Here in N. FL, he'd fit in pretty well as most natives in the coastal
counties (Dixie, Taylor, Wakulla, Franklin counties) are semi-employed
loggers or oystermen living fairly well on what would be below poverty
level wages anywhere else. Hardly anybody would think twice about him
camping with his boat except the damned transplanted yankees in their
condo trash towers. Fortunately, they rarely venture into the shallow
coastal wilderness so he could easily get away as long as he wanted.
With a little knowledge, it'd be nearly impossible to starve too. This
is not the usual beachy environment and can be very isolated and often
even VHF will pick up nothing
Very isolated salt marsh/mangrove islands, cabbage palms all over,
shallow flats teeming with fish with tiny crystal clear spring runs
emptying into the salt marshes........(paradise for some people).
However, he should consider swarms of mosquitoes, no-see-um bugs, the
occasional gator (not really a problem when its colder) and snakes.
The gators and snakes can be dealt with easily by watching where you
step or swim. He'll need to watch for Sting rays if he walks in the
water.
It does get cold in N. Fl. but does not stay cold for more than a few
days. A canadian will probably find the water temp swimmable year
round (my kids do, I do not).
I would not hesitate to do this.

:

Here in N. FL, he'd fit in pretty well as most natives in the coastal
counties (Dixie, Taylor, Wakulla, Franklin counties) are semi-employed
loggers or oystermen living fairly well on what would be below poverty
level wages anywhere else. Hardly anybody would think twice about him
camping with his boat except the damned transplanted yankees in their
condo trash towers. Fortunately, they rarely venture into the shallow
coastal wilderness so he could easily get away as long as he wanted.
With a little knowledge, it'd be nearly impossible to starve too. This
is not the usual beachy environment and can be very isolated and often
even VHF will pick up nothing
Very isolated salt marsh/mangrove islands, cabbage palms all over,
shallow flats teeming with fish with tiny crystal clear spring runs
emptying into the salt marshes........(paradise for some people).
However, he should consider swarms of mosquitoes, no-see-um bugs, the
occasional gator (not really a problem when its colder) and snakes.
The gators and snakes can be dealt with easily by watching where you
step or swim. He'll need to watch for Sting rays if he walks in the
water.
It does get cold in N. Fl. but does not stay cold for more than a few
days. A canadian will probably find the water temp swimmable year
round (my kids do, I do not).
I would not hesitate to do this.

You know, more and more it looks like my first trips outside of Canada will
be in Florida. What is it with you people there? It seems you have the
Canada SnowBird market all locked up. Is there and good reasons for a
Canadain to bother see the rest of the USA?

Earl Colby Pottinger
--
I make public email sent to me! Hydrogen Peroxide Rockets, OpenBeos,
SerialTransfer 3.0, RAMDISK, BoatBuilding, DIY TabletPC. What happened to
the time? http://webhome.idirect.com/~earlcp

In my childhood here in N. FL, I spent as much time in a canoe as I did
on a bicycle. It was a Grumman 18' that was nearly indestructible
until it got under a log on the Suwanee in flood stage. A little TIG
welding and its as good as new, now 43 yrs old it is in my back yard
ready to use. We would fill it with kids, (I have 8 siblings), take it
out into the water and tip it over on purpose and play in it. As kids,
we could never figure out why this always got the Marine Patrol so
excited.
The point is, around here, even in Winter, tipping over is often
welcome and rarely dangerous.
Another possibility for this sort of cruising is Pine Island Sound down
near Ft. Myers. I have not been there but it comes strongly
reccomended by friends.
From what I have seen, Canada has as much scenic value as most of the
US.
In South FL, you will see many Snow Birds, last year when I sailed into
the area south of Sarasota I thought I was in Wisconsin because all the
people there looked and talked like my in-laws from there. N. FL is
very different. From north of Clearwater along the coast to just east
of Panama City, you will see almost no tourists.

Earl Colby Pottinger wrote:

You know, more and more it looks like my first trips outside of Canada will
be in Florida. What is it with you people there? It seems you have the
Canada SnowBird market all locked up. Is there and good reasons for a
Canadain to bother see the rest of the USA?

Earl Colby Pottinger

Depends on what coast you live on in Canada. Southern California ( San
Diego) can be nice.
The thing is...if you' re flying south during our winter season...
you may as well go where you can pretend it's summer. In January &
February your choices on the mainland USA are limited.

Do the Florida thing...and then try Cuba.
I spent a week at Orlando and a few days at St. Pete's and I have no
great desire to rush back. I'd like to do the entire Florida Keys trip
at least once..but there are a number of islands east of there that are
calling me first.

Don White :

Earl Colby Pottinger wrote:

You know, more and more it looks like my first trips outside of Canada
will
be in Florida. What is it with you people there? It seems you have the
Canada SnowBird market all locked up. Is there and good reasons for a
Canadain to bother see the rest of the USA?

Earl Colby Pottinger

Depends on what coast you live on in Canada. Southern California ( San
Diego) can be nice.
The thing is...if you' re flying south during our winter season...
you may as well go where you can pretend it's summer. In January &
February your choices on the mainland USA are limited.

Do the Florida thing...and then try Cuba.
I spent a week at Orlando and a few days at St. Pete's and I have no
great desire to rush back. I'd like to do the entire Florida Keys trip
at least once..but there are a number of islands east of there that are
calling me first.

I am starting from Oshawa/Whitby that is just outside of Toronto, Ontario.
The canoe/outriggers go on top of my truck and I can drive down to anywhere
on the East coast with ease. So far I have not recieve any suggestions that
make it seem worthwhile to go to West Coast, and it will be easyier to stick
to Canada anyway as I have friends who do know B.C. and would be happy to
give me tips. Looks like Florida is the place to go in my short term plans.

Earl Colby Pottinger

--
I make public email sent to me! Hydrogen Peroxide Rockets, OpenBeos,
SerialTransfer 3.0, RAMDISK, BoatBuilding, DIY TabletPC. What happened to
the time? http://webhome.idirect.com/~earlcp

Earl Colby Pottinger wrote:
Don White :


Earl Colby Pottinger wrote:


You know, more and more it looks like my first trips outside of Canada

will

be in Florida. What is it with you people there? It seems you have the
Canada SnowBird market all locked up. Is there and good reasons for a
Canadain to bother see the rest of the USA?

Earl Colby Pottinger


Depends on what coast you live on in Canada. Southern California ( San
Diego) can be nice.
The thing is...if you' re flying south during our winter season...
you may as well go where you can pretend it's summer. In January &
February your choices on the mainland USA are limited.

Do the Florida thing...and then try Cuba.
I spent a week at Orlando and a few days at St. Pete's and I have no
great desire to rush back. I'd like to do the entire Florida Keys trip
at least once..but there are a number of islands east of there that are
calling me first.


I am starting from Oshawa/Whitby that is just outside of Toronto, Ontario.
The canoe/outriggers go on top of my truck and I can drive down to anywhere
on the East coast with ease. So far I have not recieve any suggestions that
make it seem worthwhile to go to West Coast, and it will be easyier to stick
to Canada anyway as I have friends who do know B.C. and would be happy to
give me tips. Looks like Florida is the place to go in my short term plans.

Earl Colby Pottinger

This doesn't make any sense. If you are looking to get out of winter
don't come west. They don't call it the wet coast for nothing.