New Mobile Marine Service Central Florida

New Mobile Marine Service Central Florida

There is a fantastic new mobile marine service in central Florida.

Started last fall, Orlando Mobile Marine is the baby of Mr. Fernando Fonseca, who brings over 20 years of experience in marine services to his new business. Fernando is a certified master technician for Johnson/Evinrude and Yamaha. He also services Mercury, Honda, and Suzuki outboards as well as Yamaha Wave Runners and other brands of personal watercraft.

He also performs boat repairs- custom lighting and rigging, electrical work, mechanical work, and detailing.

Fernando says, “Reliability and attention to detail are very important to my customers and to me. Customers are welcome to watch me to see what I’m doing as I work on their boat. It helps them understand the workings of their vessel better.”

Fernando says his rates are comparable or less than those found at other marine service centers in central Florida.

Fernando just rigged a new 70 horsepower Yamaha four stroke engine on my friend Karl Dienst’s venerable Hewes Bonefisher, replacing the old 90 hp that had powered the boat for the last 18 years. Karl was thrilled with the work Fernando did. “Fernando did a great job. I was impressed with his ability to work quickly, neatly, and with precision, without overcharging. He did not try to sell me other services or parts that I didn’t need or want. I am very, very happy with the work, and the boat runs like a scalded dog now.”

Mind you, this is a mobile marine service. That means he brings the shop to you. For this service there is a one-time fee of $60 per job. If he has to come out two or three times to get the job finished, you only pay the service fee once. Of course, parts and labor are additional, but compare favorably with any other shop in central Florida. And you get the benefit of Fernando’s extensive experience and attention to detail.

Orlando Mobile Marine, the fantastic new mobile marine service in central Florida. When your boat needs work, visit their website or give them a call at 407.232.4749.

John Kumiski
http://www.spottedtail.com

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2014. All rights are reserved.

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Banana River Lagoon Fishing Report

Banana River Lagoon Fishing Report 22214

Upcoming Events-
-Mosquito Lagoon Show and Tell Fishing Seminar, March 15. Visit this link  for more information or to register…
-Mosquito Lagoon On-the-Water Show and Tell Fishing Seminar, March 16. Visit this link  for more information or to register…

Blog Posts this Week-
Sharkwave Fly Lines Coming
Lunkerhunt Swim Bentos Bait
Oil Drilling Coming to the Everglades

The new issue (March 2014) of Florida Sportsman has an article about the Indian River Lagoon Odyssey, by John Kumiski! Check it out!

On to the fishing, men!

Monday the weather was gorgeous, so I strapped the kayak to the roof of the chariot and drove over to the Banana River Lagoon. I got there after nine o’clock. Six cars were already there. I avoided the other boats as much as I could.

Travelling along the shoreline I saw two small trout, two small redfish, and then a school of about 20 small reds, less than 20 inch fish. They elicited no response in me.

I went out to the second bar. There was nothing there.

I went to the third bar. Two boats were there, one on each side. I went up the middle. The water was clear, there was hardly any grass, and I saw nothing. I kept going.

On the fourth bar there was a school of black drum, not the big ones. Two tasted my black bunny leech. The larger one was 12 pounds or so.

I left them, hoping to find big fish. A group of eight big reds was swimming high in the water. I got two casts at them but they ignored me.

The paddle back was uneventful, as no fish were seen.

The grass up there is all gone, and so are most of the fish. It’s a sad thing.

Tuesday found me on a bus travelling to Tallahassee for the Clean Water Rally. Senator David Simmons, the senator from my district, was one of the speakers. Good work, sir!

I had a meeting with my district’s representative, Rep. Jason Brodeur. He told me he understands the need for clean water, would be sponsored a bill addressing clean water issues. It was good to hear, but show me the money. Stay tuned.

One of the speakers was a woman from Naples, Dr. Karen Dwyer, of the Stone Crab Alliance. Here is what she had to say: ” The Everglades oil rush is on. In addition to the 115,000 acres leased for oil exploration, Collier Resources just issued two more leases for massive seismic testing operations to identify more locations for oil drilling: 103,000 acres to Tocala, LLC and 234,500 acres to Burnett Oil, all in the Big Cypress National Preserve in the western Everglades. Everyone. March 11. Please. Pack the EPA Meeting. Take a stand for the Everglades and our water. Now is the time. No one can take your place.”

