1) Where are you from? Your profession? I am from Wilbur by the Sea, FL, a quaint little seaside community in Volusia County nestled between the Atlantic Ocean and the Intracoastal Waterway. I am a full-time real estate broker who has been successfully selling the benefits of enjoying the Florida waterfront lifestyle.
2) When and how did you become interested in paddling? I became obsessed with stand-up paddleboarding from the moment I hopped on top of a board! That was about two and a half years ago at Disappearing Island in Ponce Inlet, FL. A local SUP company had put out a few demo boards at a sky diving event I was attending on the island. It was love at first paddle! My SUP pup Kiwi and I have been paddling ever since.
3) Where is your favorite place to paddle? That's easy: EVERYWHERE in Florida! In addition to the 2013 Paddle Florida Wekiva/St. Johns River Ramble, I have paddled my SUP along the shores of Florida's coastal waterways, springs, rivers, and lakes. So far, I have paddled sections of the Intracoastal Waterway, Suwannee River, Tomoka River, Crystal River, St. Johns River, Wekiva River, Dead River, Snake Creek, Spruce Creek, Salt Creek, Silver River, Juniper Springs Run (backwards), and circumnavigated Hontoon Island.
4) What's the most interesting thing that ever happened to you on a paddling trip? It's all been fascinating! I have dodged many a gator, spotted deer, talked to turtles, danced with great blue herons, helped rescue a HUGE white egret getting his foot munched on by a snapping turtle, had my SUP kissed by manatees, cruised with sharks, was stalked by turkey vultures, swung from rope swings into crisp clear waters, spotted wild turkeys, snorted at wild boar, rallied rays, and on one occasion dressed up as Jane for a paddle on the Silver River to look for Tarzan and found monkeys instead!
5) How many Paddle Florida trips have you gone on and to where? The recent Wekiva/St. Johns River Ramble was my first trip with Paddle Florida. The whole experience was perfect. The Paddle Florida team did an outstanding job to ensure that all participants had a great time. It's a well-oiled machine! They have thought of everything so that paddlers can enjoy their adventure. I am looking forward to more trips.
6) You're one of a handful of stand-up paddlerboarders to come on a Paddle Florida trip. What was it like to experience a multi-day paddling trip on a SUP? It was an exceptional experience! I had dreamed of doing a multi-day trip on my SUP, but just couldn't get it together on my own. I am thankful that I found Paddle Florida and that they welcomed me as a participant on my SUP. I chose the Wekiva/St. Johns River Ramble as my first PF trip because I had already done two-thirds of the trip before on my own and knew that I had the expertise and experience to hop on my SUP for three days and paddle the 30 miles.
7) Can you describe a particular Paddle Florida trip highlight? I loved the camaraderie among the paddlers. I could paddle up alongside fellow participants and enjoy their stories. These guys and gals have lots of knowledge and experience to share. It was awesome watching fellow paddlers interact with nature and share with each other. The food was great, too!
8) What advice do you have for folks considering a Paddle Florida trip? I can only give SUP advice since that's all I know. I would advise other SUP'ers to make sure they have the skill set, stamina, and balance to complete a multi-day trip. I occasionally got into some pretty narrow, shallow sections of water with submerged vegetation that grabbed at my skegs and tree limbs that made me limbo...which just made it all the more fun and adventurous!
1) Where are you from? Your profession? I was born in Buffalo, NY. My family moved to Jacksonville, FL in the mid-70's and I have lived in Gainesville since coming to college. I am an engineer in the telecom industry designing software for set top boxes, although my education is more in the area of robotics ad semiconductor physics.
2) When and how did you become interested in paddling? From Fort Erie, Canada to Jacksonville, Florida, I have grown up around water, mostly sailing and sailboarding but also quite a bit of canoeing. My introduction to whitewater came in early high school by running NC's Nantahala River in open canoes! Lots of fun, but the main workout was constantly dumping water out of the canoe even if the run was successful. The few decked kayaks in those days looked like a great step up, providing a lesser quantity of 50 degree water in our laps.
