Start: 7:50 AM- Manasota
Finish: 3:00 PM - Matlachacola
Time: 7:10
Daily dist: 34 miles
Total dist: x miles
Companions: Doug
Weather: 20 mph north wind
Notes: Very windy with good tail wind all day.
Finish: 3:00 PM - Matlachacola
Time: 7:10
Daily dist: 34 miles
Total dist: x miles
Companions: Doug
Weather: 20 mph north wind
Notes: Very windy with good tail wind all day.
Today was exactly what I hoped this trip would be all about. For the first ten miles I was joined by Doug with whom I stayed last night. He is an avid kayaker who is very serious about the sport. It was a rare treat to have somebody join me and I thoroughly enjoyed having the company on the water.
I was joined by Doug a local paddler from
Banana! - As long as it’s not in my boat man.
roughing it Portage to Portage style
After I parted ways with Doug, with plans to paddle together again some day, I continued south another 24 miles with a very strong 20 mph tail wind that put me into Manasota a full hour earlier than I had expected. There I was picked up by Jory who is the owner of “Florida Paddlesports”. The plan was to go to Jory’s shop near Punta Gorda and meet whomever showed up for a “meet and great” event he scheduled at the store. I managed to come in a bit early so we had time to go back to Jory’s place to get some rest and grab a bight to eat first.
Because my plans are always changing do to the weather, it’s hard to pre-plan an event around when I might be in town. But even despite the short notice, about a dozen people braved the chilly windy weather this evening and showed up at Jory’s store. It was awesome to have a chance to meet a bunch of local paddlers and to share some of the stories and photos of this trip with them. Several signatures were added to the Ikkuma and I had a chance to meet a bunch of great people.
It’s interesting that when I meet people and tell them about what I’m doing a common reaction is comments such as “If only I was a bit younger“, or “I‘d never get that much time off work“, or a host of other reasons that can stop people from attempting a trip like this. All I can say is that most people would never be able to commit to any endeavor that pulls them away from home and family for a year, and I understand that. For all those people that see this trip and only wish they could do something like it I only wish that it might remind them of the adventure that can be found right near home. Perhaps then they might be inspired to do what it takes to do whatever trips they can with what their bodies, time, and lives allow. It doesn’t have to be a thousand mile epic, just go out and have the adventures you can - when, where, and however you can.
It’s interesting that when I meet people and tell them about what I’m doing a common reaction is comments such as “If only I was a bit younger“, or “I‘d never get that much time off work“, or a host of other reasons that can stop people from attempting a trip like this. All I can say is that most people would never be able to commit to any endeavor that pulls them away from home and family for a year, and I understand that. For all those people that see this trip and only wish they could do something like it I only wish that it might remind them of the adventure that can be found right near home. Perhaps then they might be inspired to do what it takes to do whatever trips they can with what their bodies, time, and lives allow. It doesn’t have to be a thousand mile epic, just go out and have the adventures you can - when, where, and however you can.
a rare shot of me on the water - taken by Doug
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