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Past Issues
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10/1 - 10/8
Sat to Sat
Moderate
SW Utah
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Hike Zion Nat'l Park, Utah. Day hiking and car camping at Zion
National Park in So Utah, known for it's massive stone formations and
gorges. Arrival in Las Vegas on Sat 10/1, depart Las Vegas Sat 10/8. From
Sunday to Friday our base will be at a campground in the park near the
Virgin river, with electric sites and flush toilets. Besides exploring the
park, we will do some sightseeing nearby, possibly visit another national
park and spend a day or so in Las Vegas. We can share vehicle rentals.
October weather should be nice, with cool nights and around high 70's to 80s
during the day. Limited trip, members and invited guests only, will need to
make their own airline arrangements. For details (serious inquiries only),
contact Erica Johnson at
paddlepuff@earthlink.net or 407/327-4044. |
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10/1
Saturday
7:45 AM
Strenuous
Eustis
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Blackwater Creek/Lake Norris Paddle. Come
join us for a paddle starting on a short dark creek paddling into a
beautiful dwarf cypress-lined lake. The intensity of the trip varies with
the wind/wind direction – we will paddle the circumference and return to the
put-in in approximately 5-6 hours. We will meet part way to the put-in at
7:45. Bring a lunch, sun screen, and drinks. Limited to 15 people. Event
Host: Bill Maish
billsplash@bellsouth.net or cell 407 375 4406. |
10/8
Saturday
9:00 AM
Moderate
Plant City
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Alafia River Paddle.
We will paddle from Alderman Park to the outfitters
location-conditions permitting. The Alafia seems like you are in a remote
area, but you are only about an hour from downtown Tampa. You are likely to
see an abundance of wildlife including wading birds, turtles, raccoons and
an occasional alligator – so be sure and bring your camera. Depending on the
water level we may experience a few easy rapids or shoals. Paddling this
often narrow and twisty river is fun for the beginner or experienced paddler.
BEGINNERS ARE WELCOME. Meet us at Publix (7640
W Sand Lake Rd, Orlando, FL 32819-5112, Phone: 407-226-3315 or
at 9:00AM at Alafia River. Call 813/689-8645for Canoe rentals or
directions-if you are going to meet us there). Solo kayaks are available
in very limited supply. Let me know if you need a paddling partner--ON OR
BEFORE THE WEDNESDAY BEFORE THE TRIP. Camping is available at Lithia
Springs Park at 813-744-5572. Reservations Required. Event Host
Neill Beavers, Neill4HomeLoans@Earthlink.net
(preferred) or 407-927-7974. |
10/8-10/9
Saturday – Sunday
Moderate
Orange City
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Backpacking Blue Springs State Park.
Join us for a really
easy hike of about 4 miles. We will camp near the river. I hope to
breakfast in a restaurant on Saturday morning and spend the afternoon
sitting and watching the river. On Sunday, we will hike out, swim in the
springs and drive home. Since we, in West Palm Beach, don't live close to
Blue Springs, we will be camping in the family camping area of the park on
Friday night. If anyone else wants to camp Friday night, please contact me
and I'll tell you what sites I have so that you can reserve sites close to
us. Event Host Nancy Doucette, (561)968-1789,
kayakldy@yahoo.com. Contact Nancy for details and times. |
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10/22
Saturday
9:15AM
Leisure
Weeki Wachee
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Weeki Wachee Paddle. If you
travel due west on Route 50, you will end at Route 19 and one of the 27
first magnitude springs in the state. This crystal clear water flows 10
miles to the Gulf and attracts a variety of birds, otters, and often a
manatee or three. This is a great beginners’ paddle as the first 5 miles is
more like a float. Meet at the Weeki Wachee Canoe Outpost (turn into the
Weeki Wachee tourist trap parking lot and drive to the back left hand
corner). We will run our own shuttle to Rogers Park. The leisurely paddle
will take about 3 hours, including a stop for an early lunch at a beach
along the way. Those with energy to spare may want to continue through the
canals out to the Gulf where a few of us claimed an island in the name of
the Trekkers a few years ago! Rentals are available from the Outpost at
352-597-0360. Call early to reserve a boat. Limit 15 boats. $5 to put in,
$2 to take out. Please
be unloading your boat by 9:15! Event host Judy Campbell
judyreads@earthlink.net or 407-788-8919 |
10/23
Sunday
9:00 a.m.
Moderate
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West Orange Trail Bike Ride and Nature Trail Hike. Join fellow
trekkers on a bike ride on the West Orange Trail, with a stop at the Oakland
Nature Preserve. We will depart from County Line Station (aka Killarney
Station) and ride through Oakland, Winter Garden and then turn around for
the return trip somewhere after about 10 miles, or further if the entire
group wants to go further. On the return we will stop and walk down the
nature trail at the Oakland Nature Preserve. The trail is short, but
traverses a variety of habitats. The trail ends on a boardwalk at the
shores of Lake Apopka. Please bring a chain and lock to secure bikes while
we walk. Members and non-members welcome. Reservations required. Event
Host Tony Owen at
towen@finfrock.cc (preferred)
or 407-884-0570. |
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10/28-30
Friday-Sunday
Moderate
Fort Meade
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Peace River Halloween Paddle Cruise.