Fight for your right to clean water!

Fight for your right to clean water!

How this has escaped the state and national news media is beyond me. All fishermen should be going crazy over this- hydraulic fracturing in the Everglades? WE CAN’T LET THIS HAPPEN!!! I will be in Naples on March 11. I hope to see you there.

Wednesday Rick DePaiva, one of my dearest friends, came up to fish with me. Because he likes going there and because I got a good report from one of my subscribers we went to KARS Park and launched the canoe.

The weather was awesome.

The short version is that we went most of the way to the NASA Causeway, went out to the islands on the other side of the channel, and worked it hard. We saw maybe eight fish and had one half-baked shot that did not work. So we went fishless. Had a good time other than that, enjoying the day and Rick’s company.

black-drum-release.jpg

 This is what we wanted. It is not what we got.

            Again, most of the grass is gone. This area had such thick grass just a couple years ago, too. Bad, bad, bad Bad BAD.

And that is this week’s not so great Banana River Lagoon Fishing Report.

Life is great and I love my work!

Life is short. Go Fishing!

John Kumiski
http://www.spottedtail.com

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2014. All rights are reserved.

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Oil Drilling Coming to the Everglades

Oil Drilling Coming to the Everglades?

Is oil drilling coming to the Everglades?1798497_10203291943840558_357090852_n

This request came from Dr. Karen Dwyer in Naples, Florida:

“Join us, March 11, in Naples and bring as many people as you can. This is an URGENT REQUEST. The federal EPA is flying in for a hearing that could decide the fate of Florida water and open the door to Everglades drilling. We need to act fast and get big. It’s time to show just how strong and far reaching opposition is to Everglades drilling. We need you at the hearing to say “NO” to the injection well. March 11. Clean water not dirty drilling. See you in Naples!”

If you fish or bird watch in Everglades National Park, if you don’t want the door swung wide open to oil drilling in or off the beaches of Florida, you need to sport these folks any way you can. For more information visit this link

Help stop oil drilling coming to the Everglades!

John Kumiski

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  • Oil drilling protesters rally in Naples
  • Environment Florida Releases New Booklet of Personal Stories from Residents on the Frontlines of Fracking as EPA Hearing Nears

Make a Home for Florida Bats

Make a Home for Florida Bats

florida bats

Bats. From as early as I can remember (and probably long before that) they’ve been associated with Halloween, haunted houses, ghosts, and such nonsense. Bats are actually very cool little mammals, the only ones that can fly, and they perform many useful functions for humans.

Here in Florida bats are the most important controller of night-flying insects, including many agricultural pests. One small bat can eat up to 3,000 insects in a night!  Unfortunately, many bat species are disappearing at alarming rates.  Disturbance or destruction of roost sites due to development and vandalism constitute the greatest threat to the Florida’s bats.

Here in Florida thirteen species of bats are permanent or seasonal residents. Bats often live in natural structures such as caves when available. We don’t find many caves in Florida, so where do the bats live?

Most Florida bats prefer to roost in mature trees, or large dead trees (snags). However, many bats take up residence in buildings or other manmade structures, due to loss of habitat. If you would like the benefits of having bats live near your property, but don’t want them in your house, you can always put up a bat house.

Bat houses provide alternative roost sites for Florida’s colonial bat species.  A bat house in your backyard will offer local bats a much needed place to live.  They will also do you a return favor by helping to control the insects in the area. You can buy one already made, or if you’re handy build your own.

If you would like to build your own bat house, you can obtain plans for a triple chambered bat house by clicking on Bat House Plans.  To see photographs of the bat house under construction, click on Construction Photos. To watch Florida Bat Conservancy volunteer, George Fenner, describe how to build a quality bat house, click on http://wildflorida.tv/bats/downloads.html.

Of course, like any other wild animals bats will benefit from having natural, undeveloped areas. You can help bats, birds, and all kinds of other wildlife by supporting the work of organizations such as the Nature Conservancy and the Audubon Society. There are also organizations that works on behalf of bats, the Florida Bat Conservancy and the Lubee Bat Conservancy. They put on an annual bat festival you can attend to learn more about these fascinating, little understood mammals.

florida bats

Consider putting a house for Florida bats on your property. The bats will appreciate the love, and you’ll appreciate the sudden disappearance of mosquitos and other biting insects.

