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How I Bought My Newest Sea Kayak –
the Epic 16X
By Michele M Sorensen, February 2012
I've bought these sea kayaks for myself:
1. Heritage Shearwater 18' 3" kevlar sit-on-top - December
1999 - too much volume, too light, dropped twice loading it
in wind
2. Perception Shadow 16' plastic sit-inside without rudder -
June 2001 - a "dog" - too slow, not controllable in
wind; my Instructor Trainer suggested I try another brand.
3. Wilderness Systems Tempest 165 plastic sea kayak - March
2003 - seaworthy boat, great fit, great adventures! got heavy,
wanted the light weight, beauty & speed of "glass"
4. Valley Pintail 17'2” composite - August 2005 - a speedster
with too much rocker and volume for me, but raced it and did
my best time, took it x-Sound 2007 and offshore to Falkner Island
- one helluva trip!
5. Impex Mystic 14' composite - November 2006 - a bit modest
for a sea kayak instructor (my IT's take), but great to have
in my fleet for small people
6. Current Designs Willow 15'4" composite - October 2007
- had it 4.5 years - good choice! recommended by my Instructor
Trainer - will continue to use for teaching
In the last year I've been dreaming of a faster sea kayak that
I can use when I am paddling with friends. I looked at KayakPro
Nemo and Namu, envying Andrew Yue's easy-looking speed (Nemo
too long for me at 17'11"; Namu S perfect size, but seems
short at 13'6"; both designed for fitness, day use, flat-water
racing). I ruled out the fast QCC line, another design with
plumb bow and stern, as I've seen too many people tip in them
and not be able to re-enter (too high off the water). I admired
the Impex Force 3's expedition credentials and streamlined shape
(17'x20.5", but too heavy for me, even shaving off 7# with
kevlar; too little waterline length with the traditional long-overhang
bow). I did not ask my IT, as he sells P&H kayaks. Like
all British boats, they are heavy for safe solo lifting (Britain
has tons of rocks and extreme currents - and guys who always
help each other carrying).
On February 7 George Knight told me about his Kaskazi Adventure
Racing 17' kayak, but said that after 4 years with it he's "now
seriously looking at the Epic V8." The Kaskazi is a composite
SOT, much narrower (22.8") and lower to the water than
my first kayak. George paddles in Florida, where an SOT is great
year-round.
I went to the Epic website and looked at which model might make
sense for me. I'd just finished Joe Glickman's book about Freya
Hoffmeister paddling around Australia in an Epic 18X. She's
8" taller and 35# heavier than me, so I knew I had to look
smaller. The Epic 16X looked perfect. Designed for smaller paddlers,
it comes in four builds. The "Ultra," at a mere 30
pounds, was the one I wanted to aim for. It would mean kid glove
handling, but I planned to use this boat only for personal trips,
not for teaching. The model I wanted, new and complete with
a day hatch sells for $4295, not small change.
I googled "epic 16x reviews" and found a comment on
the Surfski forum from a paddler I know - Mark Ceconi.
Mark is an Earth Science teacher who races surfskis year-round.
I figured he'd have an informed take on it, and he knows me
well, from pool sessions, and the Lighthouse-to-Lighthouse race.
Mark came back:
The 16X is a very nice boat. I have the 18X and did everything
from sea kayaking to racing open ocean, to racing (and winning)
a downriver race. It's been around Cape Ann in a pretty active
Blackburn Challenge, and I was glad to have it. The 16X is a
little bit smaller, a bit tighter, but I do think you might
need to pad it out some still. It has a decent turn of speed
and handles quite well. I haven't had any problems with my 18.
