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...