 

John Kumiski
http://www.spottedtail.com

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2014. All rights are reserved.

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How to Buy Fishing Sunglasses

How to Buy Fishing Sunglasses

fishing sunglasses

These glass lenses have been good to me for a long time.

All fishermen should wear Polarized fishing sunglasses while fishing. They protect your eyes from both the sun and from errant fishhooks. A fishhook through the cornea or a sunburned retina will ruin your day.

Your fishing sunglasses will be wonderful for driving too, something to keep in mind when you’re counting your pennies.

You should wear the best fishing sunglasses you can afford. You only get two eyes and when they’re permanently damaged you’re out of luck. If you don’t need a prescription, the highest quality fishing sunglasses can be purchased at discount houses, such as Sierra Trading Post. If you need a prescription, though, be prepared to part with $200-400. Sorry.

Look for sunglasses that block 99-100 percent of all ultraviolet light. Sunglasses with lenses that wrap around to your temples keep out more light and UV radiation than typical lenses. Keep in mind that most good fishing sunglasses are not labelled “fishing sunglasses.”

Fishing Sunglasses Lens Material

Your first decision once you have decided to spend some money is whether you want glass or polycarbonate lenses. Compared to glass, polycarbonate scratches easily. If you like to keep up with the latest styles, and have new glasses two or three times a year, it makes sense to get polycarbonate lenses. Poly lenses have the highest impact protection. From that point of view they are the best lenses you can get. Polycarbonate lenses require more care than glass; for example, they should not be cleaned with any paper products. They should be cleaned with a microfiber cloth after being wetted with clean water or a lens cleaning solution.

If, however, you dropped $350 for a prescription pair and want them to last as long as possible, you may prefer glass. They will be heavier than the polycarbonate. I have a pair of prescription glass lenses that are on their fourth set of frames. Glass lenses will last for years if you give them a modest amount of care. And this may make purists shudder, but I clean my glass lenses by licking them and then rubbing them clean with a paper towel.

Read the rest of this article here…

 

John Kumiski
http://www.spottedtail.com

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2014. All rights are reserved.

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A Review of The Old Town Penobscot 174

A Review of The Old Town Penobscot 174

Old Town Penobscot review

We hear and see so much about kayaks and kayak fishing these days. Undeniably, kayaks have certain advantages- they’re small, they’re very portable, and when you’re in a solo kayak there is no compromise. You can do exactly what you want, whenever you want to do it.

Canoes seem to have been left behind in all this. This really is too bad, because canoes have some advantages, too. You can stand up sometimes, to rest your butt and get a better view of the water than if you were sitting. While a bit larger than a kayak, canoes are still very portable. And they have one huge advantage over a kayak when it comes to long trips- they have a much larger load capacity.

Another advantage of the canoe if you’re a shallow water fisherman is that you can stand and pole it. I spent quite a bit of time on the trip described below standing and poling the vessel with a ferruled two-piece 14 foot Moonlighter push pole. It works wonderfully well!

Five of us just made a 160-mile paddle along the full length of Florida’s Indian River Lagoon. Three of the participants were in canoes. Two were in kayaks. Before the trip started I wondered how the kayakers would carry all the gear they needed for a trip of that length.

It didn’t take me long to find out. They kayakers lived on freeze-dried food, ramen noodles, cookies, and cliff bars. The canoeists ate real food- apples and oranges, fresh vegetables, cookies (of course!), and cooked our real food on stoves, double burner Colemans. We shared our food with the kayakers, of course.

My friend Rodney Smith and I were in an Old Town Penobscot 174. We pushed it along with paddles made by Bending Branches. I expected to be lagging behind the other paddlers but was pleasantly surprised to discover we could out-paddle every other boat on the trip with the exception of Mim’s Epic kayak, a superbly designed little vessel built for speed.

old town penobcot review

Mim’s Epic is a fast little boat.

No way could Mim’s Epic carry a load like we had.

The Penobscot was, shall we say, heavily loaded. It’s rated for a 1500 pound capacity. I believe it would handle that load easily. Throughout our trip it paddled and handled like a dream.