3) Where is your favorite place to paddle? Probably a tie between coastal Maine and the San Juan Islands in Washington state during summer. For the rest of the year I will take Florida, with possibly the Chipola River being one of my favorites.
4) What's the most interesting thing that ever happened to you on a paddling trip? Just for the "once in a lifetime" moment: seeing Hale-Bopp comet with its double tail perfectly stretched out over the Santa Fe River during a full moon paddle.
5) Tell us a little but about your cleanup efforts with Current Problems. How can others get involved? Current Problems originally concentrated on Gainesville's creeks and lakes and the Santa Fe and Ichetucknee Rivers. Four years ago, we tackled the Suwannee River and have coordinated the removal of over 70,000 pounds of trash through our annual Great Suwannee River Cleanup (GSRC) each fall. This year, we broadened the cleanup to the Suwannee and its tributaries (northern Withlacoochee and Santa Fe) and hundreds of volunteers have helped out. Members of the National Association for Cave Diving recently assisted with a dive cleanup on the Santa Fe and learned how they could organize a similar effort on the Apalachicola and its tributaries, so word of our GSRC is spreading! We are always looking for individual volunteers and groups to adopt river sections each fall. Check out our website for more details.
6) How many Paddle Florida trips have you gone on and to where? Most of them! Nearly all the Suwannee River trips, if just for a day or two to lead a cleanup.
7) What keeps you coming back? The tiki bars. Not necessarily going to the tiki bars, but hearing stories about them from fellow paddlers who are new to our unique southern culture.
8) Can you describe a particular Paddle Florida trip highlight? I had quite a bit of fun creating two now-regular Paddle Florida activities: the Ochlockonee oyster roast and the Ellaville night hike/ghost tour on the Suwannee.
9) What advice do you have for folks considering a Paddle Florida trip? Paddle Florida has something for everyone. If you are new to multi-day paddling, the support provided for meals, gear shuttling, and campsite logistics will make your trip enjoyable. If you are an experienced multi-day paddler, some trips allow you access to areas that would be hard and/or expensive to plan a trip to on your own. For all levels of paddlers, the evening entertainment and campfire camaraderie make the trips memorable for everyone!
1) Where are you from? Your profession? I am originally from Pennsylvania, lived in the Washington DC area for a while, and moved to Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida in 2002. I was a computer sales rep and now I am in marketing.
2) When and how did you become interested in paddling? I've liked the idea of kayaking for 10 years, but didn't get my first kayak until a few years ago. Now I'm hooked!
3) Where is your favorite place to paddle? No one particular place is my favorite; I'm still exploring our beautiful state. I prefer small rivers and creeks where wilderness surrounds me.
4) What's the most interesting thing that ever happened to you on a paddling trip? Last winter I kayaked across King's Bay and then snorkeled with manatees in Three Sisters Springs (in Crystal River). My leg was hurting from a fall (wooden stairs and high-heeled boots are dangerous), but I still loved the trip. It turns out my leg was broken!
5) Tell us a little about your work with the St. Johns River Alliance. What's the goal of that organization? SJRA is a non-profit coalition of the 12 counties along the St. Johns River. We focus on finding funds for river restoration and promoting ecotourism. We just got the river designated as a state paddling trail (or 'blueway'). We sponsor the St. Johns River license plate to increase the visibility of the river and gain funding for community grants. Towards that goal, people can show their love of the St. Johns River by purchasing a vehicle license plate. One lucky person who purchases or renews an SJR
tag in November will win signed books by Florida authors Bill Belleville and Cynthia Barnett plus a framed river photograph by Will Dickey. Also, SJRA will rebate the $25 for new SJR tags purchased by December 31. Visit stjohnsriveralliance.com for details or email me at sjra.coordinator@gmail.com.
