Alvarez is near the Gulf

[vanders]

Some of you may remember posting about Carlos' son Dan and his quest to go down the entire Mississippi to Key West...

He is still on this task.

http://www.wwltv.com/eyewitness-morning-news/Kayaker-stops-on-Bayou-St-John-during-4000-mile-journey-across-US-183970471.html

[vanders]

If you would like to read more about his adventures...
https://www.facebook.com/PredictablyLost?fref=ts


Godspeed Daniel~ paddle on. You are one of the BEST GATORS in the world.

[northgagator]

This is not an easy journey. The upper Mississippi is very dangerous. There are many sand bars, rocks, snags, and rapids from the headwaters in Minnesota down to Cairo. Also, the entire river down to New Orleans has cross currents from tributaries (like the the Ohio and the Red rivers) and barge traffic.

[vanders]

This is not an easy journey. The upper Mississippi is very dangerous. There are many sand bars, rocks, snags, and rapids from the headwaters in Minnesota down to Cairo. Also, the entire river down to New Orleans has cross currents from tributaries (like the the Ohio and the Red rivers) and barge traffic.

his story is filled with adventure... check out his FB page

[northgagator]

his story is filled with adventure... check out his FB page

I read the 11/29/2012 entry.
I like his writing style.
Sort of like bullet points.
Descriptive but brief and to the point.

He is one of the few guys who is living the life of Huck Finn.

Makes me think of how I use to boat/canoe on the St Johns and it tributaries.

[Speedofsand]

I've been keeping up with it on fb. Great blog. He quit screwing around when it got cold and paddled south pretty fast. I've zoomed in on google map and followed along the river. I do that alot myself when scouting kayak fishing trips. I really need to figure out how to register/log in and make some positive comments.

[StrangeGator]

I've crossed the Mighty Mississippi from St. Paul to Minneapolis, from Galena to Dubuque, from Rock Island to Davenport, from East St. Louis to St. Louis, from Memphis to West Memphis and from Baton Rouge to that God forsaken land to the west of there. (Lived in St. Louis during the great flood of '93) It's a different river everywhere you cross it and different in every season. Can't imagine what it would be like to travel the entire length of it.

[northgagator]

I've crossed the Mighty Mississippi from St. Paul to Minneapolis, from Galena to Dubuque, from Rock Island to Davenport, from East St. Louis to St. Louis, from Memphis to West Memphis and from Baton Rouge to that God forsaken land to the west of there. (Lived in St. Louis during the great flood of '93) It's a different river everywhere you cross it and different in every season. Can't imagine what it would be like to travel the entire length of it.

I bet that your most dangerous crossing was at East St Louis.

A friend of my had too much to drink one night and pull off the lane on the Interstate onto the grass. From there he passed out. The next morning the cops woke him up. The only reason that they did not run him in was because his car got stripped down and was on four concrete blocks. They told him that he was lucky because the last guy that did that got the same treatment, except that he got his throat cut too.

[StrangeGator]

I bet that your most dangerous crossing was at East St Louis.

A friend of my had too much to drink one night and pull off the lane on the Interstate onto the grass. From there he passed out. The next morning the cops woke him up. The only reason that they did not run him in was because his car got stripped down and was on four concrete blocks. They told him that he was lucky because the last guy that did that got the same treatment, except that he got his throat cut too.

Done that one more times than I can count, either leaving town or heading over to visit my friends in Belleville. There are some nice little towns on the east side. East St. Louis isn't one of them, though it's a little better since the casinos opened up.

My favorite crossings are the ones further north. Spent a week at the Nicolette Island Inn in Minneapolis, literally in the middle of the river just above St. Anthony Falls. That was in mid December and it was almost entirely frozen over. Spent a couple of nights in a hotel in Dubuque overlooking the river. That is a lovely little city. The ski slopes in Galena overlook the river. Never skied there, but it's supposed to be a very dramatic view.

[northgagator]

Strange, my father was from St Louis and Bellville. My wife is from Bunker Hill (just north of Alton). I played a round of Golf at the Olin course. Climbed the Cahokia Indian mounds, cross the Mississippi at the old Eads Bridge in St Louis and the old McKinely bridge at Alton. Saw the confluence of the Missouri and Mississippi (impressive sight), seen Lock and Dam 26, saw the Piasa Indian cliff drawings, and took the Great River Rd up to the Illinois River (a real scenic route).

[outbackjack]

I am just finding out about this from this thread.

Is it me, or is this one of the most amazing accomplishments ever done?

4000 miles, outside, fighting water, fatigue, food, animals, shelter....everything we take for granted.

I surely hope he writes a book once this is complete.

That, and I pray for his safe completion.

I assume he's going to stick to the shoreline in the gulf?

[northgagator]

There are two stretches of the Intercostal that they can use.

[toon66]

There are two stretches of the Intercostal that they can use.

He will still have to contend with Florida Bay, though, and that could be a challenge.

[northgagator]

He will still have to contend with Florida Bay, though, and that could be a challenge.

Just being out there is a challenge and most likely more.

[toon66]

Just being out there is a challenge and most likely more.

