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 Starting plans for a 700 mile kayak trip down to Key West and back to Sebastian. Roughly 60-70 days complete travel by kayak. Camping, kayaking, site seeing, meeting new people, and ALL the water one could enjoy. The Intercoastal down to the Keys, Atlantic side and Gulf side. Contact me with comments/questions. Thank you.
I've done 100's of kayaking trips throughout the Florida Keys. The "Islamorada Quadrangle" as I call it, Big Pine Key, Bahia Honda, and Key Largo, for example. They've been typically 3 hour rentals to just get out on the water, specific point a to point b and see something, overnights to some "remote" spot and build a fire and return, do a day trip here or there, all sorts of "get out on the water and see something different than just on land in the different Keys". I describe these experiences throughout this web site, up and down the archipelago of the Keys.
Since I've moved to Florida again, I'm putting together a trip that I've always wanted to do, "live" out on the water and see all the Keys from the water, both Ocean Side (OS) and Gulf Side (GS). I'm now of mind to paddle from Sebastian (FL) down to Key West (FL). I'm discovering that this is roughly a 350 mile trip down and 350 miles back. It will take roughly 25 days down and 25 days back. That's what I'm talking about, "living on the water". That's no small undertaking. Well, here's what I'm thinking.
I've been involved with Scouting for over 45 years in different capacities. Eagle Scout, Assistant Scoutmaster, mentoring, camping, hiking, all the activities related to Scouting. Backpacked down the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, camped at Phantom Ranch on the Colorado River, and hiked backed out. There have been numerous hiking experiences of 10 mile to 100 mile experiences. I'm now taking those experiences of planning, preparing, and training for those "land" experiences and applying them to this "water world".
I'm now engaging with a local kayak company, kayaksetc.com, to get that proper training for more than being just a "day/overnight tripper". I've explained my goal to them and am now engaged in the planning, preparing, and training for this trip. I'm going thru a detailed training. We all have, or can, just get in a boat, kayak, on a horse, or whatever and "make it" thru that experience, usually with minimum guidance, instruction, etc. This is generally "supervised" through the activity, for a "short duration".
I'm covering things such as proper grip/placement of hands on the paddle, proper stroke techniques (no don't use canoe, row boat, or j stroke techniques). Turning, circles, bow and stern steering, torso rotation, shoulder turning, wind conditions, reading the water, falling out and getting back in, GPS navigation, leave no trace, various parks and put-ins, avoidances, etc.
Basically I want to "learn" about water kayaking for a "duration" while I'm completely on my own, just like my Boy Scout experiences. Apply what I know to the "water" environment.
I'm going to be logging up-dates for each of the "training exercises" and some general knowledge that I'm gaining, through the next several months. I want to keep this as simple as I can. It is a download to myself and hopefully, in some way, helpful to you. Not everybody wants all of this but, maybe you can use it for your day trip, overnight, or other experiences out on the water. A little more knowledge helps all of us.
I'll be adding additional info to this site periodically. Please check out Florida Keys News Weather Activities Maps section for my updating of Florida sites that give you up-to-date current "professional" legit sites which will provide costal maps, camping, Chambers of Commerce, routes, etc. As I go through this training, you'll know what I'm going to use in real time. I will, eventually, include a section of using a GPS system (maybe SPOT) to help your navigation, and once I know how to have a section where one can follow where I'm at on the upcoming trip, it will be uploaded in a NEW section.