I read every review on paddling.net and also found comments
on Sea Kayaker Magazine's Boats forum: http://www.seakayakermag.com/forums/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2593
In trying to find a fast boat that would not dump me in the
water like a surfski does, I found this enlightening discussion
on Blue Heron's kayak building forum: "fastest boat with
a 10.65:1 length to width ratio" http://www.blueheronkayaks.com/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=3&t=2056&start=15
Since I love paddling in good-sized swell along open coastline,
I dug up a detailed review by a Dutchman paddling in ocean conditions
off the Netherlands. It included a You-Tube video from Epic
showing how well Epic touring kayaks handle big waves: http://www.zeekajaks.info/blog/16x.php?do=cat16
Seeing the Dutchman's photos of the 16X in ocean conditions
was reassuring. I've found myself often enough in deteriorating
conditions to appreciate a boat that can take anything that
comes it's way. This was really convincing.
Now it was time to find out whether I could find one locally,
preferably previously owned, to get the cost down. Bingo - Charles
River Canoe & Kayak, just 40 miles NW of my Marshfield MA
second home, had one for sale for $2799. I called them to set
up a demo appointment the next day. I remembered how green I
was when Grace Pisano snagged a Force 3 in carbon kevlar - she's
a smart shopper and knows to act fast. She'd been looking for
at least six years when her perfect boat came up at a bargain
price and she pounced on it!
I arrived at the Charles River boathouse at 10 am on February
9th. Kevin pulled the Epic 16X Ultra outside for me to inspect.
I opened the fore and aft hatches and looked inside the cockpit,
and from the back hatch forward and front hatch aft, with light
shining through the Nomex honeycomb. I saw one small area that
looked thin, but upon closer inspection seemed fine. The hull
looked sound throughout, with no evidence of any patching, which
would easily have been visible. I had read online that adjusting
the foot pegboard properly was important for rudder control,
so I had the salesman help me with it onshore. He succeeded
in pulling it off-kilter and pulling down a cord that should
have had a screw to hold it in. We pushed it back against the
bulkhead, and I sat in the seat. The 16X has a neat slider system
so you can move the seat while you are in the cockpit, same
way you slide a car seat. I pulled up the button and slid myself
forward so that I had perfect feet position on the footboard/rudder
assembly. The spring-loaded button snapped back into place,
making the seat position secure.
Since I felt the kayak was in excellent condition and seaworthy,
it was time to try it on the Charles River. Iced in along the
edges, the water temperature was about 36 degrees or less. I
was dressed in a 3mm Farmer Jane, NRS Dry top with two insulating
layers, a thick wool hat, 6.5 mm booties and 3 mm gloves. I
had brought my own life vest and paddle, so I could minimize
the variables while testing this boat. Kevin launched a canoe
to break through 12' of ice so I could get out on the river
to give it a whirl. He forgot to get a life vest on, and was
wearing jeans. I thought, "oh, geez, please don't let me
have to do a rescue today." Having been a canoe instructor
back in 1998, I saw right away that he was adept with a paddle
- nice ice-breaking job! We carefully set the 16X in the water
alongside the dock and I slipped in. Stability in the 23"
wide hull was excellent. Before leaving the dock, I gave Kevin
my iPhone and asked him to take photos. My primary concern was
to insure that the boat had full waterline length. If you are
too small for a kayak, it will ride up, usually in the bow,
and you lose a lot of speed.
When I was clear of the ice, I put my paddle in to touch bottom.
It was half the paddle length deep, about three feet, and very
mucky. I hoped I wouldn't wind up having to stand in it. I asked
Kevin about hazards on the river, and where the channel was.
We were on the shallow side of the river, with the channel fifty
yards away. There was no perceptible current, and no perceptible
wind - perfect conditions for a flat-water test. I rocked from
side to side to re-test stability, then began to paddle forward,
gradually building up speed. My next step was to make sure I
could steer using the rudder. It took me about ten minutes to
get comfortable with it. I made big, wide turns using the rudder,
and tight turns using forward and reverse sweep strokes. The
kayak responded nicely to my leaned turns without the rudder,
reassuring. Next I tried reversing, which the kayak did well.
At last, it was time to crank it up full and see how it felt.