Indian River Lagoon Paddle Adventure

We had too much stuff. We made it work.

Old Town builds this boat in a Royalex version and a polypropelene version. To the casual observer they are identical. The Royalex boat weighs 65 pounds, the poly vessel 83. There’s an $800 price difference, though- a hefty $50 a pound.

If frequent portages were a consideration, the extra money would be well spent.

Here in Florida I’d use the difference to get good paddles- the already mentioned Bending Branches. In the stern I used a Sunburst ST. I’ve been paddling a long time and have used a lot of different paddles. This is the best ever. In the bow Rodney used a vintage Bending Branches bent shaft paddle that he likewise said was the best one he had ever used.

old town penobcot review

The Bending Branches Sunburst ST taking a break along the Indian River Lagoon.

Both of us were extremely pleased with both the boat and the paddles. If we were to do it again, we would do it exactly the same way. The boat and the paddles are made for each other.

So ends a review of the Old Town Penobscot 174 and the Bending Branches Sunburst ST.

John Kumiski
www.spottedtail.com

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2014. All rights are reserved.

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Food Tank’s 14 Food Resolutions for 2014

Food Tank’s 14 Food Resolutions for 2014

Guest Blog by Danielle Nierenberg

As we enter 2014, there are still nearly one billion people suffering from hunger. Simultaneously, 65 percent of the world’s population live in countries where obesity kills more people than those who are underweight. But these are problems that we can solve and there’s a lot to be done in the new year!

2014 was declared the International Year of Family Farming (IYFF) by the U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). Food Tank is honored and excited to be collaborating with FAO around highlighting how farmers are more than just food producers–they’re teachers, innovators, entrepreneurs, environmental stewards, and change-makers!

And negotiations are continuing around the new Sustainable Development Goals that will replace the Millennium Development Goals. It’s our hope that the new goals will help not only reduce hunger and poverty, but find ways to improve nutrient density and improve farmers’ livelihoods.

In addition, the issue of food loss and food waste is gaining ground thanks to the U.N.’s Zero Hunger Challenge, which calls for zero food waste, as well as the good work of many organizations including the Natural Resources Defense Council, Feeding the 5000, the U.N. Environment Programme, and WastedFood.com who are showing eaters, businesses, and policy-makers solutions for ending waste in the food system.

And youth are taking the lead in pushing for a more sustainable food system. Young people like Edward Mukiibi, who is helping Slow Food International’s 1,000 Garden in Africa’s program gain momentum. In addition, the Young Professionals for Agriculture Research and Development (YPARD) is helping connect agronomists, farmers, researchers, and activists around the world. Food Tank will also be announcing some exciting work around mobilizing youth in 2014!

Through concrete action, hope and success in the food system is possible.

As Nelson Mandela said, “sometimes it falls upon a generation to be great.”

Together we can be that generation and find solutions to nourish both people and the planet!

Here are 14 food resolutions for 2014:

1. Meet Your Local Farmer
Know your farmer, know your food (KYF2) aims to strengthen local and regional food systems. Meeting your local farmer puts a face to where your food comes from and creates a connection between farmers and consumers.

2. Eat Seasonal Produce
By purchasing local foods that are in season, you can help reduce the environmental impact of shipping food. And your money goes straight to the farmer, supporting the local economy.

3. End Food Waste
More than 1.3 billion tons of edible food is wasted each year. Tips to reduce waste include planning meals ahead, buying ‘ugly’’ fruits and vegetables, being more creative with recipes, requesting smaller portions, composting, and donating excess food.

4. Promote a Healthy Lifestyle
Many diseases are preventable, including obesity, yet 1.5 billion people in the world are obese or overweight. Promote a culture of prevention by engaging in physical activity and following guidelines for a healthy diet. Gaps in food governance must also be addressed to encourage healthy lifestyles, including junk food marketing to children.

5. Commit to Resilience in Agriculture
A large portion of food production is used for animal feed and biofuels–at least one-third of global food production is used to feed livestock. And land grabs are resulting in food insecurity, the displacement of small farmers, conflict, environmental devastation, and water loss. Strengthening farmers’ unions and cooperatives can help farmers be more resilient to food prices shocks, climate change, conflict, and other problems.

