/2010 10:46:07 am

Well, I don't qualify to be a mom, I'm old enough to be Jake's grandfather but was concerned about him none the less.

Good to know that everything is alright with you, Jake. Enjoy!

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Al Benton link
2/9/2010 10:58:12 am

No new message, just different link on name. I'm not particularly a Mariners fan but The Mariners' Museum has a great website.

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Kaspar Abbo
2/9/2010 11:44:36 am

Well.... ahh... err... um... not a mom or even a female but I'm equally relieved that all is well.

I have both the blog and the Spot page bookmarked and check them frequently, throughout the day. I'm surprised how concerned I become when a posting seems even a little late! Hmmm I'm beginning to think I have an addiction!

Happily living vicariously through Jake's wonderful adventure!

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Abduk link
2/9/2010 11:51:58 am

Keep resuming safe normal operations!!

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Lyn Stachovak
2/9/2010 12:31:48 pm

Well... Good night Jake. What ever you've been doing for two whole days better make for a couple of fantastic blogs when you finally decide to write something again!

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John
2/9/2010 08:42:05 pm

Also living vicariously through Jake and was concerned when there was no blog. Now, all I can say is, we need to see pictures of your host this time. The weather can keep you off the water but what/whom has kept you off the blog? ;-)

Reply
Charlotte
2/9/2010 09:21:41 pm

Not to worry! Jake is in good hands with Russell and the Sweetwater Kayak people. They are a total wealth of knowledge and technical help, so I am sure he is quite busy with those folks. Sweetwater puts Florida on the map for kayakers in many ways, especially by offering their world class coaching (Nigel Foster and other well known sea kayaking names) during their annual Sweetwater Kayak Symposium which is coming up the end of this month. I think Jake may be planning to present, not sure. Anyway check them out at www.sweetwaterkayaks.com/symposiums.html I looked at their kayak coach's bios and you must check that out! Also they are having evening presentations, so I am thinking(dont know), that Jake will be one of those!

Jake is probably quite busy doing some planning at this point. He should be in Ft Lauderdale with a bit of a layover with friends during the time of that symposium, so hopefully he will "zip over across the state" to be a part of that! If so, I plan to drive over for it!

Our weather stinks with winds out of the north at 25 or more, and a high of about 50 today anyway, so it is a good time for him to rest and be with the most knowledgable minds in the business, anyway. I know, you northerners, I should quit whining about our weather.

I am sure he will have lots to tell us soon.

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Dave Diederich
2/9/2010 10:19:19 pm

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Dave Diederich
2/9/2010 10:23:47 pm

As Jake paddles along, I keep hoping that he gets the opportunity get out of the kayak, explore the area, meet some people, and eat some good food. Then when he does, I miss his daily blogs of his adventures on the water.

I'm glad to here that he is getting a chance to do both. Fortunately, he has enough family and friends that are watching his back.

Reply
Jake
2/9/2010 10:26:53 pm

Hi Mom's and everyone else. I didn't realize the stirr I'd cause by missing two days of posting. I guess I better not let it happen again. Normally when I can't get a signal my friend (and stats man) Neil will post at least the daily mileage as such. This time he knew I was in civilization so you didn't see even that much.

Charlotte is right I am with Russell from Sweetwater and have been busy repairing gear and planning my next few weeks. It's going to get interesting to say the least. I will be presenting at his symposium so if you weren't planning on attending you better check into it. Check out my Day 66 post and you can see what sort of plans I'm cooking up for the next month and a half.

Reply
Kl
2/9/2010 11:23:42 pm

Jake,
I was wondering if you email the poeple back that write you comments? My teacher wrote a comment for are hole class and we didn't hear back from you.

Reply



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