Epic's touring kayaks have a cutout just forward of the cockpit
to enable a stroke placed close to the hull. The entire forward
section of the hull is narrow, while it widens in back, a Swede
form hull.
Here is what "Rogue Paddler" says about Swede vs.
fish-form hulls"
"Swede-form kayaks will tend to ride drier, cruise at slightly
faster speeds, and feel as though they have slightly better
stability, but they will require more effort to turn. Having
said that, applying a slight lean to "carve" a turn
in a Swede-form kayak can compensate for its turning disadvantages.
If a wave alters your course in a Fish-form kayak, you may actually
find it harder to correct back to the correct course than you
would if you applied some corrective lean in a Swede-form kayak.
Of the two asymmetrical types, I consider Swede-form to be the
more desirable performer."
After my test, I agreed. Back on the dock, I noticed that Kevin
was snapping away, so I knew I would have some photos to see
how the boat rode. I brought the speed up to just above my normal
cruising speed. The ride was smooth. I liked it. Now it was
time for the most important test. How easy would it be to re-enter
from the water? I approached the dock and told Kevin I planned
to jump into the water, then climb back into the kayak. He said,
"wait, let me get into the canoe, just in case." I
pulled one foot at a time out of the cockpit, then moved both
to the port side and twisted around to face Kevin's canoe. Next
I rolled over onto my tummy on the back deck, then slid into
the water so I was floating completely. Then I launched myself
easily up onto the large, flat rear deck, threw my right leg
over and sat up. The wide deck took good hip mobility to "mount,”
difficult for most men I've observed (probably anatomy - the
way women's hips are connected to the legs for child-bearing).
I leaned forward and pulled myself over the cockpit and sunk
my butt into the seat. However, with the seat pulled all the
way forward, it was tight to get my feet in. No problem - I
pulled up the seat-slider button and pushed the seat back, then
easily sunk into it. Both feet back in, I slid the seat forward
again. Wow, it was easy. Many times I've had kayak students
struggling to get over their seatbacks in a cowboy re-entry
- no struggle in this baby.
I paddled to the dock, leaned over and easily slid onto the
low dock without tipping. What a nice handling kayak! Now I
wanted to see Kevin's photos. He had even taken two movies of
me - what a great idea! I reviewed all of the shots, and liked
how level the boat rode. I was getting full waterline length
with only my day paddling gear with me - two small dry bags.
Time to change out of my wet gear and make a big decision. I
was thinking, "What would Grace do?"
On February 9th at 12:03:33 I became the proud owner of a 2007
Epic 16X!
I asked Charles River C&K to contact the previous owner
and give him my email address so I could find out more about
the kayak. When he replied, I sent him this message:
Hi Scott,
Thanks for letting me have your contact info. I was really pleased
with the performance of your kayak, and it looks to be in great
condition, except for a missing screw in the foot-mount. I found
that we couldn't move the foot piece at all, but I could easily
slide the seat forward to the farthest position, where everything
fit perfectly for me. I'm only 5'4", so I imagine the boat
doesn't work well for someone tall. I had Kevin take some photos
of me in the kayak, and was surprised at how level and balanced
I looked - usually when I paddle a 16' boat it will ride high
in the bow. Will I need to carefully rinse the seat slider after
each salt-water use to keep it from jamming, or have you always
had it in fresh water?
How careful do I have to be with landings? My normal protocol
is to stop the boat in 6" of water, step out, then carry
and place the bow on the beach (then unload it completely before
moving it). I do a five-day camping trip every summer on the
North and South Forks of LI, where most of the beaches are sand
or rounded pebbles. The hard part, I imagine, would be landing
with 2' seas onto a rocky beach. The boat doesn't look like
it's ever been repaired. Have you had any issues with the honeycomb
core separating?
I hope you are still kayaking and have moved on to an even sweeter
kayak!
He replied:
Hi Michele -
Very nice to hear from you. I actually got turned on to stand-up
paddle boarding last year and that has been my water-based exercise
(hence the sale of my kayak). I hope you will enjoy it since
there is absolutely no other boat that comes close to it in
terms of low weight, speed, and stability. Regarding your questions
...
