We are looking forward to Kayaking in San Diego during whale migration soon.. Bruce and I enjoy each other ... and we both enjoy paddling and have planned several vacations around paddling... This weeks Friday's FIVE! focuses on some of paddling adventures.
1. Key West/2002
Getting married off the coast of Key West was certainly the highlight of this trip - but the paddle was definately a runner up! We rented a tandem kayak - and paddled all over the shallow water of the Keys for several hours and saw wildlife, nurse sharks and one of the most beautiful sunsets I've ever seen. It was truly an amazing paddle!
~~~~~~~~2. Canaveral National Seashore/2005 http://www.nps.gov/cana/
We put in at JBs Fish Camp http://jbsfishcamp.com/ and paddled all over the Canaveral National Seashore - It was an amazing paddle - we saw so many wonderful migratory birds.
It was quiet and peaceful and a perfect day for a paddle. When we were done, we ended up at JBs Fishcamp for dinner and cold beer - I had a basket of Rock Shrimp... It was a great local spot...and a perfect place to make a wonderful memory!
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3. The Great Calusa Blueway/2006 http://calusablueway.com/
We rented a great little cottage in Matlacha on Pine Island http://www.pineislandchamber.org/
and spent everyday paddling. Some days we paddled for more than 8 hours. It was an amazing trip and we logged a lot of miles... paddling through the solitude of the mangroves. We saw dolphins and sting rays - birds - and other wildlife. There was still alot of hurricane damage from Hurricane Charley in 2004 - and abandoned boats were found in many of the still waters of the mangroves. It was wonderful trip... one of those that was so good, I hope we return someday. Pine Island/Matlacha is someplace we would like to think about spending a few winter months once we retire.
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4. Fontana Lake/Great Smoky Mountains/2007 http://www.greatsmokies.com/fontana.asp
Bruce and I typically take a fall hiking trip to Great Smoky Mountains ... and we usually stay near the Gatlinburg area - but in 2007, we rented a cabin near Bryson City and brought our kayaks. We kayaked Fontana Lake and had a wonderful trip. We saw bald eagles - and other wildlife. The water levels were very low due to the summer drought - but the views were truly amazing. We spent the entire day in our kayaks and paddled miles and miles and miles along the shore of Fontana lake. We also took our bikes and pedaled the trails of the Tsali. In the evenings we refueled and enjoyed carbo loading at the Nantahala Outdoor Center http://www.noc.com/http://www.noc.com/ where we saw many other paddlers and bicyclers.
It was truly and event made for Bruce and Mindy!
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5. Kosciusko County ... right where we live!!!
While we love to pack the kayaks up/or rent kayaks at an exciting... exotic out of state location - the very, very best kayaking we have ever experienced is right here in our own backyard. We love to get our kayaks out and paddle around the lake about any evening of the week. Often on summer weekends, we like to pack the kayaks up and head to another one of the 100+ lakes in the county. Some of the other enjoyed paddles we've enjoyed include the backwaters of Webster, Pike Lake area and the Barbee Chain. We love to load up our kayaks - fill the cooler full of beer, make a few sandwiches and grab a few apples ... we pack the sunscreen and bug spray and head out for a day full of kayaking. Life is so good!!!
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