long distances

Complicated stuff! How is it on the east coast? I can imagine how much trouble you'd have finding a place to stop between Miami and Daytona (everything seems built up) but what about the rest of the east coast, georgia, Carolinas, Virginia?

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Rene

http://miami2montreal.com
http://renepotvin.com

No, the permit system in Everglades National Park is not complicated, but to people who have not done it, it seems to be a bit intimidating. That is why you should go with some experienced people the first time.

Regarding camping along the east coast of FL, GA, Carolina, I have not done that to any extent. However, there are private, county, state, and National parks along the way--you would have to do your homework ahead of time. Of course, people "stealth" camp. I'm not into stealth camping--discretely camping on private property, people's yards--it makes me too nervous. You might be particularly careful w/ stealth camping in Florida. Florida has what is known as "stand your ground" law which allows home owners to shoot first and ask questions later. In the current climate of "individual rights come before everything else," that law is being tested regularly.

I'm out of here. Be back in a few days.

Keith

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2015 AI 2, 2014 Tandem

"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex ... It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction." A. Einstein

"Less is more" Anon

The complicated part with those permits is that they require saying in advance where you are going to be... sometimes months in advance. If you are doing a long haul there is no way to do such predictions... I guess the stealth camping would be the only feasible solution. We need camo kayaks!

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Rene

http://miami2montreal.com
http://renepotvin.com

In Everglades National, if you can sleep on board, there's no problem. You can land on the park approved islands and beaches without a reservation, as long you are off by night fall. I'm just not sure sleeping on an AI is viable. I have a TentCot that I may try out, but am not optimistic. It could be straddled on the gunwales of the boat, but it better be on very calm water.

Ted

being able to put some sort of camp bed on top of the kayak would really open up a lot of possibilities in place with a lot of restrictive rules like the US.

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Rene

http://miami2montreal.com
http://renepotvin.com

chekika,
I am interested in the Jan Everglades trip. Let me know some dates and I will try to be sure I am not having to go out of state those times. I am in Tampa.
Tandem Island.

Thanks
Bosab

aka Charlie

Ted,
Not only is it viable, it's been done and I can vouch that it's not too difficult setting up.
Check out Chrisj's brilliant setup using a Hennessy Hammock. I've seen it in use -very impressive!
viewtopic.php?f=70&t=13400&hilit=hammock&start=60

Yeah, this is me camping in a restricted national park, in a few inches of water.
As long as you're below mean high-tide mark, you are technically at sea.

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Not that it helps since you still cannot decide where to camp while you're out there, but in Everglades National Park, almost all of the campsites can only be reserved at your time of departure. I've only done some two night trips, but typically, I only get to go to where ever is currently available. One year everything was booked when we got there so we had to paddle outside the National Park to camp. However, many of these were weekend departures in the prime winter season.

Camping in Everglades National Park does take some planning which may seem daunting to first timers. Again, the easy way is to join a trip. There is a very active group in Miami called “The Miami Kayaking Meetup Group” and their link is http://www.meetup.com/miami-kayak-club/ They have a number of multiday ENP camping trips planned in the next month. These are no-charge trips (other than cost of permits & maybe parking). They are led by kayakers simply for the fun of it. While most of them are kayakers, I’m sure they would love to have an AI/TI owner or two joining in.

I tend to do my own thing and invite people to join my trips. Often I post them on the Florida AI/TI Owners thread on this forum; sometimes I simply email a group of friends.

Camping in the backcountry of Everglades National Park, which is a wilderness area, is clearly explained in their “Wilderness Trip Planner.” Click on that title at the link http://www.nps.gov/ever/planyourvisit/backcamp.htm This brochure explains the procedure for getting a permit. It explains the seasons (the camping season is roughly from Nov to March, maybe into April). The busiest times are around any holiday (Thanksgiving, MLK weekend, Spring Break, etc). From Dec 18 to mid-Jan is very busy for obvious reasons—this is the time of the year when it is difficult to get a permit for the “10,000 Island” area, the most popular area for tourists.

The Trip Planner discusses the types of camp sites: Chickees, ground, and beach. It has a mileage chart showing all campsites, with a rough location, and distances between sites. I like to camp on the beach sites because they are the easiest to access by kayak or AI/TI. The beach sites also have the largest capacity, e.g., Pavilion Key is rated at 24 people. East Cape Sable is rated at 60 people and covers a stretch of beach more than 2 miles long--so it is not crowded. The beach sites are all on ocean beaches and are exposed to weather events.

For a beginner in the Everglades, the many shallow areas (usually mud bottom) and understanding the tides is critical. You can bring a lot of grief upon yourself if you do not clearly understand charts and know how to navigate with compass and/or GPS. Couple that challenge with understanding the tides, and beginners have a lot on their plate.

So, yeah, it takes planning to have a good trip. Getting a permit is the least of your problems.

_________________
2015 AI 2, 2014 Tandem

"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex ... It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction." A. Einstein

"Less is more" Anon

So if someone was doing a longer stretch, one that would exceed the park itself in both directions... that person would have to get on land, rent a car, drive to the highway post, try to reserve sites, then get back to his boat and move on... sounds really very reasonable to me can the hamac thing fit on an AI?

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Rene

http://miami2montreal.com
http://renepotvin.com

renepotvin,
Here is a web site for Water Trials which might be helpful. I see they have them in Georgia, Carolinas and Virginia. watertrailslocator.com

We have a Water Trails Assoc. here in the PNW and there are camping sights all over in Puget Sound you can reach by water. Some you have to reserve and others, not.

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Fly'n C Lion

oh man that water trail thing sounded so good! Very few of their links work unfortunately... It would be fun to be able to do long stretches of the inter-coastal but you'll have nowhere to sleep along the way...

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Rene

http://miami2montreal.com
http://renepotvin.com

renepotvin,

You've got too many worries. You have got to just do it! Start small, do 75-150 mi stretch, do your planning, and see how it goes.

The WaterTribe has a 300-mile "Everglades Challenge" which starts near St Petersburg on the west coast of FL, runs along the coast, through the Everglades, and ends on Key Largo. The "competitors" have every small boat imaginable--kayaks, surf skis, sailing kayaks, AI/TIs, Hobie cats, homemade sail boats, and even Olympic class Tornados. They sleep in campsites, on the boats, whatever it takes. Some do a bit of stealth camping. They make 35-60 miles a day, sometimes more. This event always takes place the first couple weeks in March.

Simultaneously, the WaterTribe runs the "Florida Ultimate Challenge." This "race" starts at the same place & time, but continues on beyond Key Largo and ultimately circumnavigates all of Florida (they go up the St Mary's River and untimately down the Suwannee River to get across the top of Florida back onto the west coast.) This is a 1200 mi race and is done within 30 days. All done in small boats--last year there was one TI, although the TI did not finish the race for a variety of reasons. The TI sailor did do about 700 miles along the coast of Florida.

In these races everyone camps or sleeps on their boat, or, with a 2-person crew, maybe never stops.

So, it can be done. You have to be creative, and it takes planning.

Keith

_________________
2015 AI 2, 2014 Tandem

"Any intelligent fool can make things bigger and more complex ... It takes a touch of genius and a lot of courage to move in the opposite direction." A. Einstein

"Less is more" Anon

stealth camping is the way to go. If you study Google earth you can see places to camps all over the place. The problem is a statistical one (you are bound to sleep in the wrong place) and getting caught by the wrong sheriff or crazed owner can literally change your life. But hey, I'm game.

_________________
Rene

http://miami2montreal.com
http://renepotvin.com