6) How many Paddle Florida trips have you gone on and to where? I've done three Paddle Florida trips so far: the Wekiva/St. Johns River Ramble, the Suwannee River Wilderness Trail, and the Suwannee River Paddling Festival. I plan to do the Wekiva/St. Johns again in December.
7) What keeps you coming back? Besides the awesome nature seen from my kayak, the delicious food, and the interesting entertainment, I love getting to know fellow kayakers from around the state.
8) Can you describe a particular Paddle Florida trip highlight? I was slightly anxious about the whitewater shoals on the Suwannee River trip. I was definitely outside my comfort zone! Thankfully, several experienced paddlers guided us newbies. It was actually fun to get through them safely.
9) What advice do you have for folks considering a Paddle Florida trip? Just do it! Don't worry that it's too long or you don't know anyone or you're unsure about the weather or whatever concerns you. There's a first time for everyone and it'll be worth it!
1) Where are you from? Your profession?
I was born on a tugboat in Elliot Bay (Seattle), Washington. I changed professions like most men change their underwear. I've spent most of my working life at sea or under it. Probably my most interesting job was as a commercial submarine pilot. (Yes, there really is such a thing and no, I was not in the Navy submarine service.) My big claim to fame is being the first person to earn a captain's license for power, sail, and submarines. I returned after living outside the US for 30 years and became an IT guy until I retired.
2) When and how did you become interested in paddling?
When we moved to Florida, it just seemed like such a perfect place for it. I rented kayaks a few times before buying my first and soon got completely out of control with it.
3) Where is your favorite place to paddle?
In Florida, how can you choose among so many great places? My wife Betsy's favorite is the Weeki Wachi and Smokey thinks the river camps along the Suwannee are really sweet. Outside Florida, it would be the Green River in Utah, Baja, and Clayoquot Sound off Vancouver Island.
4) What's the most interesting thing that ever happened to you on a paddling trip?
Smokey thinks it was being chosen as Miss Congeniality on Paddle Florida's first Peace River trip. I lean toward a night spent on a chickee in the Everglades with a big bull gator under the floorboards during mating season. Sounded like someone trying to start a generator every five minutes all night long.
5) Tell us more about this 'Smokey' character and his introduction to paddling.
I wanted a dog as a companion for an active retirement and it was love at first sight. I saw him at six weeks when he was just a ball of fluff with the eyes of a mischievious little 8-year-old boy looking back at me and I was hooked. We brought him home two weeks later and put him in a Greenland II in the backyard a couple times before moving to the water. Within a week he was feeling at home. Two weeks after that we left Betsy behind and went on a three-month trip out west with light hiking and a lot of paddling. A year later we hiked our first section of the Appalachian Trail together and haven't looked back since.
6) How many Paddle Florida trips have you gone on and to where?
We've been on every trip Paddle Florida does, at least once, although Betsy got the flu on the Withlacoochee and we couldn't finish. The one exception for Smokey (and Betsy) was the Keys Challenge, which might have been a bit much for them.
7) What keeps you coming back?
Are you kidding? I was born on the water.
8) Can you describe a particular paddling trip highlight?
Camping with Smokey on an island off the west coast of Vancouver Island and listening to the wolves howling at night was definitely a "National G" moment.
9) What advice do you have for folks considering a Paddle Florida trip?
Just do it (with apologies to Nike)! It's the most fun you can have with your clothes on.
1) Where are you from? Your profession?
I was born in a Chicago suburb and grew up there until I was eleven. In the early 1960's, we had to drive for hours to find a waterway that wasn't polluted. I developed a full body rash from one lake. That's why my family fell in love with Florida's springs, rivers and coast when we moved to Tallahassee in 1968. Florida's waterways certainly have their problems today, but not quite like the Chicago area in the 1960's. I still live in the Tallahassee area.
I work for the Florida Office of Greenways and Trails. I was the paddling trails coordinator for almost eight years, but I have recently been promoted to assistant chief. I've also been writing for publication since I was eighteen years old.
2) Tell us a little about some of your books related to paddling in Florida.