6. Eat (and Cook) Indigenous Crops
Mungbean, cow pea, spider plant…these indigenous crops might sound unfamiliar, but they are grown by small-holder farmers in countries all over the world. The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reports that approximately 75 percent of the Earth’s genetic resources are now extinct, and another third of plant biodiversity is predicted to disappear by the year 2050. We need to promote diversity in our fields and in our diets!

7. Buy (or Grow) Organic
The Environmental Working Group (EWG) has found that at least one pesticide is in 67 percent of produce samples in the U.S. Studies suggest that pesticides can interfere with brain development in children and can harm wildlife, including bees. Growing and eating organic and environmentally sustainable produce we can help protect our bodies and natural resources.

8. Go Meatless Once a Week
To produce 0.45 kilograms (one pound) of beef can require 6,810 liters (1,799 gallons) of water and 0.45 kilograms (one pound) of pork can require 2,180 liters (576 gallons) of water. Beef, pork, and other meats have large water footprints and are resource intensive. Consider reducing your “hoofprint” by decreasing the amount and types of meat you consume.

9. Cook
In Michael Pollan’s book “Cooked,” he learns how the four elements-fire, water, air, and earth-transform parts of nature into delicious meals. And he finds that the art of cooking connects both nature and culture. Eaters can take back control of the food system by cooking more and, in the process, strengthen relationships and eat more nutritious–and delicious–foods.

10. Host a Dinner Party
It’s doesn’t have to be fancy, just bring people together! Talk about food, enjoy a meal, and encourage discussion around creating a better food system. Traveling in 2014 and craving a homemade meal? For another option try Meal Sharing and eat with people from around the world.

11. Consider the ‘True Cost’ Of Your Food
Based on the price alone, inexpensive junk food often wins over local or organic foods. But, the price tag doesn’t tell the whole story. True cost accounting allows farmers, eaters, businesses, and policy makers to understand the cost of all of the “ingredients” that go into making fast food–including antibiotics, artificial fertilizers, transportation, and a whole range of other factors that don’t show up in the price tag of the food we eat.

12. Democratize Innovation
Around the world, farmers, scientists, researchers, women, youth, NGOs, and others are currently creating innovative, on-the-ground solutions to various, interconnected global agriculture problems. Their work has the great potential to be significantly scaled up, broadened, and deepened—and we need to create an opportunity for these projects to get the attention, resources, research, and the investment they need.

13. Support Family Farmers
The U.N. FAO has declared 2014 the International Year of Family Farming, honoring the more than 400 million family farms in both industrialized and developing countries, defined as farms who rely primarily on family members for labour and management. Family farmers are key players in job creation and healthy economies, supplying jobs to millions and boosting local markets, while also protecting natural resources.

14. Share Knowledge Across Generations
Older people have challenges–and opportunities–in accessing healthy foods. They’re sharing their knowledge with younger generations by teaching them about gardening and farming, food culture, and traditional cuisines. It’s also important to make sure that older people are getting the nutrition they need to stay active and healthy for as long as possible.

Don’t forget to share this list of resolutions by clicking HERE.

Finally, please tell me what resolutions are missing from our list by sending me a personal email!. 

Onward!

Danielle Nierenberg
Co-Founder, Food Tank

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Clearwaste’s Go Anywhere Portable Toilet- A Review

Go Anywhere Portable Toilet

Clearwaste’s Go Anywhere Portable Toilet- A Review

When Kristin Bell insisted we use a Go Anywhere Portable Toilet for the Indian River Lagoon Paddle Adventure I did not like the idea. New stuff to get. More money to spend. One more thing to carry. Back in the “old days” we always used to shit in the woods.

I was wrong, wrong, wrong.

The Go Anywhere Portable Toilet received rave reviews from everyone who used it on the Adventure, this reporter included. Men liked it as much as women did.
The Portable Toilet when folded up is the size of a large briefcase and weighs seven pounds. It may be large for a kayaker to carry. Since two of us carried the toilet in a 17 foot Old Town Penobscot canoe, the size and weight was a very minor issue.

We would set the toilet up in a private area. A stick was inserted into the ground along the approach. When going to use the toilet the user would put their hat on the stick, which signaled another potential user, “Occupied.” This system worked well.

