Florida day tripping with Jake and my Wife …

[Bob B.]

Jake, my Wife and I have been paddling many of the springs in Florida this week. Back at home the weather got up to low 60s then crashed back down to windy and 13 degrees. Here in Crystal River, we have experienced many mornings in the low 40s but sunny snd warming nicely into the mid 70s. It has been a really nice change and feels so good to be in a canoe again. We have canoed Silver, Blue and Rainbow springs as well as Kings Bay so far …




Cathy is really becoming a much better paddler and enjoys each new days adventure on the water. Seeing Manatees and hiking is a terrific bonus !


This afternoon more paddling adventure. It is a hotel type of trip but still fun to do it with my wife.

Bob.

 

[Woodpuppy]

Lovely. How does she like the Greenland paddle in a canoe?

 

[Bob B.]

fantastic! It is light, not effected by wind and moves her canoe effortlessly. Ties to thwart simply and she shoulder carries canoe from truck to put in.

 

[Marten]

HOTEL TYPE TRIP. !!

 

[Bob B.]

Baby steps Marten. Perhaps in time she will be ready for the Min Jim (sp?) trail, and a luxurious Lean One to sleep in. Until then we will rough it at the Days Inn

 

[Bob B.]

We swam with the Manatees

 

[Bob B.]

Then we paddled the Weeki Wachee. There were a lot of people out today … not my cup of
tea. Beautiful area, but not peaceful really, too crowded … felt ,
my blood pressure rising. So after a couple of hours called it a day.

 

[snapper]

Don't let the kidding about staying in a hotel get to you. Being out with your wife (and pooch) can be one of life's greatest pleasures when you're enjoying that time together. Luckily for me, my wife has always been a camper but we're not above enjoying a night (or two) at a hotel. Always a nice change of pace.

That's all for now. Take care and until next time...be well.

snapper

 

[JohnSand]

My only multi day canoe trip as an adult was driving to Florida with the canoe, staying in a cheap motel, and paddling or sailing a different spot every day. I loved it.

 

[stevet]

If you get a chance try Juniper Springs….beautiful run. One of my best FL memories.

 

[joebh]

My wife paddles our Rapidfire canoe with a Greenland paddle
I’ll try to find a better photo

 

[Woodpuppy]

I love the idea. It might work for me in my Wenonah Prism, it has pretty narrow gunwales with the tumblehome. I don’t think it would work in my Northstars.

 

[Bob B.]

Woodpuppy,

While I was learning to paddle sitting and not kneeling ( long story ) I began to utilize a Greenland Style Paddle. All my canoes are tandem, converted to be huge solo boats. I even paddled my 15 prospector with one. I found I needed to use a low angle paddle stroke or I would sling water on Jake my dog … he HATES water on his head. So … I had one made for me that was like 112 inches long. 10 foot might be even better. I can paddle very fast in strong current, wind etc., without slinging water on Jake. We call it “ Lilly dipping”. Really nice for slow constant cruising … but, man I can fly with that paddle if I choose too. I use a straight paddle now, but mt wife uses it in her RapidFire and it moves along easily, with very little effort.

Marten,

We are Hotel tripping, but I do cook outside every day!



Bob.

 

[Woodpuppy]

I need to just bite the bullet and try making one.

 

[Marten]

Just some very disturbing g new words in your vocabulary! SITTING and DOUBLE in the same thread. OK, maybe you never really wrote DOUBLE but it was implied.

 

[Bob B.]

Oh the shame ... hanging my head now ... yup, said it out loud, secret is out. Kevlar canoe, sitting, double paddle and hotel. Marten, have I slipped to the dark side ?

 

[Woodpuppy]

Well, so long as that weren’t turkey sausage in yer skillit.

 

[Glenn MacGrady]

Glad that you and family are having an enjoyable time in Florida this goofy winter, Bob. You would have really liked it better 50 years ago when the population was so much less.

Good to see that Jake is the safety exemplar, wearing a PFD in 18" of water.



Where was this shot taken? I'm having Florida nostalgia pangs and want to go there.

 

[Bob B.]

Hey Glen. That stretch of water is a little off shoot on Rainbow Springs. It is very easy to miss, a bit of a tunnel in the bush that goes back a mile or so … to a fence that indicates it is a restricted area. It is very scenic, best part of the trip that day.

The last pics are from our exploration of the Chaz, looking for the “Crack Spring Head”. We found it, but our trip was at low tide, it is much better, more beautiful during high tide.







We arrived at “ The Crack “, at low tide not as dramatic, but still a stunning end to a fun adventure.

 

[Bob B.]

Now we are enduring the long slog back to Wisconsin …. Just in time to get ready for Canoecopia!

Bob.