I've written ten books and three of them directly relate to paddling. The first is about paddling Florida's wild Big Bend Coast--Waters Less Traveled. The second is about paddling from Orlando to Lake Okeechobee through the Kissimmee chain of lakes and rivers--New Dawn for the Kissimmee River. And a third is a collection of paddling stories from throughout the state, including accounts of a couple Paddle Florida trips--Wild Florida Waters. I'm putting together another book of paddling stories that might be ready next year. In all of my books, I like to weave together historical and ecological information. I feel it's important that people know more about the places they paddle, and I try to be entertaining as well because many of these trips are fun, even when sand fleas are swarming and waves are crashing across the bow of your kayak. It's all part of the adventure.
All of my books are available on Amazon, through local bookstores, and some are available on my website, www.dougalderson.net.
3) When and how did you become interested in paddling?
My first canoe trip was through the Des Plaines River sewage canals as a boy, but my first trip on a pristine river was on the Pere Marquette River in Michigan. Both sides of my family loved to canoe, and I continued the tradition as an adult. I graduated to serious kayaking in 2003 when I paddled the Big Bend Saltwater Paddling Trail with Liz Sparks to help research the Big Bend guidebook.
4) Where is your favorite place to paddle?
It's probably the Wacissa River because it is close, beautiful and wild, especially in the lower section where you can get away from all motorized watercraft.
5) What's the most interesting thing that ever happened to you on a paddling trip?
More recently, it is giving a PowerPoint presentation inside of a Penske truck in the driving rain on Paddle Florida's last Ochlockonee River trip. Everyone was in good spirits and it showed how flexible we can be.
6) How many Paddle Florida trips have you gone on and to where?
My initial Paddle Florida trip was the first Ochlockonee adventure in 2011. I've been on six others, I believe,and have written trip accounts for four of them. The trips include the Suwannee, Withlacoochee South, the 2012 Keys trip, Wekiva/St. Johns, and all or part of the three Ochlockonee trips.
7) What keeps you coming back?
When I first heard about Paddle Florida, I was leery because I wasn't sure I would enjoy paddling with so many people, but after the 2011 Ochlockonee trip, I was hooked. I enjoyed the camaraderie of everyone and realized that once the group began paddling and stretched out, I could still have some quiet time. The trips have a community atmosphere and they are educational. They remind me of a group walk I organized from coast to coast in 1984, though a little less intense.
8) Can you describe a particular trip highlight?
I've enjoyed how the group kept their spirits high through the rain and cold on the Withlacoochee River South trip last February. I've also enjoyed seeing some paddlers grow and gain confidence through different trips, since I initially coached them in my role as sweep boat.
9) What advice do you have for folks considering a Paddle Florida trip?
Try it, you'll like it. Most Paddle Florida trips are good for a range of experience levels and watercraft, and it's a good way for people to break into multi-day trips since Paddle Florida makes it so easy. But be careful--you might get hooked!
1) Where are you from? Your profession?
I grew up in a military family. During my pre-teen years we lived in Florida and during my teen years we lived in Arkansas. We had a short few years in Louisiana as well. After college, I went to law school in the Midwest (Missouri) and ended up practicing my professions (law, and later forensic psychology and teaching) up there. I had good careers and good friends up there, but I always wanted to return to the South and was happy to do so when I retired three years ago. (Editor's Note: Delany is also a talented photographer. Check out her beautiful photos, many capturing Florida's waterways and wildlife, at: http://delany.zenfolio.com/
2) When and how did you become interested in paddling?
Up until a couple years ago, I had never been in a kayak. I had done a lot of other kinds of boating (including a little canoeing), but never much enjoyed the canoe experience and assumed that kayaking would be pretty similar. But after friends invited me on a kayak paddling trip on the St. Johns and I got into my first kayak, I fell in love. It just felt like the most wonderful boating experience a person could have--being so close to the surface of the water in such an easily maneuverable boat was a revelation to me.
3) Where is your favorite place to paddle?