1. missing screw - that is very strange since nothing was missing
when I left it with CRCK. The foot mount moves fore / aft when
pulling on a cord under and in back of the footrest (place palm
on the base of the footrest and fingers reaching in back of
it for cord); it should be extremely easy to slide it around.
I remember when I was testing the boat, the person assumed that
something had to be unscrewed to move it around because that
was what is needed on some other boats and my concern is that
an uneducated sales person may have goofed around with screws
and then lost one. I would encourage you to contact Epic who
I am sure can mail a replacement.
2. I am 5'9" and it was very comfortable. As long as someone
has fairly flexible hamstrings so their knees can be not too
high relative to the front of the cockpit, the combination of
moving the seat back and footrest forward should allow people
significantly taller than me to ride in the boat as well.
3. I have always used it on lakes; I would definitely agree
that a rinse after salt-water use would be important.
4. Landings - I have always been very careful with landings
to avoid scratches. I typically paddle into shallow water, pull
both legs out, straddle the boat, and stand up. This is very
balanced and avoids tipping one side over which can happen if
you are getting out to the side and thus the hull on that side
gets scratched. I have never sensed the boat to be delicate
so it is really a matter of how long you want it to look good!
For extensive tripping like you describe (which sounds AWESOME),
I remember from my canoeing days having a strip of kevlar on
the bow since that is the most typical place to scrape. 2' rocky
seas ... you have to expect to get banged around I guess (I've
never done that sort of thing ... sounds scary).
5. The boat hasn't had any repairs or honeycomb issues. It was
stored on a rack in our garage always so it hasn't even had
a lot of sun exposure.
Best of luck and enjoy,
Scott
Have you found your "perfect" sea kayak yet? I'm on
my 7th, and will let you know. Keep trying - there is a boat
out there that you'll love! I hope this story will help you
find it.
In researching this article, I found two respected kayak professionals
whose objective commentary would help you make sense out of
"fast" kayak designs:
"Racing Kayaks" by Nick Schade on his website Guillemot
Kayaks.
Chris Cunningham, editor of Sea Kayaker Magazine: How Fast is
a Fast Kayak? [OK, so having a light kayak will help me accelerate
faster.]
Let me end with this quote from Nick Schade: "...in the
end there are really only fast motors. In order to go fast,
the person paddling a kayak needs to be strong and have good
technique."
Copyright 2012, Michele M Sorensen
Lazing
Down the Loxahatchee in a Loon 111
January
2012
It's not often you'd find me in a rec kayak without a life vest
on...
Fleeing cold weather, I hopped a flight to Miami January 11,
then drove to Jupiter, which was half way to my sister's place
in Palm Bay. I spent the afternoon walking along the Atlantic.
It wasn't long before I sighted an Epic V12 surfski making its
way south in 2' seas. Under doctor's orders to take a "complete
rest," I stifled envy. I had a plan for a tame kayak adventure
of my own. The next morning I arrived at Riverbend
Park Canoe Outfitters of Florida and asked to take
a look at the kayak fleet. Mike recommended an Old Town Loon
111, a favorite of local paddlers. Yup, an 11' rec kayak, with
no bow or stern flotation, fine for floating my way down the
narrow, shallow Loxahatchee River. I asked him which direction
would get me furthest from civilization. "Easy," he
said, "go downstream, over a dam and then turn around at
the second dam. It should take 2-3 hours roundtrip."
With a little negotiation, I obtained a "premium"
AquaBound aluminum 220 Stingray paddle that was stored in the
manager's office, and a plastic trash bag to stow my wallet
and eyeglasses. The manager did not mention the $100 deposit
shown on their website. I didn't ask. I grabbed a water bottle
and my iPhone from the car, changed into Tevas and went back
to the river, where Mike had my Loon ready to go. I picked up
the lifevest he had stowed behind the seat, looked out at the
fifteen foot wide "river" and put it back, not on.