Anyway, I hope this will always be informative to you! Please enjoy your time here!
floridakeysimpression.com
gonenative@floridakeysimpressions.com
10.23.09 Tried out a new 17' kayak, Looksha IV a few days ago. Scheduling a update/refresh kayaking session of 4-8 separate sessions with Kayaksetc in Vero Beach for a long trip, approximately 2 months. Getting ready for solo trip from Sebastian, Florida down to Key West and back. Everything from etiquette , defensive manuevers, rolling, weight distribution, packing, maps, put-ins, camping, leave no trace, GPS, etc. Probably April/May time frame 2010. Kayaksetc recommended a site called floridapaddlingtrails.com. OUTSTANDING!!!! Entire coastline of Florida is mapped. Take a look FOR SURE! Considering "Spot" GPS system for real time trip location and updates. KFLS k2(ksquared)
10.29.09 Fine afternoon in Vero. Engaging 2nd meeting with Kayaksetc. Mike is going over "proper" paddling today. Now, as I've mentioned, I've done quite a bit of kayaking and got where I wanted to go. Little did I know, I was doing most of the paddling wrong. Sure I got where I wanted to go but, like most things, there is a correct or "better" way. So here I am at square one. How to paddle.
Sorry, someone's at the door, I'll get back soon to continue. Proper grip/spacing, tricks to keep hands in proper place, paddle horiz to center line of kayak not outline of kayak, shoulders and torso, reach and follow through, keeping direction, wide circle turn and tight circle turn. And more. Anybody who's done this will agree.
Where was I, oh, paddling. I had a very good onshore session with Mike. Right from the very beginning. I'll skip some of the chit chat. I'll start with hand placement. After visual demonstration and all that stuff one reads in books I'll make it simple. Stick your arms straight out from the sides of your body with your palms facing forward. Bend your arms at the elbows straight up, 90 degrees. Thats the proper grab position on the paddle stick. If you use some tape to wrap the paddle in that position you'll always have the right position.
When paddling, paddle horizontal to the centerline of the boat, not along the profile (arcish). This will keep your course truer and not wiggly.
Your reach forward to begin your stroke should be as far forward as allows your back to remain relatively straight. The follow through stroke should be completed right around your hips, not behind you.
Try to keep back straight when reaching out for a stroke. Use torso turn and shoulder turn, from side to side, to get the most power, consistency, and endurance. Keep head centered on the centerline of the boat. Don't "choke" (grab the paddle too hard). You should be able to do the following;
Let's say your paddling a stroke on the left side, left side of paddle in the water with your left hand holding it, right hand on paddle up in the air. That right hand should be able to grab the paddle with the thumb only with the palm of your hand pushing the paddle and your fingers extended out and open. Repeat from side to side. This will help keep your hands and fingers limber and reduce hand cramping, tension, and blisters. Once you get the knack of it, it will make paddling a relaxing event, not a working burden.
A wide circle turn was taking your paddle and extending your arms out to whatever side you're turning and reach out, keeping your head on the centerline of boat, and sweeping the water with paddle fully submerged. Probably a 20 ft? diameter at first, later will get tighter.
A circle turn, in place, uses paddle strokes on both sides of kayak. Use your regular stroke on one side, then rotate your torso and shoulders to the other side and reach back and paddle forward. Important to turn torso and shoulder around as far as is still comfortable and keep head on centerline of boat. Will almost go 360 degrees in place, depending how strongly you execute, water current and wind conditions.
I've told myself tis seems simple enough but, when done properly, it becomes somewhat effortless, not a chore. I am working on not tensing up while in these moves. Balance in the kayak will come with loosening up and not getting rigid in your body.
Well, there were other items we talked about in passing and I'll get into those as we get deeper into them. Hope this helps you, it did me. Try to keep it as simple as you can but, execute the simple stuff to a fault and things will get easier.