I love Rock Springs Run in the wintertime, early in the morning when the mist is rising from the river. It's absolutely gorgeous.
4) What's the most interesting thing that ever happened to you on a paddling trip?
On one particularly grueling day during our Paddle to the Sea expedition, we were fighting headwind, very choppy seas and whitecaps, and an incoming tide. After about seven hours of paddling, it began to get dark. We realized we had to stop short of our planned destination, and we detoured into the Ortega River where there's a marina we figured we could tie up at. The conditions had been too bad for us to use our cell phones to call anyone, but one of us sent out a garbled text just saying that we were "running late." Ha! As we approached the drawbridge over the Ortega, a nice cruising boat stopped nearby and tooted its horn. We thought they were trying to get the bridge keeper's attention and pretty much ignored them. But then a woman came out onto the back deck of the boat and began calling our names! "Delany! Debbie! Jane!" It turned out that our fiends had been worried about us and came out to look for us. They had a nearby place for us to beach and tie up our boats overnight, and they drove us to the place in Riverside where we had been planning to stay. In our exhaustion, it felt as if angels had appeared on the water to help us out!
5) Tell us about the Paddle to the Sea expedition you recently completed on the St. Johns River. What did you experience and learn in 180 miles of paddling over 13 days?
Paddle to the Sea was a dream come true and the trip of a lifetime. I had always been intrigued and enchanted by the fact that the St. Johns River that runs in front of my house (at Lake Monroe) goes all the way to the ocean. I knew it would be an amazing experience to get in a boat and go from my front yard to the beach at Mayport. My teammates and friends (Debbie LaFreniere and Jane Goddard) and I experienced the beauty, grace, and power of the St. Johns River and the enormous generosity and hospitality of the people who live on the river and who care deeply about her. And I learned a crucial lesson about the imprtance of taking our dreams and turning them into reality.
6) Which Paddle Florida trip have you gone on and to where? What did you enjoy most about it?
My first (and so far only) trip with Paddle Florida was the Ochlockonee trip this past spring. It was also my first multi-day paddling trip with overnight camping. I had a total blast on that trip! I think that most of all I enjoyed paddling the wilderness sections on a beautiful Florida river that was new to me. A close second was having all my gear transported for me so that I could quickly and easily set up camp and relax while someone else was fixing my dinner!
7) Do you plan to come on future trips?
Most definitely!
8) What advice do you have for folks considering a Paddle Florida trip?
Don't hesitate! If this kind of trip is even remotely a dream of yours, make it happen! The Paddle Florida organizers and staff will give you an experience you'll never forget.
1) Where are you from? Your profession?
I was born in Kansas City and lived all over the US due to my dad's job as a civil engineer. I have lived in Tampa and Ruskin, Florida for 32 years. I am a registered nurse with a certification in rehabilitation nursing and I presently do catastrophic medical care coordination in workman's compensation cases in Florida.
2) When and how did you become interested in paddling?
I was a small child when my dad and his best friend would take me and, later, my younger brothers on overnight canoe trips with the Ozark Wilderness Waterways Club. The club did river cleanups too. I remember we went over once and my dad's friend grabbed me. It was quite exciting and wet! I remember at 5 or 6 I received a 100-mile patch from the club. I think I was hooked on paddling from then on. I began canoeing as a child. I began to kayak when I bought the used tandem that I have now in 1993 and have also gotten a solo kayak. These kayaks are my great connection with the water and nature.
3) Where is your favorite place to paddle?
I live on the Little Manatee River. It is my favorite place. There are mangroves and tunnels in Cockroach and Little Cockroach Bay, a fantastic estuary full of fish, rays, crabs, and birds, and just a 20-minute paddle from my house. The tunnels open up onto southern Tampa Bay with little islands and sandy beaches to pull up on and eat lunch and swim.
4) What's the most interesting thing that ever happened to you on a paddling trip?
