February 21, 2010
Safe Canoeing Below The Mason-dixon Line?
I’ve recently moved to central Florida, and I was wondering what safety precautions to take when canoeing rivers like the Sante Fe. I’m not overly freaked out about the gators and water moccasins, but I’d like to know exactly what to expect, and how to prepare (short of taking a shotgun with me lol).
I’ll probably take a spare cell phone with me, in an airtight pouch in one of my pockets, and a utility knife and TONS of bug spray. Also, I’ll be going for 3-4 hours at a time, if that matters.
Any other suggestions?
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Comments on Safe Canoeing Below The Mason-dixon Line?
Oddly enough, dehydration is a big problem. I have assisted a couple of paddlers over the years who had not brought any or enough fluids with them on a hot, humid day and became ill.
Snakes are a problem if you paddle under low hanging branches or don’t watch where you are stepping on the bank. They usually seem much more anxious to get away than to bite. Brush up on ID’ing the poisonous ones.
I’m north of the gator zone, so that’s not an issue where I paddle in SC/NC.
Don’t go canoeing in the South. Haven’t you ever seen Deliverance?