Next week more advanced strokes and rolling the kayak to the point one understands how far one can roll without tipping over. Was suggested to me to be ready to possibly go in for a swim. Until next week, KFLS. k2
11.08.09 Been kinda a "blow" around here for the past week. 25 to 30 knot winds from the East mostly, gusting to 35 or so. Has kept many kayakers and boats off the water. Waiting for things to calm down a bit, probably? mid this week, we'll see. Meanwhile updating present gear with research into different items I anticipate to be taking. Lighter gear, new checkoff list for things to do, things to evaluate, maps to bring, looking for source to plastic coat maps and decide on binder and size, on deck mounting schemes and gear for easy access of daily things used, and safety/medical necessities. Deciding on tent vs hammock and bug screening or both. Looking for a scale to get ready to start weighing items for kayak load levels. Was advised to get bags of sand, to mimick kayak loads, and pack them to get a "feel" for balance and distribution of weight. Gathering info on latest technology for camp cooking and utensils/food stuff. Lots to do. Until next entry, KFLS. k2
11.16.09 Winds still high, should start dying down this week. Water temp (79 deg) warmer than air temp. Until next entry KFLS k2
11.18.09 Winds died down, back to normal, will be back out on the intercoastal this coming Monday. KFLS k2
11.19.09 Been looking thru food options for this trip down thru the keys. Ran across an idea on the web. Kayakers suggesting a place called tasty bites. Suggested to try at home so I just ordered a 28 southeast asia pack of massaman vegetables/rendang vegetables/satay vegetables/malaysian lodeh/pad tai/jasmine rice/tai lime pilaf. I think this is going to be like ramen noodles but, with the asian taste. We'll see. If it works, I'll consider some of their other offerings. Supposedly cooks in 90 seconds, we'll see. Have used other freeze dried products with mixed results. Idea is to cook/light weight/nutritional/pack in pack out/augment with catching some fish/ augment with some necessary stop-over type stuff. Try to do this as natural as is "practical". Checking out Great White Heron NWR. Do due diligence to explore this defined "wilderness". Am writing about this area, which Im looking forward to seeing for an extended "backwoods" trip, and will have it up on this website soon. Will be listed under my florida keys impressions section titled Great White Heron Refuge. By the way, had not heard this before but, suggested when using water in boiling something use a 50-50 mix of regular water and sea water. Do not add salt until you taste it. I'm cruising the net to find more ideas about local/natural ways of cooking out on the water in the keys. I'll let you know. also looking at Tai Kitchen, have had some of that thru the grocery store, pretty good. Would have to "strip" the packaging to get the packing size down to acceptable. half the world eats this way, can I do it? We'll see.KFLS k2
11.23.09 Back out on the intercoastal. Working on "dry" exit out of kayak and "dry" reentry. I've read many a book on this execution. There is nothing like actually trying to do it. This is a process where you don't flip over in the kayak but, get out of it with out getting water into the cockpit. This involves keeping your head and body "centered" in the kayak. Putting each hand on the cockpit sides, slowly lifting your bottom out, pulling your legs out, straddling the boat, bending your upper body forward so your chest is touching the boat, stretching your legs back still straddling the kayakt, "shimmy" low to the boat backwards until your legs are mostly in the water, as you swing one leg over bias your body weight to the opposite side your leg is swinging to, slowly slide into the water. Great way to paddle somewhere and go swimming, or anything else, without getting your cockpit wet. Try it on the shoreline to get a feel for the movements, first. You don't want to be thinking too much while you're doing it out in the water. REMEMBER, when out of the cockpit STAY LOW with your chest down touching the kayak, otherwise SPLASH!
Getting back in, approach the kayak from the rear, put your hands on the kayak, stretch your legs out backwards, simultaneously push down on the kayak and kick like mad, get the stern of the boat down between your legs, kick and start to shimmy up the kayak grabbing anything you can. STAY LOW and shimmy your chest PAST the cockpit, QUICKLY rise and set your bottom in the cockpit with your legs straddling the kayak, slowly with a hand on each side of the cockpit lift your bottom out keeping TOTALLY centered in the kayak, Shift your bottom rearward and then swing each leg into the cockpit. YOU WILL use a lot of energy doing these motions. Feel free to rest at ANY point where you are in control of the boat. It's not pretty but, VERY effective.
I was instructed in another way to "dry" reenter, which I prefer. Approach Kayak from the rear, move to one side or the other of the rear just short of the rear "dry storage hole, grab across the boat, pull yourself up across the boat, get your weight slightly biased across the boat to the other side, once chest is up and more on the other side of the kayak, swing your leg up over the back of the kayak, start shifting your weight back to centerline of boat as your moving completely up on the kayak, continue with the shimmy as I described before. This, I found easier.