Barring a spate of natural disasters such as we suffered last
year, we'll paddle from Fort Meade to Zolfo Springs. This is the most
interesting part of the river, as it's narrower and more winding than the
lower sections, perhaps requiring a bit more skill than usual. Friday
night, we'll car camp at Peace River Park in Fort Meade, use a local shuttle
service on Saturday, and launch at 10 a.m. Saturday night will be along the
river somewhere. Start planning your
pumpkin designs now. Joint trip with Palm Beach Pack and Paddle Club and
Florida Sport Paddling Club. Limited places available. Event Host
Linda Leeds,
lindamarie7@juno.com Contact Linda for times and details. |
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11/4 to 11/6
Friday to Sun
Leisure
Deland
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Wilderness Trekkers
Annual Gathering. Join us for a
great weekend of friends, food, fun and surprises! Camp for the weekend or
come for the day! Hiking, biking and paddling will be offered each day.
Share adventure and trip stories; join our "Trekker Jeopardy" and learn
something new! Needed:
All trekkers willing to share past trips with stories and/or pictures.
Eight Trekkers willing to give a 15 minute presentation about a favorite
trip. Contact Lynn VanHorne.
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11/ 11-11/13
Friday-Sunday
Moderate
Palmdale
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Fisheating
Creek Camp and Paddle.
On Friday night, we will camp in a primitive camp site at an established
campground. They give us a very pretty and private place to camp in an oak
hammock. On Saturday, we will shuttle to Ingram's crossing. We will put in
on Saturday and river camp that night. Since there is a holiday involved in
this weekend, if we have enough interest, we could extend the trip by one
day. If there isn't enough water in Fisheating Creek, we will river camp on
the Econ. Event Host Nancy Doucette (561)968-1789,
kayakldy@yahoo.com Contact Nancy for times and details. |
11/12
Saturday
9:30 am
Leisure/Moderate
Melbourne Beach
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Indian River Lagoon Paddle/Lunch. Please join us for a morning of
exploring the Indian River Estuary around Honest Johns Fish Camp which is
located off of A1A on the Melbourne Beach/Sebastian line. Canoe and kayak
rentals are available at the fish camp for $6/hr min 2 hr rental. Launch fee
if you have your own kayak is $5 for up to 2 boats. We will explore the
river here which has several islands and is abundant with wildlife for 2-3
hours. Then we will travel back across the causeway to have lunch at a
riverside restaurant, Captain Hiram’s. For those wanting to spend the night
there are two campgrounds in the vicinity as well as bed and breakfasts.
Limit 10 boats. Open to members and guests. Event Hosts Liz and Bob Rood at
rjrood@earthlink.net. or 321-724-4970. |
11/ 23- 11/ 27
Wed – Sunday
Moderate
Georgia
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Backpack Cumberland Island, GA.. On Wednesday, the 23rd, we will
travel north to a place near the ferry and camp for the night. On Thursday,
we will take a ferry to the island. From the landing, we have to backpack
to a site. The sites aren't reserved in advance, so it may be a 2 to 10
mile hike to our site. I have been told that the farthest ones are usually
claimed by kayakers, so it may not be too far. I have never been to the
island, but have been told that there are a lot of things to see and do. On
Sunday morning, we will return to the ferry, and travel home. There is a
$15.00 fee for the ferry. I have made reservations, but it is a first come
first served situation. The first 10 people to send me the $15.00 get to
go. Contact Nancy for times and details. Event Host Nancy Doucette
(561)968-1789, kayakldy@yahoo.com |
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11/26
Saturday
10:00 am
Leisure
Brooksville
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Chassahowitzka
River Paddle.
Paddle the beautiful
Chassahowitzka River on Florida's gulf coast. It is spring fed and has many
tributaries. With any luck we may see Whooping Cranes as that area is the
home base for the experimental Whooping Crane migration program. Manatees
are often spotted in the spring runs. Birdlife is plentiful. There is a
county park and campground right at the launch location. No shuttle, we
will put-in and take out at the same spot. Launch will be at 10 a.m. Bring a
lunch. Directions from Orlando: Route 50 west to Brooksville, Route 98 North
to U.S. 19, cross over 19 to County Road 480 which deadends at the launch
site. (Florida Gazatteer map page 76) It is about a two-and-a-half hour
drive from Orlando. If you want to camp the night before, contact
Chassahowitzka Campground at 352-382-2200. There is a $2 launch fee per
boat. Trip limited to 15 boats. Event host Fred Mays at
fredmays@yahoo.com or
407-963-4308. |
11/26
Saturday
9:00 am
Leisure
Tampa
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Hillsborough River Paddling Trip.
Work off those
Thanksgiving Calories. On Saturday, we will paddle the Hillsborough River from
Sargeant Park to Trout Creek Park (About 8 miles-there is a takeout at 4
miles too for a shorter trip). On the river, we will probably see much
wildlife including alligators. You will feel like you are in a jungle, but
close to urban Tampa. We are camping at Hillsborough State Park and will
arrange a place for Thanksgiving dinner-if anyone is interested. We may do
a trip on Friday too, if anyone is interested. For those not camping, on
Saturday, meet at Canoe Escape at 9:30AM,
or carpool from Publix at 7:30AM, (7640
W Sand Lake Rd, Orlando, FL 32819 Phone: 407-226-3315) .
Rentals are available at Canoe Escape
http://www.canoeescape.com/ or 813-986-2067. I will pass on the names
of people needing paddling partners, but you must talk to each other and
finalize plans--CALL EARLY IF YOU NEED A PARTNER. Everyone must make their
own reservations for rentals. We will run a shuttle for folks with their
own boats, if we have enough people to do so. (YOU MUST SIGN UP FOR THIS
TRIP ON OR BEFORE TUE, NOV 22, AFTER THAT I WILL BE OUT OF TOWN AND YOU MAY
BE ABLE TO REACH ME BY CELL) Bring a snack or lunch, water, bug spray,
sunscreen and, if you dare, a camera. Event Host Neill Beavers
Neill4HomeLoans@Earthlink.net (preferred) or 407-927-7974. |
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