Topics:

Outing Report: Kings Landing Rock Springs Run event

Paddling News: Greg Stamer's Sea Kayaker Magazine article on Iceland; Paddling workouts

Clubs and Contacts: A listing of new and existing paddler groups that may be of interest to you

Events and Races: St. Johns River race; Suwannee River Challenge; Calusa Blueway Paddling Festival; Paddle Florida on the Suwannee River; FCPA races; several more events

Thanks to Karen Holder and Maura Smith for their contributions to this newsletter. If you have news of outings or events (upcoming or reports), tips on gear or technique, or other info, then send them to me for the newsletter.

Submitted by Maura Smith, competitor: It was a dark and stormy night, but the next morning was bright, cool (relatively) and a perfect day for the Kings Landing Rock Springs Run inaugural race in Apopka, Florida. Last Sunday, competitors gathered to meet old and new friends, paddle the scenic creek, and share tales after the event. Fifty-one paddlers braved the carnage from Fay, where Bob Loomis’s hard-working crew had carved holes through the fallen tree branches and brush across the creek. Rod Price started the recreational paddlers first, on one-minute intervals, many of them on 8-foot rental sit-on-tops. Faster boats started after, making for some interesting encounters on the rain-swollen, twisty, narrow, obstacle-strewn creek. But all finished successfully eight miles downstream at the Wekiva Marina, some paddlers having taken a few inadvertent swims along the way. I almost swam, but Karen Holder waited to see that I got through safely. Thanks. Finish times ranged from 1 hour 22 minutes to over 3 hours to complete the course.

A post-race BBQ lunch was provided by Bob Loomis, the Kings Landing proprietor, and everyone was awarded gift certificates from the Mosquito Creek Outfitters sponsor. Many thanks are owed to Bob, Mosquito Creek, and race director Rod Price for a memorable and fun event.

The October 2008 Sea Kayaker magazine has a writeup on our local paddler's Iceland adventure. Greg Stamer circumnavigated Iceland summer 2007 with Freya Hoffmeister. You can pick up a copy at Travel Country, Altamonte Springs, 407-831-0777.

Paddling Workouts
We continue our paddling workouts on the Winter Park chain of lakes, Tuesday and Thursday mornings. Email me for times. These are workout paddles, however the range of abilities and speed is broad. All are welcome. Right now we have Rod Price, Jonnie Dawn, Dave Knothe, Marty Sullivan, and sometimes Maura Smith.

The Florida Kayak/Canoe Meet Up, http://seakayaking.meetup.com/48/ . The purpose is to meet other paddlers.
Some upcoming events:
September 15: Full Moon Paddle on Lake Maitland, check for details on the Meet Up web site.
September 28: Scouting Edisto River, South Carolina; a multi-day outing with primitive camping.

Central Florida Sea Kayakers,
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CentralFloridaSeaKayakers/ .
Lots of trips. There are no fees, no president, no board members...just a group of people with similar skills looking to enjoy a peaceful time together. Outings range from one-day recreational trips to multi-day camping. Camping trips are often based out of a State Park with daily outings. Mabel Magarinos put this together, and they have already had lots of day trips and camping trips, generally in central Florida. Many more trips are planned. See the web site for more details.

Last month's Rock Springs Run event was a great way to meet other local paddlers as well as have some real fun on the water.The upcoming St. Johns River Paddle Battle event near Orlando is planned to appeal to both novices and experts, like the Rock Springs Run event. I am organizing the St. Johns River event, in conjunction with Blue Spring State Park and Travel Country. More info below.

September 27, 8:30 (10-mile) and 9:30 (4-mile): 3rd Annual St. Johns River Paddle Battle, at Blue Spring State Park, Deland, organized by me in conjunction with the Park and the Citizens Support Organization.
The 4-mile race will proceed upstream (south) from the Park for 2 miles then return downstream. The 10-mile race, as last year, will circumnavigate Hontoon Island including the twisty, wild Snake Creek. The major sponsor, Travel Country of Altamonte Springs, is donating a kayak to be raffled; raffle ticket is included with entry fee. Registration forms are available at Travel Country (407-831-0777), by email from me at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or at the Blue Spring State Park web site, http://www.floridastateparks.org/bluespring/Events.cfm .

October 11, 7th Annual Suwannee River Challenge and Marathon.
For info download flyer and entry form from http://www.aca1.com/ or call Rod Price, race director, at 407-227-5606. Two races same day, starting at Fargo, Georgia (52 miles) or State Road 6 (26 miles) and both ending at White Springs, Florida. This race, in conjunction with a weekend party, is developing a tradition of good times and hard paddling. The first race, in 2002, was actually a stage of the WaterTribe Cross Florida Challenge, 370 miles from east coast Fort Clinch State Park to west coast Cedar Key. Since then, Rod has continued this stage from Fargo to White Springs as a stand-alone race. He added the 26 mile course a couple years ago to appeal to a broader spectrum of paddlers. This section of the Suwannee goes over Big Shoals rapids, class III, which requires a portage or some bravery (foolhardiness?). The activities are centered at the Telford B&B in White Springs, graciously hosted by Nick and Cathy Lyras, phone (386) 397-2000. If the river stage is between 54 and 60 feet, the rapids are exciting and "runable." The rapids tend to disappear at stage above 60 feet. For river stage at White Springs see http://waterdata.usgs...gov/nwis/uv?02315500 .