It was on Christmas Eve and I had enjoyed Noche Buena with my family. I wanted to do a night paddle on the Little Manatee River, so I called my local best friend, Jim Freeman (a Paddle Florida alum), and asked him to join me in the tandem. He was ready. Away we went under a lovely big moon. Possibly due to the darkness we were getting much closer to the mullet, which really surprised them. After about 10-15 minutes of paddling, a big mullet about 18 inches long jumped up out of the water and landed between my legs in my open cockpit, slamming up against the side of the kayak and coming to rest behind the front seat Jim was in. We paddled to a shallow spot and I got out. I grabbed the mullet out of the boat and looked at him in the eye for a minute. He seemed to look back at me. He slipped from my hands and into the water he went. I will never forget it!
5) How many Paddle Florida trips have you gone on and to where?
I have been on five Paddle Florida trips. I went on the Suwannee-Withlacoochee, the 10-day Florida Keys Challenge from Key Largo to Key West, the Peace River, the Wekiva/St. Johns River Ramble, and the Ochlockonee River in the Panhandle.
6) What keeps you coming back?
The full nature immersion of paddling and camping coupled with the support of meals and gear shuttling makes the trips so much easier. I come back now to be a better paddler and to see friends I've made along the way during my experiences with Paddle Florida.
7) Can you describe a particular Paddle Florida trip highlight?
There have been many. The three trips I did with my wife Mariella in our tandem were fabulous. Pulling into Fort Zachary at the end of the Keys trip with all the kayaks together was great. Frank Lindamood playing real Florida folk music around the campfire underneath the stars at Ochlockonee River State Park was remarkable.
8) What advice do you have for folks considering a Paddle Florida trip?
Do a short weekend trip first to get a feeling for what Paddle Florida is all about. You'll be hooked and come back to do longer trips!
1) Where are you from? Your Profession?
I was born and raised in rural Connecticut, and now live in Panama City, Florida. Almost all of my adult life has been spent as a drug abuse counselor, working in both outpatient and inpatient facilities and teaching counseling for six years.
2) When and how did you become interested in paddling?
Summer camp at age 11 was my introduction to paddling and I've loved it ever since. I have a solo canoe and a sea kayak, and both get a lot of use.
3) Where is your favorite place to paddle?
Here in Panama City, I often paddle in St. Andrews Bay. There is a nice place to put the kayak in the water and I paddle along the undeveloped shoreline of Tyndall Air Force Base out toward Redfish Point. There are a couple of bayous along the route and miles of soft sandy beaches to stop and rest. I often see dolphins, ospreys, and eagles when I paddle there.
4) What's the most interesting thing that ever happened to you on a paddling trip?
"Interesting" does not mean "pleasant." When I lived in Alaska, some friends and I were paddling the Gulkana River over Labor Day weekend. It was sunny and warm the day we left and none of us were really prepared for cold weather. It got freezing, it snowed, the river froze, and one 12-year-old boy went hypothermic on us. It was very scary. We found a place to beach the boats, made camp and a big fire, got some hot soup in him, and he came right around. We had to push that three-day trip in two days.
5) How many Paddle Florida trips have you gone on and to where?
Five great Paddle Florida trips: two on the Suwannee, twice down the length of the Ochlockonee River, and one on the south Withlacoochee.
6) What keeps you coming back?
All the trips are well-planned and well-run. There's always good food, and I enjoy meeting old friends and making new ones.
7) Can you describe a particular Paddle Florida trip highlight?
The incredible food on the first Suwannee River trip. Oh, and then there was the night on the Withlacoochee when the temperature dropped to 24 degrees and everyone's tent was covered in ice in the morning!
8) What advice do you have for folks considering a Paddle Florida trip?
GO! Plain and simple. Just GO! Join the fun. The logistics are taken care of, so it's a nice way for someone to get introduced to multi-day kayak cruising and camping.
1) Where are you from? Your profession?
I am from the Chicago area originally, but have lived in Georgia for 30 years. It's all about the weather. I now live on Lake Lanier in Burford, Georgia.