I ran the Loon alongside the riverbank, put one foot in the
middle of the cockpit, squatted low and settled into the seat.
Leaning forward, I wiggled off the bank with the help of a couple
forward sweeps. Ever cautious, I used my paddle to measure water
depth in the middle of the stream, and found it to be less than
halfway up the shaft, maybe 30-36". If stuff happened,
I could easily stand up and walk out. The footpegs, at the shortest
setting, were so far forward only tiptoes could reach, so I
rested my knees against the gunnels and settled back in the
seat. Now I looked just like the rec kayakers I've seen lazing
along in summer. I put my iPhone in a waist pack, no dry bag.
I decided to adopt the attitude of the Swiss woman who ran the
ranch I visited last month in Mexico - "what, wear a helmet?
that means you're thinking about falling - don't even think
about it!" Following her example, all I needed was a positive
attitude.
My rib cage muscles were still sore from a week of horseback
riding, so I let the current float me downstream, taking a stroke
from time to time to keep the boat in the middle of the river.
My orange kayak immediately attracted several blue Damselflies,
a pretty, slim insect in the dragonfly family. They tagged along
whenever the kayak was in the sun, and especially as it drifted
close to grassy areas. Several Zebra
Longwing butterflies joined the dance above the
low-hanging shrubs. The state symbol of Florida, their lazy
flutter added just the right tone to a relaxing day.
With southeastern Florida "abnormally dry" (see the
US Drought Monitor,)
leaves were crinkling down from the trees as if it were fall.
A Turkey Vulture perched on a dead tree. A Red-bellied Woodpecker
landed on some pines to my left, while an Osprey called shrilly
from a man-made perch on the right bank. A large sign read:
"Be Gator Safe," giving a list of common-sense tips,
like "don't swim or wade," and "avoid grassy
areas near water where gators like to hang out." A Great
Blue Heron fled. This stream was too narrow to fit us both.
As I transitioned into the Cypress swamp, a large mat of crinkly-leaved
water plants looked like ideal habitat for something unusual...a
Limpkin!
I hadn't seen one since a long-ago trip to Corkscrew Sanctuary
on the western side of the Everglades. This well-camoflaged
wading bird has a long bill uniquely adapted to pulling apple
snails out of their shells! I let my kayak float closer as I
took photos with my [unprotected] iPhone.
I began to hear the unmistakeable sound of fast-moving water
and wondered where the first dam was located, how high it was,
and how easy it would be to drag the Loon over the ramp on the
left, as Mike had instructed. A woman in a short sea kayak and
a man on a Tarpon 100 Sit-on-Top passed me paddling fast. I
admired their crafts, and the man admitted his SOT was borrowed
from his girlfriend. I wondered if she used kayaking as a test
for compatibility, as I've done with my daughters and their
boyfriends. (An able seaman gets 5 out of 5 stars, and a man
who can paddle tandem without fighting is a real "keeper.")
A few moments later I heard splashing and squeals as they apparently
went over the dam! Ahead of me was an island, and I could go
right or left. Left is where the carryover was supposed to be.
With sore lats, no lifevest, a rec kayak and the possibility
of gators, I wasn't taking any chances on a bouncy ride over
the dam.
Around the island, the carryover was a ten foot ramp made of
wood, damp enough to easily slide the kayak up. The key skills
were getting out without capsizing, and then re-entering safely
on the down ramp, with fast-moving water inches away. A tip:
make sure your kayak is floating fully as you carefully stand
up, holding on to the dock. If part of the hull is resting on
a hard surface, the whole boat will twist around, and could
easily flip. Safely back in the boat on the other side, I could
relax for a while, as the trip to the second dam was about an
hour further. I let the Loon ride the current through the twisting
stream, cypress knees on either side, and ancient trunks draped
in Spanish moss towering overhead. Only a photo can begin to
capture the uniqueness of this habitat!
