Home isn’t bad
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@3meterswell I think I’d be far more afraid of bears than gators! I have a healthy respect for gators but they really don’t want anything to do with you. And in the winter when it’s colder they are almost inanimate logs - a good time to observe them!
Sharks don’t bother me either - since I paddle more in saltwater I see more sharks than gators. A shark sighting will definitely make my day.
Actually what scares me the most paddling in Florida are the manatees! Nothing like having a 2000 lb animal freak out right under your kayak when you unknowingly paddle right over it (they are almost impossible to see) Looks and feels like a depth charge went off.
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Check out the river camps run by the Florida State parks. They are free to paddlers, spaced about ten miles apart and have screened enclosures for camping. (bug and critter protection) All are above the flood line.
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Agree. Had one wake up on the flats between Manatee Cove and Pine Island in the Indian river that near swamped my boat. I know others that have been on top and gotten lifted up kayak and all above the water and capsized by Manatee tail action. Gators, sharks and snakes are normally a non-factor.
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Silver River, Rainbow river, Weeki Wachee, Ichetucknee and other spring runs are unique and special. But I live too close to them and paddle them too often. They become, yes, been there done that. It takes a tourist to remind us how special they are sometimes.
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North of Vancouver Island on the Central Coast of BC is the Hakai Luxvbalis Conservancy Area. Not as much near shore relief as the West Coast of VI and less exposure overall, but parts will get your attention. All of the same wildlife sans Cougars but add an occasional Brown Bear.
No-Name Beach on Choked Passage
The southern end of Hakai includes the north half of Calvert Island and it is uber-cool on so many levels. The northern shores that transition into the west coast of Calvert are simply stunning and don’t get many visitors.
image courtesy of the Hakai Institute
The southwestern part of the island may be outside of the Conservancy Area but continue to astonish all the way to very southern tip of the island.
Blackney Beach
Much of Calvert does come at a cost and paddlers without open ocean experience should think very hard and long before committing to a trip down that coastline as combined seas to 9’-10’ with winds of 15-20 knots are not unusual.
Even when it’s calm the outside of Calvert can turn into a test. There may be a few other paddlers and some folks fishing around Choked Passage but you leave them all behind when you head down the outside. In my opinion the outside of Calvert is British Columbia’s Crown Jewel.
Grief Bay
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I can relate. I’m only about 2 hours from the Buffalo National River. I wouldn’t say I take it for granted…but I haven’t paddled it as much as I probably should. It is beautiful and special. If you’ve ever wondered if getting up to it was worth it…I’m sure it would not disappoint.
I bought a Florida paddling guide and am bookmarking several spots. There are some pretty great bits of water down there.
upended by mating manatees on the Homosassa River
They can move in territorial disputes too
We often see several males boxing in a solo female. Not a very gentleel sight. They’re just ANIMALs.
There goes sweet and cuddly.
We saw lots of bears (both black and griz), moose, sheep, eagle,s and even wolves while paddling on the Yukon. However the locals told us that when a bear shows an interest in you, unless you are endangering a cub, it is most likely just wants to take your food. But when a moose shows an interest in you, it most llikely wants to take your life.
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Yes. Moose are reactive and its never a kumbaya moment
Put the biggest most solid object between you and it
So many! Most of my favorites, Wekiva River, Rock Springs Run, Econlockhatchee River, Silver River, Ocklawaha River, Mosquito Lagoon, and many more, are within 2 hours drive from home. But the pandemic shutdown last year gave me a new appreciation of the lake I live on, its early morning beauty from my little canoe, and wildlife. I don’t take it for granted anymore.
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My back yard, shortly after sunrise. Beautifully quiet, except for the pair of loons, and no windshield time getting there!
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Excellent…
Also excellent…
I wish I had a back yard like that.
Been away some last week, but saw this thread. Now I want to paddle so many places I have never been. Shame on y’all! I would love to paddle the Baja, Lake Superior, the PNW, Ozark rivers, the Green river in Utah, anywhere in Maine, etc., etc.
I think my favorite place is where I happen to be paddling at the time. It is hard to chose a favorite. A short list would include Juniper Springs Run. I paddled it back in the mid 1960s for the first time, and fell in love with the place. I have paddled many of the Florida spring runs since that time, but Juniper is a special place for me especially when I am first on the water for the day.
I love the wildness of Cape Romain on the coast of South Carolina, as I do the Everglades in Florida. Then there is the uniqueness of Sparkleberry Swamp in South Carolina. Lake Jocassee in the foot hills of SC for all the great times kayak camping there with close paddling friends. I have to say the small undeveloped Enoree River with often muddy water filled with fallen trees, and twists and turns has to rank high. Partly because it is a wild place, and very rare to see another person on the water as in only twice. I’ll go through some photos and post more later.
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