October 25 to November 2, 2008, Calusa Blueway Paddling Festival. Contact Karen Bickford, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Events include October 25, Bonita Springs Time Trial Race on the Imperial River; Nov.1, Midpoint Paddle Sprint, 10 and 4 miles, N. Shore Park, N. Ft. Myers; Nov. 2, Paddle of the Pass, 10 and 4 miles, Matlacha Park, Pine Island. Other events include photography contest, fishing tournament, paddling clinics, guided kayak tours, cultural programs, and more. For more info see
/>http://www.calusabluewaypaddlingfestival.com/
Some more links of interest:
You Tube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_MycodzbUY Born to Paddle http://www.borntopaddle.com/ (Scroll down to Aug. 7th posting)
Paddling.net http://www.paddling...net/articles/Trail9.html
The Green Wave Forum: http://clubkayak.com/greenwave/showpage.asp?
page=calusapaddlefest
WaterSports Florida: http://watersportsfl.com/blog/2008/08/09/calusa-blueway-paddling-festival/
Coastal Living magazine: http://community.coastalliving.com/calendar.php?do=getinfo&e=166&day=2008-11-2&c=2
Great Calusa Blueway Paddling Trail: http://www.greatcalusablueway...com/
Lee County Parks & Recreation: http://www.leeparks.org/blueway/index.html
Accomodations: http://www.calusabluewaypaddlingfestival.com/ai_accomodations.html

October 30 - November 2, 2008, The 2008 Florida Padders' Rendezvous is being held at the Hillsborough River State Park. You can access the Rendezvous web site at www.clubkayak.com/rendezvous2008. Sponsored by the Tampa Bay Sea Kayakers with the Florida Paddling Trails Association

Nov. 1, 2008, 10:00 am, Paddlefest, Beaufort, S.C., Sands Boat Landing in Port Royal, www.highergroundothelowcountry.com, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Thanks to Karen Holder for this in-depth info on the "Paddle Florida" outing on the Suwannee River:

This November 8 – 15, a Paddle Florida canoe and kayak adventure, http://www.paddleflorida.org/ , starts at Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park in White Springs and finishes in Branford. As many as 200 paddlers will be going with the flow, averaging 13 miles per day and camping on the banks of Florida 's beautiful Suwannee River. Paddle Florida is held in cooperation with the Florida Park Service and the Suwannee River Water Management District. These two organizations, through partnerships with both the public and private sectors, have created the 171-mile Suwannee River Wilderness Trail. The Trail is a series of cabins, river camps and private "hubs" that, taken together, make the Suwannee River accessible to paddlers, hikers, bikers, equestrian enthusiasts and other user groups. Paddle Florida will be using some of the facilities that have been recently completed.

Participants in Paddle Florida will arrive at Stephen Foster Folk Culture Center State Park the day before the start for a night of camping and orientation for the adventure to come. Our camp for the first two nights will be Stephen Foster State Park which is the actual start of the Suwannee River Wilderness Trail. The trip ends in Branford finishing the first 93 miles of the Suwannee River Wilderness Trail. See the web site for shuttle options.

I am volunteering for this trip. I made the inaugural Paddle Florida in March 2008. The trip was over 7 days for a total of 123 miles. We started at the Suwannee Music Park in Live Oak and paddled to Manatee Springs. There was 150 plus paddlers from 9 states, and the average age was around 55. It was a great time of comradery with like minded people. There was many skill levels on the trip. I would have to say that the majority were novice paddlers. I paddled with a canoe and kayak racer from Maine, but he was not the norm. Most people were recreational paddlers. All the food needed was provided and all the camping gear was trucked from site to site. One night we didn't have showers and two nights we had portable cold showers.

Each night had entertainment. One night was educational about the Sturgeons and their habitat and habits on the Suwannee, and the other nights were musical groups. I met a lot of very interesting people and had a great time. If I was to say anything bad about the trip it would be standing in line to eat with the 150 people in the cold. Other than that I have no complaints. The website tells it all and there is a link to facts about the trip in March 2008. Thanks for posting this in the newsletter. From the people I met on Sunday, I don't think it would be challenging enough for the majority, but maybe there are some readers that want an enjoyable camping trip down a beautiful river with a group of strangers soon to become friends.

You can make your own arrangements with Stephen Foster State Park for camping Saturday night, or depart for home with a sense of accomplishment that you experienced an adventurous week discovering the variety of ecosystems along 93 miles of Florida's signature river.

Florida Competition Paddlers Events:
Sept. 27, 10:30 am, Tarpon Springs Race, 11 miles, Contact Cindy and Karl Vogel, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Oct. 19, 10:00 am, Santa Fe River Canoe & Kayak Race, 12 or 6 miles, Rum Island Park (N. of Gainesville), contact Tim Dodge 352-371-9428, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Oct. 26, 10:00 am, Treasure Island Canoe/Kayak Race, Treasure I. Florida, Contact Rea Sieber 727-641-8012, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Nov. 1, 9:00 am, Midpoint Paddle Sprint, 10 and 4 miles, N. Shore Park, N. Ft. Myers, Contact Karen Bickford 239-246-4460, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Nov. 2, 9:00 am, Paddle of the Pass, 10 and 4 miles, Matlacha Park, Pine Island. Contact Nancy MacPhee 239-707-7275, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Dec. 6, 10:00 am, Silver river Race (9.8 miles) and FCPA Awards Luncheon, Contact Bert and Dick Kloss, 352-546-3950

The purpose of this newsletter is to help people get together for outings and to share information about gear, paddling locations and events, and anything else of interest to the paddling community. There will be no club, corporation, by-laws, or affiliation related to this sharing of information. Postings will be non-solicitous. Email addresses will not be shared without your individual, explicit permission. This approach to information sharing has been wildly successful in the bicycling community, and this newsletter is such an attempt for the paddling community. You may subscribe by emailing This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Please include your first and last name with your request.