Twice I
landed on top of submerged logs and started to tip. I realized
that they were easy to spot by the "v" shape of ripples
on the surface. I had to pay more attention or I'd be bait.
After paddling about forty-five minutes, new concerns emerged:
I was going downstream too easily - how hard and how long would
the trip back be? I turned around and headed upstream for two
minutes to find out. What was fascinating was how easy it was
to use the eddies created by the meandering course to jog back.
I decided the trip was too beautiful to turn around, and gave
myself another fifteen minutes.
Now came the compelling concern of nature's call. You see the
photo above - what would you do? Yes, hold is an option, but
not a comfortable one. I have a personal drive to fully experience
each environment I'm in. Until I've squatted, I haven't arrived.
Around the next bend on the inner shore was a sandy deposit
about fifteen feet long and maybe three feet wide. I pulled
close and could see a few prints, not of shoes, but of some
animal that wasn't heavy enough to sink more than 2". I
put one foot over the side to test the surface. My size 10 feet
barely dented the wet sand. What if I got out and my boat floated
away? Wow, it wouldn't be smart to swim after it. Would I have
to wait here for the other kayakers to return?... and hope there
were no gators in the grassy area at the end of those prints?
I got out anyway, peering into the shadows, and pulled the kayak
most of the way out. Just as I was relaxing I heard a splash
on the far bank. I looked towards the sound, and hurried to
finish. Whew, I don't see a gator heading this way, wouldn't
that be bad news? I'd read they can move 11 miles per hour,
faster than most people can run. By plan, my boat was between
me and the water. I buttoned up quickly, pushed the kayak back
into the water, and stepped in to relative safety [note to self
- don't do this in an SOT- even a 1/4" thickness of plastic
over your legs could be handy].
An hour downstream I reluctantly turned back so I wouldn't be
achy the next day. Reading the water for sunken branches and
eddies was a fun challenge, and putting energy into the strokes
was a nice change from floating. In half an hour I made it out
of the cypress swamp and back to the Limpkin. This time I noticed
a visitor I hadn't seen on the way in - a six foot alligator
sunning only a few yards from where my kayak had drifted as
I snapped photos. I am always amazed at how invisible reptiles
are! They sit very still, both to avoid unnecessary expenditure
of energy, and to catch prey unawares. They also camouflage
perfectly to their surroundings. Lots of bumpy logs in that
forest - I wondered how many other gators I had unwittingly
passed. Twenty strokes later a tandem rec kayak approached with
a young couple aboard. The woman had spotted several turtles
along the grassy banks and asked her husband to paddle closer.
Suddenly several Damselflies landed on her. She began shrieking
and waving her ample legs, and the kayak began to shift precariously.
I said, "There's a six foot alligator watching you. Those
Damselflies don't bite, but if you're both in the water with
an alligator, you could be in big trouble." The woman instantly
stopped wiggling, sat up alert, and resumed paddling. As soon
as they were fifteen feet away I heard her husband chewing her
out. Having just read about two Florida women dying after alligator
attacks, I was glad I wasn't going to have to witness any bloodshed.
Returning to the sunny pine habitat outside the swamp, I observed
an Anhinga drying its wings, a White Ibis with red legs and
curved red bill, and another Osprey. Dragonflies and yellow
Cloudless Sulfur butterflies were abundant. Four turtles sunned
on a log, their reflection a perfect mirror image in the flat
water. What a treat to see so much wildlife on a two hour trip!
I pulled up to the beach at Riverbend Park and Mike came right
down to the edge, grabbed the bow toggle and pulled the kayak
up so I could step out onto dry ground - how gallant! I'd never
do that to one of my vessels! Back to the trailer office I collected
my car key and paid a $27 half-day rental fee - what a deal!
