Hi, guys! Thanks for stopping by. Today I have some thoughts to share with you. This may sound funny, but it may also make your next kayak adventure a little more enjoyable, and safe. I was sitting home one day and got to see a movie on the tube called THE BUCKET LIST. It was about two older men who meet in a hospital room and decide to make a list of things they would like to do be for they die. Well, my bucket list will not have any thing to do with the move My bucket is a bucket with things I put in it to go kayaking, and it sits in the garage until I am ready for my next adventure. Now, you may say, why a bucket? Buckets hold a lot of junk, and if you keep your junk in a bucket you might not forget anything you may need out there in your yak (you may also use a deck bag or a duffel bag). I use both depending on where I am going kayaking, and the weather. Let’s start with the common things we really need. And why:

• • A life vest to keep you afloat should you fall in .
• • A whistle, horn, or strobe light for your vest.
• • A carbon paddle to help you move the kayak. Carbon is light.
• • A back-up paddle. No, not one to back up, but a spare should the one you use, break or float away.
• • A leash, so the paddle doesn’t float away
• • A paddle float—a small bag you inflate and slide over your paddle to keep one end afloat while you lay the paddle across the yak to get back in the yak should you fall out.
• • A foot strap. This is a pretty useful tool should you have trouble getting back in the yak in deep water. You wrap it around one end of the paddle, then pull it under the yak, then over the paddle again, then step into it for that extra lift you may need to get back in the yak
• . • A skirt, to cover you and the hole in the yak, so it won't fill up with water from waves and rain, thus sinking it, making for a not-so-good day.

• • A waterproof case for your cell phone.
• • A cell phone for emergencies only; right?????
• • A two way radio with weather channel.
• • A GPS, water-proof.
• • A set of spare batteries for the gps.
• • A compass.
• • A set of charts, in case the gps craps out.
• • A pair of glasses to read the charts.
• • An air-and-bead-filled seat. To sit on.
• • A throw rope with carabineer hooks on each end. Just in case you have to tow someone back to the base camp. Or they have tow you!
• • And it works well, if you are wade fishing, to hook the yak to your waist as you walk along the sand bars.
• • A small water-proof first aid kit.
• • A tube of sunscreen.
• • A spray for bugs.
• • A pair of sunglasses (I like Costa del Mar - expensive sunglasses).
• • A hat to protect your head (I like a Tilly).
• • A pair of paddle gloves.
• • A pair of Crocs, in case you have to get out of the yak and walk.
• • A poncho, in case it rains.
• • A pump and sponge.
• • A flashlight for my cap.
• • A water-proof camera.
• • A pair of binoculars.
• • A mask and snorkel.
• • A box of trash bags. I think that’s all... no, I still need a bag of quarters for the parking meters. But, wait, maybe I’ll go fishing also; after all, why not. But not to worry; I have a bucket all set up for that. What do I have in it, you ask???????
• • A bag with my fish license.
• • A copy of the fishing regs.
• • A set of rod-and-reels; one set up for bait, the other for lures.
• • A box of special lures.
• • A net.
• • A Boca grip, for the larger sharks.
• • A Dee hooker.
• • A knife.
• • A syringe to deflate the fish bladder.
• • A bait bucket.
• • A clean fish rag.
• • A bag with a few dollars in it, in case I don’t catch any fish I’ll stop at the fish market.

And that is all I need, just my two buckets. I know you are going down this list and saying he may have forgotten this or that, and you may be right; I could have forgotten something, BUT GIVE ME A BREAK! YOU DON’T WANT ME TO BECOME A GEAR JUNKY! I bet you think I should go commando, just a yak, paddle, and vest. What a novel idea; I mean HOW DID THE CALUSA EVER DO IT? I hope you see were I am going with this. You can take it all, or as little as you want; just get out there and paddle. And always remember, it’s always a great day in Mat-La-Sha (Matlacha). Thanks for paddling with Mel the Guide. Gulf coast Kayak is open all year 24/7 941 661 8229 239 283 1125 for rentals or to book a tour with Mel the Guide