Paddle
Florida has a busy month of May
On May 1st Paddle Florida staff joined three of our Birmingham paddling friends, Chuck Bennick, Tim Poe and Frank Konciewicz in Cedar Key. We paddled the Cedar Keys on Saturday and then braved the Steinhatchee River and its Falls on Sunday. The Alabama gang were great companions for two days of leisurely paddling.
On May 3rd we traveled to Milton, near
Pensacola, to scout a trip on the Blackwater
River and Coldwater Creek. Due
to circumstances beyond our control,
we were unable to pull it all together
for 2011. We plan to revisit this
trip in the future. At present
we are looking at other rivers in the
Northwest Florida Management District. Many
thanks to Martha Szymoniak and Bill Hay
for opening their wonderful home to us
during our trip. Thanks also to
Jack Sanborn of Adventures Unlimited
for his cooperation and for allowing
us to test out his new Canopy Zip Line.
 
For more information on Adventures Unlimited and Zip Adventures, please visit www.adventuresunlimited.com for details.
On the 15th Paddle Florida Staff visited the Poker Run on the Ocklawaha River, put on by the Marion County Aquaholics. We were also able to attend the Florida Paddling Trails Association board meeting on the same day, where we announced our 2010/2011 schedule to the paddlers gathered there in Leesburg. We are seeking ways in which we might work more closely with the FPTA.
On the 22nd, we were in Branford for their first annual Raft Race. The day was a hoot, as several manmade boats, made their way about 6 miles down the Suwannee for a barbeque at Ivey Memorial Park, a familiar venue for Paddle Florida veterans. This event has great potential to be a terrific way to showcase the Suwannee and the Town of Branford.
On Memorial Day weekend, we made our annual pilgrimage to White Springs for the Florida Folk Festival, at which we unveiled our new Paddle Florida skin-on-frame kayak, which we just finished building. We acquired the kit from 21st Century Kayaks, our friends Mike Devlin and Don McCumber, in Naples. On May 30, we paddled from Lafayette Blue Springs State Park to the Suwannee River Rendezvous, after spending the night at Peacock Slough River Camp with camp host and Paddle Florida Sweep, Chuck Utter.
Remember, you can subscribe to the Happy Paddler, Florida's Monthly eNewsletter from the homepage of the Paddle Florida website at www.paddleflorida.org
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Click on the link below to view
our monthly
video short
Spring 2010 Paddle Florida
courtesy of our talented video producer, Tom McLaulin
Paddle Florida 2010/2011 schedule nearly complete
October 14-21, 2010 - Suwannee River Wilderness Trail
December
27-30, 2010 -- Wekiva/St. Johns Rivers
January
14-17, 2011 -- The Peace River
February
18-21, 2011 -- The Florida Keys
March
12 -19, 2011 -- The Panhandle - TBA
March
26 - April 2, 2011 - Suwannee River Wilderness
Trail
Come
join us on one of these adventures for
paddling,
camping, history, music, campfires and
camaraderie
Yellow Fly Paddle
Challenge
to be held
on the Ochlocknee
On June 19th, Keep Tallahassee -- Leon County Beautiful (KTLCB) will host the inaugural Yellow Fly Paddle Challenge (YFPC), a 59-mile marathon canoe/kayak race down the Lower Ochlockonee Paddling Trail. The YFPC is the brainchild of Andrew Malowney, a kayaker who has paddled hundreds of miles along the Ochlockonee and its tributaries. "I wanted to share my experiences on this amazing river with as many paddlers as possible and at the same time support the cleanup effort along the upper Ochlockonee." All proceeds from the event benefit KTLCB, a cash-strapped organization that plays a huge role in removing trash from the Ochlockonee River above Lake Talquin.
All paddlers are welcome to participate in this 15-hour adventure through the heart of the Apalachicola National Forest; relay options are available for those who do not want to paddle the full 59 miles. Food and awards will be waiting for participants and their support crews at the finish line at Ochlockonee River State Park. Entry fees are $30/team + $20/paddler. Join us west of Tallahassee on June 19th to show your support for KTLCB and to take part in an adventure you'll never forget. Please visit the event website www.yfpc.org for more details.
Paddle Florida staff to attend
Paddle Georgia (again)
For three out of the past four years, someone from Paddle Florida has attended Paddle Georgia. Each June this events attracts over 300 paddlers from across the country. This year is no exception. From June 19-25, we will tour the Broad and Savannah rivers and finish in Augusta, Georgia. Can't wait.
 
Special Thanks to Kevin Veach for his expert assistance in building our new Paddle Florida skin-on-frame kayak! |