I just left Chattahoochee Riverkeeper after working there for five years...so I can paddle more! I serve on the boards of Georgia River Network, Rivers Alive, and Lake Lanier Association.
2) When and how did you become interested in paddling?
I dabbled in paddling until the first Paddle Georgia event in 2005. I was totally hooked after that!
3) Where is your favorite place to paddle?
I live very close to the Chattahoochee River and especially love the headwaters, which offer a little bit of everything: white water, flat water, and beautiful scenery. In Florida, I love Juniper Springs Run...amazing!
4) Tell us about your river cleanup efforts in Georgia.
I have spent the past 15 years working to keep trash out of our waterways. Last year, Rivers Alive--which umbrellas all the river cleanups in Georgia--had over 30,000 volunteers, 300 events, and picked up tons of trash. It's working! Once you start cleaning, it's hard to paddle by trash. It's something anyone can do to help. If you'd like to volunteer, visit: www.riversalive.org.
5) How many Paddle Florida trips have you gone on and to where?
I have paddled with Paddle Florida three times: the first Suwannee trip, the 10-day Keys trip last year, and the 3-day Keys trip this year. Now that I am not working, I can join you for more. I love Florida rivers and Paddle Florida! The state has great rivers and embraces paddlers; we are working on that in Georgia. Being able to paddle and camp where you land is awesome. I also like Paddle Florida's group size...not too big or small. And the staff rocks!
6) Can you describe a particular trip 'highlight?'
Our Keys trip this year was fabulous. We saw rays, sharks, stars, and a huge sea turtle. The ocean was like glass and the weather was perfect. Planning to return in 2014 for sure!
7) What advice do you have for folks considering a Paddle Florida trip?
The journey is the destination, enjoy every moment, be patient and helpful, and don't forget your whistle!
1) Where are you from?
Birmingham, Alabama.
2) When and how did you become interested in paddling?
I learned about Paddle Florida from an article in the Birmingham News before the inaugural March 2008 Suwannee River trip. At the time I was an avid sculler, having never paddled before. Uncertain I would take to camping or paddling, I bought a cheap tent and even cheaper sleeping bag and rented a kayak for the trip. Not only did I take to paddling, I loved it (and unlike sculling, you can see where you're headed). Being away from work taught me I could survive without the stress and, three months later, I retired as head of the personnel department of the Fairfield Works of United States Steel Corporation with 39 years of service.
3) How many Paddle Florida trips have you gone on and to where?
By my t-shirt count, I have 11 trips with Paddle Florida: seven on the Suwannee River, one on the Peace River, two on the Ochlockonee River, and the 10-day Key Largo to Key West trip. My favorite trip, though a tough drive for us Birminghamsters, was the Keys trip for the beautiful turquoise waters and abundant aquatic life you see.
4) What keeps you coming back?
Initially, it was the great organization by the Paddle Florida staff that kept me coming back. But now I think it is more about the people (both staff and paddlers) than it is about the paddle that motivates me.
5) What advice do you have for folks considering a Paddle Florida trip?
For those who may be apprehensive about a long trip, my only advice is: don't be. Doing a trip with Paddle Florida will be all it takes to want to do another. My only other advice would be to invest in a better sleeping bag and tent from the start.
1) Where are you from? Your profession (or former one, if retired)?
I was born and raised in Syracuse, NY. I lived and worked in Rochester, NY for 28 years and the Albany/Troy area for 17 years. I've been in Sebastian, FL now for three years.
I worked as a public school educator for 42 years, including positions as elementary school teacher and principal, science and technology magnet school instructional coordinator, supervisor of PK-12 mathematics, and college professor at Nazareth College Graduate School of Education.
2) When and how did you become interested in paddling?
My wife Lisa and I took a three-day wilderness trip off the coast of Maine in 1994. Neither one of us had ever been in a kayak before, but we were immediately hooked. Our story can be found under the trip reports on YackmanArchive.com.
