Hi readers: as I write this month’s column I am at the JOOOOYSE SHORE. I only say it that way because there is a new reality show on TV called Jersey Shore and it is filmed in Sea Side Heights, not to far from where I stay a few times a year. As a Jersey boy it strikes me funny to hear these guys talk on the show; they have a New York accent that you only find in north Jersey across the river from New York. The show is about a bunch of kids who stay at a summer rental at the beach and the night life on the boardwalk. All the girls are hot looking and the guys are well built and run around shirtless most of the time. That’s the guys, I mean. Now please don’t judge Jersey by this show; it is not the Jersey I grew up in. Sure it is there if you want it, but there are so many other things to do, LIKE PADDLE. I was always out paddling some river or lake, like the Toms, Shrewsbury, and, farther south, the Bass. Then up north large lakes and reservoirs, too many to count.

The temperature outside is 28 degrees, and we had 19 inches of snow and the wind is blowing it up and down the beach. It is winter, as I know it at the shore. It’s hard to think that just a few months ago folks were looking for a place to lay down a towel or blanket and soak up the hot sun. Now as I look out I see the rough waves on the beach, the sand is frozen; a hard light brown sand and snow on the drifts, it looks like a star bucks mocha chip lattés with whip cream on top. So now is the time I give a call to the crew at Gulf Coast Kayak in Matlacha and talk to Skip, who is managing the shack on weekends, and Tom from B and B Bait Shop at the end of the driveway, who handles the weekly rentals. They say it’s 68 degrees and the sun is shining and all is well in Matlacha When I get a chance to get away and I am on the road, I handle all the day-to-day business by phone, and Mark Quinn of Adventure Safaris takes care of doing the kayak tours.

If you don’t know Mark and the name sounds familiar, it is probably because you may have seen him on The Morning Blend on Fox 4 on Tuesday mornings. Mark is the fellow who brings wild animals from around the world on the show, much like Jim Fowler and Jack Hanna from cbs. In the real world Mark is an African safari guide. He gives a great informative tour and the people who have gone out with him say he is a very knowledgeable and personable guide. I just received e-mail from Mike from Colorado. I have written about Mike in some of my earlier columns. Mike is a single guy and is a super athlete. He runs, and bikes more miles in a month than I have done in my life. When it’s too cold outside he has a recumbent bike and puts a few thousand miles on it a year. Mike likes to come by Gulf Coast Kayak a few times a year and we do some kind of enduro-paddle, like 5 to 6 hours.

Last year I think we did three different tours back-to-back for about eight hours. With all the snow and cold in Colorado this time of year, he has cabin fever and wants to burn up the waterways. When he comes I like to come up with a new tour. Not to say the ones in the past were bad, it’s just that he likes to paddle a long time and at a steady pace and most of our tours are stop-and-go stop-and-go. So where to go this time? In addition, what will I need? I am always looking for a new adventure, and some new tours to add to the many we have at Gulf Coast Kayak. We do slow quiet water tours, back bay tours, manatee and dolphin tours, and even the River Of Death. As I sit here in the frigid north, where will we go this time??????? Well, I have a place in mind, a tour I have not done myself, and I know will be an adventure. I have had folks rent kayaks and canoes and make the trip and all have said it was worth the trip. It was long and took some time. Some had good weather and others were caught in a rainstorm, or were fighting the wind all the way. This is not my idea of fun. So let’s sit down and plan this trip, and write all the things I need to do or find out before we go. First, I need my charts, and gps to know about how far it is, and how long it SHOULD take on a clear day. Where are the surrounding islands and land marks.

I go to Google Earth to print out some info, and mark a plan A and plan B. On the week we plan to leave stay close to the weather reports; we may have to change the day we want to go. I know it’s a long way, so what kayak do I want to take? I have 55 to choose from!! Long way? Long thin yak with a skirt and a rudder. The rudder in case we hit some current or wind, so we stay on track. A light carbon paddle for paddling and a stiff one for a back up or to push off the beach. A good compass and gps batteries. Back-ups should the trip be fogged in and I need the gps on longer than normal. Sure I could use the compass; I don’t like getting lost in the fog. I have had this happen and it’s not a thing I want to do again. Now my yak has two compartments and is great for storing things I may need on the trip, like a change of clothes, a towel for the beach, extra water, and a few bucks for parking and lunch. However, I find them hard to get into on open water. So I like a deck bag with all the things I will need right away, like a pump, poncho, skirt, camera, a pair of binoculars for spotting, spare water, and sun screen. On my vest a good light or strobe, a whistle, and a good knife like a Spyderco. It is easy to open and stays sharp with a serrated edge that cuts like everything is made of butter. Before we leave check out the weather and tides. Try to leave with the wind in my face; then it will be at my back when I return. Well, maybe. Leave plenty of time to enjoy the journey. Well, that gives you some idea of what to do when going to a new destination. Don’t forget the PRE-TRIP is as important as the trip itself. If you fail to plan then you are planning to fail. Should the weather cooperate? We may have another tour we do at Gulf Coast Kayak, for those of you who like to deal with adventure and a longer paddle. So till next time remember, it’s always a great day in Mat-la-sha, and don’t forget the sunset tours for a end of a great day. 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 gulfcoastkayak@msn.com