OKee Waterway Info
Found this page of interest
http://www.sailmiami.com/okeechobee_tips.htm
of www.sailmiami.com
Brian
Manatees
Interesting you mentioned them, as I have also had a run in with them recently, off of Sanibel. I arrived early one morning, to do some fishing on the flats area, and saw a commotion about 100 yds. off the beach, which I at first passed of as a pod of dolphins , which are common in the area. As I was unloading my boat, I noticed that a pod of manatees were either in a mating mode, or doing something out on the sandbar. After I was in the water, I paddled closer, to try to get a picture, but kept my distance, as a few of these were huge. I never saw a manatee move as fast as these big guys were, acutally making a wake as they were trying to free up one of their own that was grounded on the bar. The water was brown , with all the tail action, and I stayed away, not wanting to get in the middle of frantic behavior. Most people see these as gentle giants, but I will be giving them the respect they are due from now on. They could have easily been 1000 lbs. , and done a lot of damage to me , if I had been in the way.
Cross Florida Barge Canal
The Oklawahah River is part of the old Barge Canal project & the boys up that way say it’s real good paddling.
It’s home ot the annual Marion County Aquaholics’ Poker Run.
Alternatives
’Bout 20 years ago I was planning on paddling the Miami River from the Lake on down. A wise man told me… “you friggin’ crazy”. All you gots is a levy on your right & a levy on your left. Every so often you have to drag around the water control structures.
Replace “Water control structure” with “Locks” & you have the okechobee waterway. Been there done that. It ain’t bad on a motor boat in 2 days…but after 3-4 days of paddling…I could see where it might get a little tiring.
The wise man then sent me to the Wilderness Waterway. Did it Loved it. Been hooked to a paddle ever since. You want something a little less common. Paddle across Fl. Bay; Flamingo to Matacumbe 2-3 days…or if you want really challenging, don’t know if it’s been done type of stuff…why not Key West to the Marquesas?
Extended Florida Paddle
Florida has the second longest coastline in the US (second only to Alaska!). It also has quite a few established paddling trails along the coasts. You have the Big Bend Saltwater Paddling Trail in the north, The Wilderness Waterway in the south…and now The Florida Keys Paddling Trail in the FAR south!
So the issue is not where can you paddle…but where do you want to paddle. I’m with Scupper Frank…South Florida is the place to play.
But heck, if you have a couple of months…why not start at one end & go all the way around? I’m working on a project to link all the existing trails together into one big circumnavigatory network.
Right now it’s just in the preliminary stages but if you (in researching for your trip…or even better after you do it) have any input, it would be greatly appreciated!
& hey, while your down in the southern reaches, give me a shout, we’ll get a crew to keep you company for a while & even provide you with a hot shower & a hot meal!
If anyone else reading this post is interested in helping coordinate the Florida Coast to Coast Trail Network, let me know.
And to add to your list:
The Springs Area in and around The Ocala National Forest.
If anyone ever visualized what the Garden of Eden looked like, all they have to do is paddle on a springs run similar to Alexander, Juniper, Blue, Rainbow or one of the many others.
It is like paddling on the top of a well kept aquarium.
Also the host of rivers that Florida has to offer.
I have been paddling Florida for about thirty years, and still have a bunch of places on my “to paddle” list.
Cheers, and stay happy,
JackL
Thank you
Thanks
Brian