We went over using a paddle float and the process to get in and out at the cockpit area. Also, the storage of your paddle float. Fold up your paddle float WITH THE AIR TUBES INSIDE, this will allow for a quick tug to pull it out from the FRONT bungy straps for quick implementation. Do not attach the "clip" on the paddle float to the bungy. Expended too much energy doing the "dry exit/entrance to do the paddle float lesson. Will do that next week, and use a "paddle skirt" to learn flipping, exiting and reentry.
Also discussed GPS. "BEACON" vs "REAL TIME" signals. "BEACONS" use the basic principle that it's constantly giving off a general signal but, you have to go out and find it. "REAL TIME", like SPOT, is sending out, essentially, your current lat/long position constantly. For example, and I'm simplifying this, if you're out in the ocean and it's current is working on you, "BEACON" would give out the help signal once, then the finders have to go out and "find" the EPIRB beacon signal. It just tells someone you need help and now they have calculate current, amount of time, etc., to figure out where to start locating the "BEACON". You could have drifted miles from where the first help signal went out. "SPOT", on the other hand, sends out constant latitude/longitude signals which are giving real time position of where you are. These were first used on box cars and containers. Tracking real time where each box is. Boxes went missing and they wanted to know where they went. Now being applied to all sorts of situations, and they're waterproof. I'll get into more of the features later. Until then, KFLS k2
12.16.09 On my headphones, Pennekamp Wow style, lot's of stuff to get ready for. Ordered the Tasty Bite "Southeast Asia" stuff. Have received it, trying it out for various different meals. Yes, can cook it in 5 mins. Rather spicy, as is. Have mixed in chow mein noodles, oyster crackers, and other stuff. Still spicy. It's good but, needs some balance for a meal. Listening to Rolling Stones "waiting on a friend". Going to email about something less spicy. Going through a prelim list of stuff to bring. Have read MANY ideas of what to bring. List is getting WAY out of control. Simmering on what is essential vs would like. Maps, waterproof, are starting to make sense. Many different types of charts. Starting to feel like work! Can't let it. Must calm, my own "drive". down. I think next lesson on the water will be after the first of the year. Everybody way too busy. Time to continue with "laundry" list of items to bring. Looking at hammocks, medical stuff, safety stuff, SPOT navigation. Have communicated about device and capabilities. Trying to understand how "tracker" can be used and put up for real time tracking on my web site. More to come. Have marked up on a map many of the "crossover" passages between the Gulf side and the Atlantic. Want to be able to do this when necessary. List for stuff to bring is coming together. Food stuff is coming together. Safety equipmt, becoming clearer. Saw a pic of a PFD with a "strap" on the back shoulder with a "strobe-safety light" set in. Investigating this. Going to have my prelim list of stuff pretty soon. Going to a local place to talk about footwear, for walking around the shores. Getting late, now listening/watching a video of Rush. Looks like a studio cabin in ?. Looks as distant as the Content/Barracuda Keys I will get out to. KFLS k2
12.29.09 Back again, Christmas has come and gone. I hope all went well for everybody out there. Santa seems to have responded to some of my list. Concentrated on several basic equipment and safety items. Here's a list of starting points I'm gathering.
REI waterproof binoculars 10x26, read numerous reviews which were very positive, DON'T have to spend a fortune!
Adventure Medical Kit for paddlers
ENO Double Nest Hammock and ENO Guardian Bug Net
Signal Mirror and Safety Whistle ( hopefully doesn't become a Titanic experience, water should be warmer!)
HydroStar S.O.S. - Programmed S.O.S. Signal / 2-Way Led Flashlight / Emergency Xenon Strobe / Red Light Night Vision / Suction Cup Base / Magnetic Base / HydroStar Extension Pole ( 21") to get elevation height for safety strobe
Compression Sac Set, for multiple purposes. Large, medium, and small
If you're interested, shoot me an email and I'll dig up model #'s and forward.