3) Where is your favorite place to paddle?
That's a hard question. These are some of my favorites: Forked Lake in the Adirondack Mountains, the Sangenay Fjord in Quebec, and Georgian Bay in Ontario. In Florida: the Big Bend Saltwater Paddling Trail, the Peace, Wekiva, Upper Suwannee, and Withlacoochee Rivers, Arbuckle Creek, and the 10,000 Islands. What they all have in common is a wild remoteness that I find very appealing.
4) Tell us about your 'Yackman.com' web site.
I started my web site in 2007. A guy named Bill Quick (KayakGuy.com) was my inspiration. I have always enjoyed playing with photography and technology. Joining those interests with my paddling adventures seemed like a natural thing to do. Changes in web hosting and web site development tools prompted me to archive the pre-2012 reports on YackmanArchive.com while developing a refreshed Yackman.com site at the original URL.
5) How many Paddle Florida trips have you gone on and to where?
I've been on five trips so far: Peace River, Florida Keys Challenges 1 and 2, the Wekiva/St. Johns, and the (northern) Withlacoochee/Suwannee Rivers.
6) What keeps you coming back?
The relaxed organization, great paddling destinations, and the wonderful people you meet and get to know.
7) Can you describe a particular trip 'highlight?'
I found the Peace to be wild, remote, even prehistoric in its feel. I paddled much of the river alone, which I love to do. I seemed to find a new surprise or adventure around every bend.
8) What advice do you have for folks considering a Paddle Florida trip?
Just do it! I have come on most of these trips alone. After the first trip, I began to know some of the folks who are 'frequent flyers.' This helped a lot. So don't be shy if you can't find anyone to tag along. Sign up and you'll have a good time. And compared to outfitter-supported trips, Paddle Florida trips are inexpensive.
1) Where are you from? Your profession (or former one, if retired)?
I live on Grassy Key and spend time at a summer retreat on a bluff in Maine and a family home facing Long Island Sound in Connecticut.
I worked as a professor of information systems, a newspaper columnist, and an inventor of a patented alternative to Braille. I traveled in 32 countries, lived abroad through three Fulbright fellowships, and learned that I get homesick for the coast when I am inland. Since retirement, I have written a mystery: Murder with Kayaks: Sport, Malice, and Mayhem in the Florida Keys (that I may self-publish since my editor just informed me that she lost the manuscript that she's had since last summer), and a children's book: Pete the Puffer Fish: A Love Story in the Florida Keys.
2) When and how did you become interested in paddling?
Born in Rhode Island, I've rowed, sailed, and canoed since I was a child, and kayaked in Long Island Sound, in Downeast Maine, and throughout the Florida Keys. Why did it take so long for kayaks to come into vogue? A mystery!
3) Where is your favorite place to paddle?
I prefer the variety, easy access, and glorious phenomena of the Florida Keys.
4) How many Paddle Florida trips have you gone on and to where?
I paddled the Wekiva/St. Johns trip last spring, the Suwannee River expedition last fall, and this winter the route from Long Key to Bahia Honda in the Keys. The last line in the Paddle Florida newsletter description said, "You know you want to." It was impossible to resist!
5) What keeps you coming back?
I'm hooked. It's sheer bliss, a privilege to paddle all day through spectacular areas and have reliable and conscientious leaders take care of camp sites, catered meals, shuttles, entertainment, and expert presentations. I love to be with people who are good at what they do, and have made many friends. What is life for, if not this?
6) Can you describe a particular Paddle Florida trip highlight?
There was that last morning on the Suwannee--the mist lifted, the water sparkled, and with a perfect breeze aft, I sailed with a golf umbrella for miles and miles past amazing natural springs. Everyone should have one day in their life like that, with companions who tolerate such eccentricities.
7) What advice do you have for folks considering a Paddle Florida trip?
Remember gloves, a camp chair, a secure hat, and good reading. Use a large duffle bag with wheels. Consider silence when paddling--it frees the senses.
