Kayaking the Chipola this weekend.

[Bamaboy19]

I've always preferred canoes, when I bought my land I sold off 6 along with my aluminum 6-canoe transport trailer. This is the 1st weekend I've had off in like 2 years. My son/and grandsons have been planning this trip for weeks. After working a 12hr night Saturday, I'm Gonna leave from work & drive down to put in somewhere near Marianna, paddle down, camp on the side of the river, paddle the rest of the way Monday. I'm a little apprehensive, very rusty, and after all this rain?? I think I have everything gathered, picked up a mosquito hammock to sleep off the ground. I'm going to vacuum seal most everything as I load my pack.
I want my own kayak, probably grab one from Tractor Supply for $250 tomorrow morning. Just got back from buying rooftop rack. He has a sit-on for me to use, but that doesn't seem optimal for carrying camping gear?? I'm thinking I'm carrying my Ruger charger, I have my AL pistol permit, plus my derringer is always in my pocket. Any thoughts on using a regular paddle instead of a double?
They have this Lifetime brand at Walmart, a similar one st TS, but it has a rubber covered porthole behind the seat for the same price. I'm super thankful I'll be off until next Friday night!

 

[pete repete]

sounds like a fun trip!

 

[Bamaboy19]

I was a boy scout, my son an eagle scout. We've done this for years, I've just been out of the game for the last 10, I'm way overdue for a good paddling!

 

[fl57caveman]

canoe or kayak, plus caveman= wet caveman

 

[Welldoya]

Keep an eye on the weather.

 

[850guns]

Water will be high. More area to navigate the up river currents. But the current will be swift.

Whats your "put in"?

 

[Bamaboy19]

Water will be high. More area to navigate the up river currents. But the current will be swift.

Whats your "put in"?

https://maps.app.goo.gl/sD8EQfk8QdNdEoC38?g_st=i Launch Point
This is what he sent me.

 

[Rebel_Rider1969]

Sit inside yaks are too tippy. W hull sit on top are better. Plenty of storage. Forward hatch and rear deck. If home I'd loan ya one of mine. Single paddle will work you to death. Single point sling for your weapon. Wear a ski belt or vest. Dry bags are handy, spent too many nights wet. Enjoy the ride!

 

[850guns]

I also recommend sit on top. And double paddle for sure..
The inside ones get hot and are harder to get in and out of.

 

[Rebel_Rider1969]

I also recommend sit on top. The inside ones get hot and are harder to get in and out of.

Yep. If you do fall out you can wiggle back on. *** note put sunblock on your feet. Trust me, you'll thank me.

 

[Bamaboy19]

Well yesterday I could barely spell kayak, today there's one strapped on by truck! 15 years ago I bought a double Pelican sit on top, the ole lady and I spent an hour or two going in circles, and bank to bank. It was traded for a canoe, we lived on the river in Daleville. Wasn't long before I had amassed a collection, to include a well equipped trailer.
This thing is about 1/2 the weight, I think I'll get the hang of it pretty quick with my 2 grandsons coaching me!

 

[Rebel_Rider1969]

Well yesterday I could barely spell kayak, today there's one strapped on by truck! 15 years ago I bought a double Pelican sit on top, the ole lady and I spent an hour or two going in circles, and bank to bank. It was traded for a canoe, we lived on the river in Daleville. Wasn't long before I had amassed a collection, to include a well equipped trailer.
This thing is about 1/2 the weight, I think I'll get the hang of it pretty quick with my 2 grandsons coaching me!

It's like guns... starts with one... then you are looking at giselle, zev, hk ocean kayaks... field and stream in mobile has some nice ones. Look for one with the most comfortable seat.

 

[850guns]

Sometimes they get too heavy.

 

[Bamaboy19]

Sometimes they get too heavy.

That was a concern, this one I flipped right up there. Worst case, I just gift it to a grandson and buy me another Old Town canoe.

 

[Rebel_Rider1969]

Sometimes they get too heavy.

Yeah, mines 57lbs. Built a u channel and strapped em down. Used the hood tie down too. Bought a ladder rack for the truck.... also note don't drive a f350 dually in the sand.

 

[Raven]

You might be better served by a solo canoe with a kayak paddle. I know I love my Discovery 119 solo canoe. Here's me and my main squeeze on Blackwater River a couple weeks ago in my solo canoe. I like that I can reach everything in the boat, that there's a higher carrying capacity than kayaks, and that there's a good amount of freeboard for protection from snakes, gators and sharks. Oh I regularly take this beauty offshore, two or three times a month. She handles far better offshore than my Ocean Kayak Prowler 13 sit on top kayak. Most days I go it's a yellow flag, too, and she's in one wave and out the other! It's awesome! If you're stuck on kayaks I highly recommend buying a portage cart that folds up and stows in the boat. You can see my folding portage cart in the Ocean Kayak's rear compartment, right before I shove off.

Consider joining my West Florida Canoe and Kayak Club. We can show you all sorts of cool places on the Chipola River and other places. There's annual camp outs, annual photo and driftwood contests and like a hundred scheduled club trips every year. This way there's fun people to paddle with and also a members shuttle back to your vehicle. It's like $20 a year, if that

Consider camping inside the cave system on the Chipola River, if you're not already there yet. That's pretty cool to do

 

[Raven]

 

[Raven]

One more reason I prefer canoes over kayaks, even offshore

 

[Bamaboy19]

View attachment 229027 View attachment 229028

My son/grandsons started a day before on Sat, at the top of the river, just below there.
We're (IDK, some county pavilion, the sheriff informed us at 3am we're not supposed to be at overnight) just waiting out this storm to continue on. Rain doesn't matter, but lighting does!

 

[Raven]

When you get a chance go check out Arrowhead campground on 90, and paddle upstream from the dam. It's supposed to be the second largest magnitude springs in Florida and there's a playground too and some caves you can play in, above water and underwater. As you're paddling upstream, the caves above water are on the left, at the end by the playground (underwater caves just under the water surface are red pin on the recreation area aerial picture). Very safe as long as you don't get out of sight of daylight at the entrance. When I was there with the kids the campground itself had a rental canoe. It was big enough to seat two adults and two kids. Same canoe is probably still there. It was a 6 or 7 mile paddle, if I remember right. They have cabins for rent too so you could make a weekend of it if you don't want to spend the night in a tent