This is an 18 mile loop made yesterday out of Collier Seminole State Park. I was planning on staying out for three days but decided to scrub the mission after realizing that I was totally over-loaded. I'll be updating my progress soon at http://www.thereandbackagain-taba.blogspot.com/ .

Wednesday to Saturday, 75 hours and 100 miles spent in my Kruger. We're becoming bff. You've got to love a Kruger. Next week I think I'm adding a bathtub.

This was my Saturday paddle. I used my Kruger with a fairly heavy load. I went about 12 miles into the wind to Isles of Capri. There was a kayak demo day w/reps sponsored by Saltwater Sports of Naples. Then I put up my PAS 1.0 and flew back to Naples while barely paddling. I haven't paddled for 7 days prior to this. I'm working on refining my Kruger and getting it livable. I'm almost ready to get in another over nighter, maybe a few nights.

This was my paddle from Friday. I went south against the wind on the inside and then shot up the outside coast with my PAS 1.0. I covered 21 miles. I need to spend more time on open water.

I went out at 3:30 pm and had planned to stay out till 10 or 11. After just 4 miles I decided to turn around and take it easy for the night. I got back a little after dark with just over 8 miles. I need the sleep more than the miles. Back at it tomorrow.

This is my journey from Tuesday. I went to 3 different spots and activated the "help" feature on my SPOT. My mileage for the day was 9. A small report will soon be made at http://www.thereandbackagain-taba.blogspot.com/ .

Only a 7 mile day. Sometimes I feel like I'm not getting any miles or camping in until I think about the Challengers in the North. I don't know how they go from snow and no paddling to sand and 300 miles.

I went out with a Challenger today who test drove and purchased the infamous Viviane. We went out for a 6 1/2 mile loop. I think I found her a good home.

I went out with 3 novice friends and covered 14 miles. I'll bet they hurt tomorrow.

It doesn't look like it but this is 5o miles. I went out with my Kruger about 1:30 yesterday afternoon and stayed out on the water about 16 hours. I collected lots of SPOT data.

Today I paddled 10 miles while working some more with SPOT







Notice my "stump" trail down the beach where I crossed Keewaydin Island.







The view makes the portage worthwhile.

I paddled 10 miles at midnight and 10 more miles at 11a.m. I like the SPOT but reception is questionable.

Ok, only 10 miles for the day and 47 for the week but...

I got to play and experiment with SPOT today.

Only 10 miles again but at least I have 4 days in a row. Tomorrow isn't looking good as a paddle day, but you never know.

10 miles this morning. I'll be glad when the holidays are over.

Again, just getting back into the swing, 10 miles this morning.

Only 7 miles today after such a long break. I need to get back on track. ...one more day off ...and then Thanksgiving Day ...and then

On Thursday, Nov. 15th I paddled 10 miles.

On Friday, Nov. 9th I got 12 miles in but erased my Track log. photo here for 10/23

An 11 mile day.

An 11 mile day with a lot of reflection.

Just the old familiar 10 mile loop.

I left Thursday at noon and started by paddling 27 miles north to Naples. The sun had just set and it was getting dark quickly. I drifted in the wind and tide as I switched to sailing. That took 30 minutes and I covered a whole mile (lesson, in the dark, set anchor when setting sail). I sailed south and east back toward the park covering an additional 40 miles under sail. Camping consisted only of anchoring for 2 and 1/2 hours for a quick nap and food. The last three miles I paddled in for a total of 70 miles in 24 hours. Wind conditions varied from blowing to wild to mild.

Failed to launch Kruger today. Finally took out small kayak for 10 miles. Great wind. Mileage for October:340, 200 were in the Kruger.

I made a loop up one creek and out the other about 7 years ago. I was probably the last to make it through. I've tried a couple of times to make it back to the middle bay and out but everything is overgrown.




I only have an 1/8th of a mile to go to get through but it is tough going. Maybe one more attempt and I'll get through. 10 miles today took over 5 hours.



Today, I actually got mentally twisted around more than once. There should have been one trail in and one trail out. This is the most dense mangrove forest that I've ever gone through.

Short 9 mile day.

This is from Friday's paddle, 13 miles with a 1/4 mile of trial cutting.

A fun day going in the backwaters. I got 18 miles in and beat the rain!

It was worth paddling into the wind the first half of the day; going home with the tide and wind made for a fast second half of a 12 mile day.

A simple 10 mile loop in my little boat. I like getting my miles for the week spread out over 4 to 6 days rather than one hard paddle like last week.

I finally got on the water Thursday afternoon. It was a tough week with other commitments. I paddled out to the Gulf and started to sail Southeast when thunderstorms moved in. Change Float Plan: Head Northwest! I covered 50 miles before sleeping. After getting a late start Friday I went six miles further north to avoid morning showers. After getting to Naples I stored the sail and set about to paddle into the wind for 25 miles. Made it back just after dark Friday night, 83 miles total.

Well, I did it. I got out last night and camped. I got 17 paddling miles in Friday before camping 13 hours. Today I sailed back on the Gulf and got in 24 miles for a total of 41 miles. Moving time:12 hours, camping time: 13 hours.

I took it easy today and paddled my whitewater boat 9 miles at an easy and lazy pace; It was a day of recovery. I'll have to camp tomorrow or Saturday if I'm going to keep my once a week commitment. That "life" stuff keeps getting in the way. Sickness in the family has taken priority, ... hopefully just a little longer.

I paddled 21 miles today with a full camping load. Hard paddle out to Gulf but smooth ride in with the tide.

I went out and sailed today. 20 miles of sailing followed by a 3 mile paddle.

I could only fit in 6 miles this morning. Hopefully I'll get more time on the water in the days to come. The weather looks great this coming week.

A simple day at Collier Seminole State Park. I covered 10 miles.

A 15 mile day. I paddled up to US 41 and to Rattlesnake Hammock Rd. I would only have to portage 2.5 miles to put in at that point from my home.

A ten mile day. I did lots of stretching.

Now it's time to mow and weed eat.

It never ends.

Paddled 10 miles in the dark before camping. After 5 am, 6 am, and 7 am rain storms I got about and paddled an additional 22 miles for a total of 32 miles. Spent about 10 hours camped.

Went out for a windy paddle in my whitewater boat. I covered a little over 8 miles. Super low tide.

What a day! Covered 8 miles sailing in approx. 15 knot winds with higher gusts. I'm impressed with anyone sailing a Kruger in the dark with winds in excess of 20 to 25 knots. I'm a long way from trying that. I wanted to go out on the Gulf today but found the conditions on the Marco River to be quite adequate for a novice like me.

My purpose on this trip: To see if a person can go from Ferguson Bay to Barron River near Everglades City. It's a long trip so I put in Wed. at 4 p.m. and headed out to the Gulf to spend the night. Thursday I'd try the loop and then make it back to Collier Seminole State Park on Friday morning.



Note now: This is Airboat country and they don't like canoes in thier world; hard to see us. I made it through with ease but fought some super strong currents. I only slept a couple hours Thursday night before using the tide to make it back in by 4 a.m. On the water 36 hours and covered 69 miles.

On September 19th I launched my Sea Wind (#228) for the first time. I had installed a Balogh 32 w/BOSS and sailed most of the day. I covered about 14.3 miles and had a lot of realizations to ponder in the weeks to come. More to follow...