The manager tipped me off to the best place to have lunch -
at the edge of Picnic Loop Canal on Picnic Island, a two minute
drive away. There I witnessed an "irruption" of White
Peacock butterflies, and saw two kinds of Skippers (an insect
like a butterfly). As I finished my lunch, three 30" Lunker
Bass swam by, jumping completely out of the water four times
and landing with a loud "smack." Where's my rod? You
would love this place! It's less than two hours from Miami International
Airport. If you go to Jupiter, FL, don't miss a dinner at Guanabanas,
a beautiful waterside restaurant with tasty food and exceptional
service.
Lesson learned:
When on vacation, go for the kayak trip, even if you don't have
all your gear, or the boat of your dreams!
I can't wait to go back and ride over that dam! I'll wear the
PFD [at least over the dam], bring my waterproof iPhone case,
paddling shoes with no straps, and a drybag for my eyeglasses.
If I bring a snack, I can go all the way to the second dam.
Rules I broke:
Always wear your life vest.
Do not use footwear with straps (my Tevas could cause entrapment
by becoming tangled in the footpegs if I capsized).
Carry a means of communication in a waterproof bag. (This was
the riskiest, as if I needed help, I probably would have been
soaked.)
Carry a map of the area, especially if you've never been there.
(I looked at a map in the office, and memorized it. I also had
"Maps" on my iPhone).
Cautions:
Notice the dark shadow along the trees in the photo, 2-3 feet
above the water line. That indicates a higher water level that
would mean a stronger, swifter current, and possibly dangerous
entrapment potential. I wouldn't go after a heavy rain.
The day I went the air temperature was about 45, cold for Florida.
Reptiles are sluggish at those temperatures. I never saw a snake,
but there are some big, poisonous ones in Florida swamps.
Any stories from personal experience? Please tell me your favorite
Florida or Caribbean paddling spots.
A Sound Kayaker just suggested this trip for women: Kayaking
in the Bahamas
Please email
your comments and I'll post them here:
- Michele, sounds like a great trip. Florida paddling runs the
gamut and you never need tire of the options. I spend a lot
of time around ten thousand islands. You could have continued
south to the keys. I just returned from Bogey
Bacall races in key largo this past wkd. 13.2 miles Sat.
and 6 mi. on Sun.
George 2/7/2012
- Thanks for sharing this - very interesting! Now I want to
go kayaking there also. William S, 2/6/2012
- Hi Michelle, Loved this article. What excellent powers of
observation you have! And I loved following the links and other
references—I learned a lot reading this.
I was in Florida once, 26 years ago. Your photos looks like
a mangrove swamp, lots of submerged roots near the surface.
I did a little ride in an airboat. It wasn’t as much fun
as your kayaking trip.
Thanks, Andy Sinn 2/5/2012
- Loxahatchee was my favorite river when I lived in Miami for
10 years.Other rivers you might enjoy exploring in Florida are
the Myakka
River on the west coast and the Alafia
River near Tampa. The trail in Everglades
National Park might be a good choice with fewer people.
When my skills get better the barrier islands in Georgia as
well as the San
Blas Islands [Panama] might be fun. I will be interested
to hear other peoples' ideas. Sandy Cox 2/5/2012
Sandy, I've added links to the wonderful places you've recommended,
including the 100 mile Wilderness Waterway in the Everglades!
- Michele
- Michele,Wonderful narrative, great pic - I almost felt I was
there. Super info all round, lovely. Many thanks, Bronwen 2/5/2012
Bronwen, Thanks so much for your feedback. I am never alone
as long as I have an appreciative reader. - Michele
- Hi Michelle, Just a short note to thank you for sharing your
wonderful trip, I read it a few times and every time I enjoyed
it more, your description and narration of your experience basically
made think I was traveling down the river myself. Thanks again.
Gabriel F. Balarezo 2/2/2012
- That's a wonderful story, thanks for writing it. Alan 1/30/2012
- Hi Michele, Glad to hear you are taking some risks! Missing
from list of things you should have taken chain mail suit in
case of shark attack! just joking. Have a great time.
Tim 1/28/2012
- Hi Michele, Really enjoyed your kayaking adventure story!
Paulo 1/27/2012
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