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Nick Messick

January 6th 04 08:38 AM

What's the kayaking equivlent of riding a bike across the US?

Some friends of mine did a cross country ride of the US on bicycles.
For the next trip, someone suggested kayaking for our next trip. So
what would be the equivlent for kayaking? We live in Southern
California and we are looking for a 1-2 week long trip. I've also
look for some trip journals and can't find very many. Actually, since
we are all newbies any I'll take all the info you can through out at
me.

John Fereira

January 6th 04 06:47 PM

What's the kayaking equivlent of riding a bike across the US?

(Nick Messick) wrote in news:c5be1204.0401060038.d8f03f6
@posting.google.com:

Some friends of mine did a cross country ride of the US on bicycles.
For the next trip, someone suggested kayaking for our next trip. So
what would be the equivlent for kayaking? We live in Southern
California and we are looking for a 1-2 week long trip.
I've also
look for some trip journals and can't find very many. Actually, since
we are all newbies any I'll take all the info you can through out at
me.

I'm not trying to put a damper on your plans but I have a few concerns about
them.

While I understand there are risks to be encountered when riding a bicycle
across country, my sense is that assuming one can avoid getting run over by
a car or truck, and they're properly attired, someone with little experience
on a bicycle could eventually make it across the country as safely as a
"serious" bicyclist that has done 100 mile a day trips or more.

Most people wouldn't embark on a 1-2 week sailing trip without a
considerable amount of sailing experience but it seems that many think one
can just hop into a kayak and do the same thing. In both instances, rough
water conditions might be encountered, and navigation skills might be put to
a strict test.

Presumably, some amount of training was done prior to the cross country trip
and most of that was likely for endurance rather than developing skills
riding a bicycle. If you fall off a bicycle you're not put into conditions
more dangerous than you were while on the bike. Assuming that were not
injured significantly in the fall, you can just get back on or take as long
as you want before getting back on and continuing the ride. In the case of a
kayak though, a persons skill level may be directly related to their safety.
The ability to remain upright under rough conditions might require a skill
level beyond that of many kayakers with little experience. The ability to
"get back on the bike" is also directly related to how much experience the
paddler has, as well as the abilitly to assist someone else in getting back
in their boat. Unlike a fall from a bicycle, the longer a person remains in
the water, the greater the threat of harm. One can get blown further from
shore, hypothermia can quickly have an impact, and being washed into rocks
are all possibilities.

While the ability to read a map is a valuable skill in navigating across
country, a wrong turn is likely only going to add a few miles to the trip. A
failure in navigation in a kayak could put you into unsafe conditions,
perhaps into a dangerous tidal race, or further away from where you can make
a safe landing.

As far as journals go, there are a number of good books chronicling the
expeditions of those that have taken some incredible trips. I recommend
both of Chris Duff's books "On Celtic Tides" and "Southern Exposure". I
also recommend that before getting too far with your plans that you pick up
a copy of "Deep Trouble" by Matt Broze (et. al).

John R Weiss

January 6th 04 08:41 PM

What's the kayaking equivlent of riding a bike across the US?

"Nick Messick" wrote...
Some friends of mine did a cross country ride of the US on bicycles.
For the next trip, someone suggested kayaking for our next trip. So
what would be the equivlent for kayaking? We live in Southern
California and we are looking for a 1-2 week long trip. I've also
look for some trip journals and can't find very many. Actually, since
we are all newbies any I'll take all the info you can through out at
me.

Take a look at www.microship.com. Steve Roberts has already done the bicycle
trip across the US, and has a plan for a boat trip across/through/around.

steveJ

January 7th 04 02:57 AM

What's the kayaking equivlent of riding a bike across the US?

How about starting at the beginning.
N.H. Bishop, late 1800's. Still a viable trip.
Here is a link to info.
http://www.rtpnet.org/robroy/books/nhb/BISHOP.HTM
It will take longer than two weeks though.

Nick Messick wrote:
Some friends of mine did a cross country ride of the US on bicycles.
For the next trip, someone suggested kayaking for our next trip. So
what would be the equivlent for kayaking? We live in Southern
California and we are looking for a 1-2 week long trip. I've also
look for some trip journals and can't find very many. Actually, since
we are all newbies any I'll take all the info you can through out at
me.

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