We kept a trowel by the toilet so the user could sprinkle some soil over the waste. This way we got multiple uses from the poop bags.

As someone who had to tie the poop bags up and dispose of them a number of times I would say this was the worst part about using the Go Anywhere Portable Toilet. Americans are used to just flushing our poop. We’re not used to and don’t want to be intimate with it. You actually get over this pretty quickly, especially when you realize how quickly 10 people would make a mess of that small island you’re camped on.

We gave talks at a number of environmental centers along the route of our paddle. A question that came up from our audiences a number of times was, “Where do you go to the bathroom?” It was great to be able to answer, “We have a portable toilet.” That translates to, “We’re concerned about the environment we’re travelling through and don’t want to leave a trail of human waste.” It was really comforting to us to be able to say that.

The Go Anywhere Portable Toilet is a well designed, well built, reasonably priced, convenient, and ecologically sound product, an important piece of equipment to carry on any kind of outdoor trip.

Go Anywhere Portable Toilet

You can use the
Portable Toilet to fly cast, too.

It has this reporter’s highest recommendation.

John Kumiski
www.spottedtail.com

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2013. All rights are reserved.
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Brothers

Brothers

A Guest Blog by Darryl Benton

Brothers, a term of endearment mostly meant for the blood male siblings found in one’s family. In the biblical sense the term brother could mean your keeper or one who thinks and responds like yourself with love and understanding, because of the likeness of one’s attitudes towards life in general.

I was fortunate to have older brothers in my family, one nine years older and the other seven years older. I was always the “little” brother or younger brother. That was ok with me, it’s all I ever knew. So, as a younger brother I always had someone to look up to. I thought that’s the way it was in all life until I got older and wiser and realized that not all older folks look out for the younger ones. In fact, most older folks will take advantage of the innocence of a youthful individual in their presence. Those folks are not brothers.

Therefore as life went on I became wary of folks I did not know that well, and never quite trusted strangers until I got to know them better. This is a good way to live. This keeps you from being led down the wrong path. Forge your own path was my way of dealing with things life threw at me.

In my life time there has been many things thrown at me that I had to make adjustments to. None of them have ever compared to Combat. Just typing the word brings a chill in my spine and tears to my eyes. I have learned to quickly adjust my thinking and bring myself out of the horror that I used to not be able to speak of.

Combat brothers are a special breed of people that are more your brothers then any blood brother ever will be. Many of these brothers died along the way of combat, or just disappeared into the belly of a helicopter on a stretcher, never to be seen again.

After combat, I spent the majority of my life trying to be normal. I married, raised a family, worked a 40 hour a week job, and adjusted to what I thought normal was. I put the monster in my mind in a closet and slammed the fucking door and said I can control this. I did not  know the monster had a name. I thought I could drink, smoke and worst of all work it all away. The door on the closet sometimes bulged and banged and wanted out.

I got angry at it and everyone else. I quit my 40 hour week job and buried myself in the construction world where work can last 60, 80 and even 120 hours a week. Work could take you far from home and work left you working with a small team of people. A construction team is a bunch of brothers and sisters working endlessly for hours to accomplish the completion of great projects. Most of these projects will become old and dated and after awhile be replaced by other projects and life goes on. However for a brief period of time I found the closest thing to combat brothers was in the construction world. The weird thing is it took awhile for me to realize that that closeness with other people on a project was something I searched for to help me stay sane.

One day I met a doctor, a doctor of the mind. He said come in sit down you have my undivided attention for the next 30 minutes. Three and half hours later the fucking closet door opened and the monster stood before me and his name was PTSD. The last seven years this monster walks around with me, behind me, beside me, always with me and I acknowledge his presence.

I have never been able to stop myself from yearning for the comradeship of brothers. Real brothers are hard to find. Real people who give a damn are hard to find. I’m a lucky guy in a lot of ways. One way I’m real lucky in, is in this past few weeks, I found some brothers and a few sisters with a lot in common and what we accomplished was great. There was a moment where I let the thought of losing someone overcome my emotions and I saw the helicopter flying away and I got pretty upset with myself for following instead of leading. My new brothers were there and each said a few words to me and all was well. I left with strangers on that IRL voyage I returned with brothers.

