Hey Chad

I did it last year the last week in February. I did the 99 miles North to South in 7 days.

The Wilderness waterway is well marked and the camp sites and Chickees are well spaced for day travel. Only problem I had was going through a area called the "Nightmare" and it really was a nightmare. Narrow and shallow.

I won't do it solo again though, I was bored with my self after 4 days and really wished I had someone to paddle with towards the end..

Hey WanderingHorizon. What is the Wilderness waterway? Sorry, I am not familiar with that name. And where is the area known as the "Nightmare"? I have no clue where any of this is? lol

Never mind Wandering. I just googled the wilderness waterway. I love kayaking but I am not to fond of gators. I hate the idea of large man eating creatures lurking below me. I guess it is the fear of not knowing where they are and not seeing them till it is too late. I have dove with sharks and Beluga whales BUT I could see them. The unknown factor makes me too uneasy. There is gonna be no everglades in a kayak for this kid. Not any time soon anyway. LOL

I am with you no boat either under 20 feet.

And by the way, I know Belugas aren't man eaters. LOL

Like Illusion, I've had a lot of solo wilderness travel experiences. They're great, but on some of those trips I've occasionally wished for someone with whom to share the experience. Solo sea kayaking is often a Zen-like experience for me - meditative, but with very heightened awareness. I remember all those trips with a clarity that doesn't seem to apply to the larger group outings. Two weeks solo, poking my way around the southern tip of Nova Scotia, was one of the best outings I've ever had.

Chesapeake Bay is a fairly wide body of water in places. All my crossings there were made with my kayak partner at the time -Brian Price. I would not have enjoyed doing them solo. The longest was 18 miles across in Winter, and it was a spectacular paddle. You don't need fog; because of the low terrain, sight of land is lost early on in the crossing, but with map, compass, tide tables, and Brian's superior navigational planning, we were always spot-on when landing. Brian would sing Sea Shanties whenever things got pushy, and we'd periodically raft up and hoover Walker's Shortbread Cookies - "The Paddler's Best Friend". Those were some really good times.

It's good to know I'm not the only "hermit" on the water. There's nothing I'd rather be doing on any given day than paddling and with the exception of maybe 3 outings in the last year all of my paddling has been solo. Like so many of you I enjoy the peace of being out alone. I've not been kayaking long (just over a year). I average probably 2-3 days per week out on the water and will usually paddle 10 to 30 miles each time depending on all of the variables.
My 2 cents worth on what to do: I always carry my Sawyer water filtration system (very compact), A couple bags of freeze dried food, a lighter and waterproof matches for cooking and building a fire, a cup for boiling water in, my pocket rocket stove, and a complete change of clothes, and a towel. All of these items fit in a medium size dry bag where I keep them all of the time so they're ready any time I go out. I also have a deck compass, a gps (extra batteries always in the drybox which stays handy), my cell phone (as much as I would prefer to leave it at home), bailing sponge, bilge pump, rope, knife, rain gear (I haven't purchased a drysuit yet), extra paddle, a paddle leash (connected to the boat and the paddle), and of course (I learned this the hard way) duct tape. I realize this may sound like a lot to some but it takes up a very small amount of space on the boat. The medium drybag goes in the back storage, extra paddle on the rear deck. You get the idea. I keep all of these items where I will just about trip over them when I leave to go paddling so I don't forget them. Some of these things I learned to have with me the hard way, some I paid attention to what I read (don't be hard headed like I can be at times).
My first big "adventure" was last June paddling from White Springs, FL down the Suwannee river to Cedar Key in the Gulf of Mexico, I researched this for about 2 months and paddled every chance I got. I learned a lot on this trip (about myself and travelling by kayak). I never got bored. I'm planning to paddle segments 4 and 5 of the Florida CT this summer. Doing these things solo are truly amazing experiences.
I do paddle close to shore 90 percent of the time. Just seems smart to me. Power boaters don't always see us! Don't become an invisible target when you can avoid it. I hope to be able to roll by this summer.
I can self rescue and do practice it with 14 days worth of camping gear on my boat (actually easier with the boat full) but, I know that rolling will add a degree of confidence when I'm on the water (especially open water) as well as expanding my arsenal of paddling tools.
Happy paddling folks!

8Q7AWs

Read: Spirited Waters: Soloing South Through the Inside Passage, J. Hahn
A teamate, as we all read herein, fills in the gaps for your mistakes. ?
Some of you know of my first ‘real’ kayaking from False Bay to Smallpox Bay. I left False after lunch as False emptied into a passing outgoing express tide rip. I had forgotten about…
I went in as tide and wind were going my way, my base experience in sea kayaking. Great paddling, difficult and rewarding.
On the other side, I was rescued from the Selway headed for the Snake after a suborbital over a 6’ bottom of the pool standing wave, 9 mph current, new Rendezvous (with death)-now known as the ‘Wild Mouse’ into a 30 mph wind. How is the wind blowing ? faster than it looks. No experience with these conditions-zero ! I ignored my friend’s advice on wind too heavy.
Bring a beacon. Work into it.
Next, circumnavigation. What sea dragons lay in wait above Speiden Channel ?

Just another old woman kayaker.

Am I the only one who needs an iterpreter?

Magooch, I think datakoll's goal is not necessarily to be comprehended by others. I am not sure what his goal is. Perhaps his goal is merely to be perceived.

Well, whatever the goal, he/she sure has the knack.

I can’t comment much on the actual solo tripping part. I don't do much solo tripping, my longest trip being two nights. Most of them are just one night stay that doesn’t really count as trips. Safety is an obvious concern. Just let them know how you are planning to stay safe and what makes this specific trip a safe solo trip.

I can’t comment much on the actual solo tripping part. I don't do much solo tripping, my longest trip being two nights. Most of them are just one night stay that doesn’t really count as trips. Safety is an obvious concern. Just let them know how you are planning to stay safe and what makes this specific trip a safe solo trip.

Boy, you can say that again.

The salt water hosts no gators...RATS !

If you're looking for gators: Google Earth the St Johns west of Mims/Titusville south of the road to Christmas. 14' and up...reeds 6'...airboats....

On San Juan water, a VHF, laser/flares and the Coast Guard rides with you. Check for your Coast Guard station !