New Year is upon us, continuing my list. Culling through multiple lists and sorting out what I'm looking for. Probably start new lessons after the first of the year. Going up to Boston mid January to take part in my nephew Ian get his Eagle. Just like my two boys (now young men), wow how time fly's!
Looking at re-provisioning myself by ordering certain food packages sent to post offices along the way in the Keys, pick up along the way. Let you know how this works out. I'm sure a combination of checking in with kayak provision's places and this drop/ship set-up will more than enough take care of things.
Working on research of the "off-shore" Keys below the Seven Mile Bridge. Declared as Federal Wilderness Area, The Great White Heron Refuge, Key Deer Refuge, and Key West Refuge are in my sights. Some 4-7 miles off shore, 40-50 miles in length are a land of fewer than 15,000 people have ever seen. Natural habitats, waters as green-blue as the mind can imagine, quietness that inspires rebirth, sunsets, sunrises, and choices that challenge the soul. Content Keys, Sawyer Keys, Barracuda Keys, Marvin Keys, Snipe Keys, Mud Keys, Lower Harbor Keys, Cayo Agua, and Garrison Bight. Seems the CALUSA Indian Tribes, from the mid west to south west of Florida, would have been the most influential along the Keys. The Tequesta Indian Tribes, along the south east, may not have been as prominent. See my upcoming section on Indians of these areas. Well, for now, Happy New Year! KFLS k2
1.12.10 Happy New Year everyone! Hope ya'll had a safe and fun time. Looking forward to this new year and the trip of a lifetime I'm planning. It's been EXTREMELY cold over the past month. Have set new low temperatures. It's put a damper on getting out on the water. I feel sorry for those who have and had planned a trip down here recently. Not a great time, this year so far, for outdoor activities. For me though, it's been just fine. I've been doing research on all the "spoil islands" along the intercoastal. Gathering maps and places to get waterproof maps/waterproof writing books/waterproof pens, have created a cork board wall to pin up all the info so it's easily viewable and accessible. Sort of like my own little "war room" to tackle this trip. Made some decisions about which deck bag, bilge pump pkg, rain fly, water shoes, and paddle type. Looking into the necessity to carry a second back-up paddle. Also, am rethinking the used Lookshaw purchase. Can buy a brand new 17ft Tempest 170 w/skeg. Reason being two fold. One it's brand new and the moveable parts of the skeg would be less likely to need repair. Secondly, It's a little less cost than the used kayak. I'm reading all the reviews I can get my hands on. If one can believe the reviews, it seems most everyone has been very satisfied very much, all types of levels of ability. Well, lot's more to do. Like I've mentioned, I'm writing about the different wilderness refuge areas, the Indian influences, and Conch Republic's beginning. Will have these new sections up and posted in this website in the next month or so. Until then KFLS k2
2.25.10 BURRRRR! It's been cold here for a couple of months, more than the normal couple of days. Anyway, have had the opportunity to get some other things in order. Have been working my packing list for this upcoming couple of months. It's a jig saw puzzle that is starting to become clearer. I'll have this ready pretty soon. I've been talking with several sources about kayak types. I'm back to the 17 ft sea kayak, for capacity of storage, most of all. I'm talking with local sources about storage and delivery of the kayak to different points up and down the Intercoastal. Nothing firm yet, but getting closer. Also have found a couple of new ideas for prepackaged food packs that only require boiling. I'll be ordering some of them to try them out, just like the Tasty-Bite i've tried, and some what enjoyed. Additionally found some ideas for the fish I expect to catch and cook along the way. Banana Leaves. All sorts of ways to cook in them AND use as everyday eating plate. Trying to get some more "natural" leave no trace concept utilization. Sorting out the "storage time" or shelf life to keep them, not frozen. Have also been looking more at a "HD Surf Hero" video cam. People who surf use these on the front of their surf boards. Mounted by suction cup or fixed mount or head band mount, totally waterproof, compact, and light. Finally, for now, found a great place to get my snorkel, mask, and fins online. Things, generally coming together. Until later.....KFLS k2
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