How fortunate I am.

Bones

brothers
Darryl “Bones” Benton. It spite of all he’s been through he still likes to laugh.

“We have to learn to live on land without killing our waters.”
Dr. Leesa Souto, Chief, Marine Resources Council, Palm Bay, FL

www.irl-paddle-adventure.com

Darryl Benton
Volunteer Kayak Guide, Africa, Brevard Zoo
www.brevardzoo.org
President E/20th LRP – C/75th Airborne Ranger Association
www.e20-lrp-c75-rgr.org/

Darry Benton is a paddler, a Viet Nam veteran, and an outstanding human being.

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Indian River Lagoon Paddle Adventure Epiblogue

Indian River Lagoon Paddle Adventure Epiblogue 

Indian River Lagoon Paddle Adventure

The 2013 Indian River Lagoon Paddle Adventure is over. Before planning for the next one (!) starts, here are a few takaways that I see. I hope the other paddlers and support people will chime in with other constructive ideas.

-The paddlers and the folks who supported us were WONDERFUL. Caring, giving, concerned, funny, competent, well-educated- I could go on but my point is made. These folks are the best. My thanks to every one of them.

-Every paddler needs a navigational aid. At one point there were six of us out there paddling and I had the only chart. That was ridiculous. Every paddler needs a chart and compass or maybe one of those new-fangled GPS things with several spare batteries.

irl paddle

-Our collective voices are too fragmented. We spoke at the Marine Discovery Center, the Marine Resources Council, the Florida Oceanographic Institute, the Hobe Sound National Wildlife Refuge, and the Loxahatchee Environmental River Center in Jupiter. All these places do wonderful work, but they do not work together.

Big Sugar. Big Agriculture. Big Developers. Big Money. These forces are aligned with each other and their only goal is to make even more money, all other considerations be damned. If we can’t organize and match their political muscle the Lagoon is doomed.

Please sign the Clean Water Declaration now!

-There are not nearly enough campsites along the lagoon. When putting the preliminary float plan together I naively assumed we could camp on spoil islands the entire length of the lagoon. This turned out not to be the case. Rodney suggested a system of chickees similar to those in Everglades National Park. I don’t know how something like this can be done, but it needs to be done.
Many thanks to River Palms Cottages, Caribbean Shores, Jim and Kim Moir, and Jupiter Pointe Marina for filling in those gaps in our camping plan.

-There are too many lawns, seawalls, drainage ditches, and storm drains along the Lagoon. These things would be bad enough on a river that flushes itself. On this enclosed lagoon with little flow all the chemicals that wash into the Lagoon stay there. Retention ponds and strict fertilizer ordinances are badly needed.

-Lost seagrass acreage is the major ecological concern. With no grass between Port St. John and Vero Beach we have a long, barren stretch of Lagoon bottom. Seagrasses are the primary food producers in the Lagoons and their absence profoundly affects all the other organisms.
On the bright side, where they haven’t been cleared out the mangroves are doing beautifully. They seem to like the nutrient-enriched waters.

-Restoration of the filter feeders is needed desperately. Clams, oysters, and sponges filter Lagoon waters, as do finfish such as menhaden. All of these organisms need to be restored if the Lagoon is to function in any type of normal way.

-Cleanwaste’s Go Anywhere Portable Toilet (the “poop-a-seat”) received rave reviews from everyone on the trip and was perhaps the single best piece of equipment we carried other than boats and paddles. It was clean and convenient and kept our bodily wastes out of the local environment. Kudos to Cleanwaste for making such a great product, and thanks to Cleanwaste for donating it to the Paddle Adventure.

-The Old Town Penobscot is a heck of a boat, carrying Rodney and I and our too much stuff easily and swiftly.

Indian River Lagoon Paddle Adventure

We had too much stuff. We made it work.

-Bending Branches makes the best paddles I’ve ever used.

That’s all I have at this point. Let’s hear from some of the other participants of the Indian River Lagoon Paddle Adventure, please!

Life is great and I love my work!

Life is short. Go Padding!

John Kumiski
http://www.spottedtail.com

All content in this blog, including writing and photos, copyright John Kumiski 2013. All rights are reserved.

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