Chokoloskee- 10,000 Islands in early May? Dumb idea?

[SteveS]

Thinking about a quick two day trip out to one of the islands this week or next. Have never been this late in the season. Is it bearable? Not so much concerned with the sun, just bugs. This would mostly be a quick fishing trip out/overnight/back. Anyone been recently that can offer a report?

[yakmaster]

Hey, he established he was wacked when he stood up, all the way around the state. (Sit down boy!, it's easier that way!)

Now he is just more formally establishing his credentials...

You can do 5 months, from November to April and establish the same rapport with the eco-system. And you won't need the same transfusions or DEET detox that you will in summer.

Let me not talk too loud about summer campers being nuts, our glorious leader may ban me....

[Terry]

Hey Justin!   Spend a few weeks at Willy Willy looking

for Smugglers Run, do something useful while you're out there for

all that time.   Then document it so we can all paddle down from

Mitchell's after the first cold front.

[Connie Mier]

Yeah, but there is something to be said about not having to permit & deal with all the campers out there in season. Solitude is a special thing.



yakmaster said:

Hey, he established he was wacked when he stood up, all the way around the state. (Sit down boy!, it's easier that way!)

Now he is just more formally establishing his credentials...

You can do 5 months, from November to April and establish the same rapport with the eco-system. And you won't need the same transfusions or DEET detox that you will in summer.

Let me not talk too loud about summer campers being nuts, our glorious leader may ban me....

[yakmaster]

Connie

You're right and I've been reflecting. Everybody on this site is wacked one way or another. This site is like the island of misfit toys...

There's those of us who like to get into the tightest most impossible tunnels and, to get where?

There's those of us that want to get into skinnier water (or no water) than anyone should and, for what?

There's those of us that paddle farther and longer than necessary and, why if a motorboat plane or car can get you there in no time?

There's those of us that want to hike into muddy messes and sweat while bugs eat them alive, so they can see things that no one really knew (or cared) existed anyway?

So, if a guy wants to SUP around the state of Florida and them follow it up by camping in the summer Glades...who am I... who are we, to question his sanity.

All I can say is, 

WELCOME TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD!  He'd fit in great with our crew!

It really has been great to meet all of you and share our odd predilections. This site creates a critical mass of wackos, that make ANYTHING in the backcountry possible!

There are trips I've been on because of this site, folks I've met and conspired on because of this site, trips that I hadn't even thought possible that have become reality because of this site and trips that I still think are ludicrous, (but tantalizing) that I've heard of on this site...

KEEP BRINGING IT ON Boys & Girls!

The season is wrapping up for some of us, time to start conspiring for next year's epics and maybe, stretching the definition of summer fun in South Florida! 

[Swamp Hunter]

I moved back to town after 8 months in the Big Cypress Preserve with no address, no internet signal and often nobody to talk to but animals and guess what? I should have stayed (in the swamp)  I am absolutely miserable here (in town) and I have to put up with (bad) people.  In the swamp, I only had to put up with myself. But solitude is getting harder to find for free. The NPS is advertising trying to attract more paying campers.

[vivian]

We were camping on pavillion key last year and as we were sitting around enjoying happy hour, I noticed someone approaching the island. I could not believe my eyes when I see a person on a SUP. Since a couple of SUP paddlers had entered and finished the watertribe race in the past, it was not as crazy as I first thought. This paddler was Justin who had been paddling for about a month on his trip around Florida. He was quite well equipped for the journey and knew what he was doing. It did help that he was young and strong.


Though it may not be for everyone, SUP paddlers can IF experienced find ways to pack the boards smartly and will succeed in exploring the everglades coast and backcountry. I think Justin has a re supply team to help out with the logistics and it will be fun to track him while I sit in my air conditioned condo. In a way I envy the freedom he has to be able to take off for 5 months and have the youth and health to withstand the rigors of summer in the everglades. I wish him the best and look forward to his reports.