I guess he would hug the coast from Naples around Chokoloskee and past Flamingo to Key Largo. Then connect with the intercoastal there and make his way down. The intercoastal through there is pretty dang cool. Did that on a 17 ft flats boat once. Case of beer and good to go.

[northgagator]

I use to fish the Intercostal from fro Fernadina to almost Daytona. I also fished it around Coco to San Sebastian. This was back in the 60's to the early 80, before the developments moved in. It was like being out in the frontier. The little fish camps resembled outpost out in the wilderness.

[outbackjack]

This is one of the coolest threads I've ever seen on GC. Never has a thread moved me as much as to want to try something, but this one does.

I would never even think of this, but now I want to start planning....even to do a short trip somewhere.

[vanders]

updates from Dan 1.8.13

It may be a bit before I can get to a computer and log onto gatorcountry, so I will tell you that I'm basically going to follow the florida saltwater circumnavigational route the rest of the way. It's going to be a bit of intercoastal and a bit of exposed stuff, then the everglades, then the keys. I don't plan far in advance so that is about all I know! Dan

[gatorsfa]

Saw him at Carlos' pig roast on the first. Daniel is in great spirits and spent most of the night salsaing.

This is his first kayak voyage. He previously hiked major trails. Daniel's greatest prior hike was a solo of the continental divide from Mexican to Canadian border.

Daniel is a kind and decent young man. I hope my own son follows his dreams and is as good a man as Daniel. Good luck to Daniel in this and his many adventures.

[vanders]

^^^^ concur, well said He is a wonderful young man

[vanders]

from Dan

If anyone in the Tallahassee area would like to come to a presentation about the trip so far or just wants to see what a crazy person looks like (I may even bring my pink flamingo with me!), I will be giving a presentation this Monday, January 21st at the United Church of Tallahassee 1834 Mahan Drive at 3:30PM. It’s free and open to anyone who is interested so come on down, hear about the trip, meet Frank, see some pictures, and get any questions you have about the trip answered!

[Speedofsand]

I asked him a question on one of his posts. I'm surprised he is still using the same paddle he started with.

[northgagator]

I asked him a question on one of his posts. I'm surprised he is still using the same paddle he started with.

I bet the house that one day down the road that paddle ends up in a big time museum.

[predictablygator]

Hi everyone! I thought I should say hello and thank you all for the warm wishes and support on this trip. It's nice to be back in Florida along our beautiful beaches and I can't wait to see what the last 800 miles or so holds from Tallahassee down to the Keys.

If anyone has any questions about the trip, I will do my best to answer them, although sometimes I am out of reception for quite a while.

As fellow Gators, I thought you all would get a kick out knowing that I spent many Saturdays along the Mississippi River trying to find reception so that I could follow the Gator games as I paddled. The worst moment had to be when my phone died at halftime against LSU. We were losing and I was flat out lost in wetland marsh above one of the Mississippi locks. I spent a bad night on a little island, but the best moment came the next morning when the sun came out enough to charge my phone and find out the final score!

It's always great to be a Florida Gator!

[G8trGr8t]

Hi everyone! I thought I should say hello and thank you all for the warm wishes and support on this trip. It's nice to be back in Florida along our beautiful beaches and I can't wait to see what the last 800 miles or so holds from Tallahassee down to the Keys.

If anyone has any questions about the trip, I will do my best to answer them, although sometimes I am out of reception for quite a while.

As fellow Gators, I thought you all would get a kick out knowing that I spent many Saturdays along the Mississippi River trying to find reception so that I could follow the Gator games as I paddled. The worst moment had to be when my phone died at halftime against LSU. We were losing and I was flat out lost in wetland marsh above one of the Mississippi locks. I spent a bad night on a little island, but the best moment came the next morning when the sun came out enough to charge my phone and find out the final score!

It's always great to be a Florida Gator!

Big hearty welcome and congratulations on being able to pursue such an adventure. Keep us posted as you skirt Florida and I am certain hospitality will be extended.

[vanders]

Hi everyone! I thought I should say hello and thank you all for the warm wishes and support on this trip. It's nice to be back in Florida along our beautiful beaches and I can't wait to see what the last 800 miles or so holds from Tallahassee down to the Keys.

If anyone has any questions about the trip, I will do my best to answer them, although sometimes I am out of reception for quite a while.

As fellow Gators, I thought you all would get a kick out knowing that I spent many Saturdays along the Mississippi River trying to find reception so that I could follow the Gator games as I paddled. The worst moment had to be when my phone died at halftime against LSU. We were losing and I was flat out lost in wetland marsh above one of the Mississippi locks. I spent a bad night on a little island, but the best moment came the next morning when the sun came out enough to charge my phone and find out the final score!

It's always great to be a Florida Gator!

Hugs to you Dan. Love reading your stories, updates and Love you. V and S

[Speedofsand]

Saw an AP story with photo of him yesterday in the Daytona paper. He made it to Key West last weekend.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/03/13/kayaker-paddles-4000-mil_n_2861945.html

[slmdLS1]

that is pretty awesome, i remember Daniel from school here in Tally.

[mamag8ter]

Thanks V, I loved the story about the Everglades and Keys, Buckley. My spirit goes with him, would have loved to do this when I was younger. The young Cuban Comet, Go Daniel!!!!