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.
