GREETINGS AND SALUTATIONS

Greetings everyone and welcome to another great kayaking adventure! We will be meeting in the lobby of the only hotel at the Miami International Airport at noon on the first day of our tour.. Anyone running late must contact me on my cell phone (407 924-3375) if they want me to wait for them. If you miss the shuttle, well............   good luck.
Plan on warm days with some bug activity at sunrise and sunset.

ITINERARY

THE LOCATION:
At the southernmost corner of the eastern United States stands a rare natural marvel: the Everglades. This incredible land boasts endless horizons, an eternity of glittering water and waving grasses, and an infinity of life-forms spanning this sub-tropical wilderness found nowhere else in the world. The Everglades is comprised of low islands (keys), tangled mangrove swamps, flat saw-grass prairies, pinewoods, and tropical hammocks and is the third largest national park in the U.S. For sports fishermen, this is the world’s best flats fishing with spotted sea trout, red fish (red drum), black drum, tarpon, snook, blues, Jack crevals, and Spanish mackerel all nipping at the lines.


THE TRIP:


Each day we will make our way northwest following the coast and keys that make up the Everglades. Paddling into the Glades we will experience mangrove tunnels, stopping to learn the three types of mangrove and its purposes. We will also see an abundance of unique wildlife. Keeping our distance, time will be spent identifying birds, reptiles, and mammals. Making our way into Florida Bay and the Gulf of Mexico will give everyone time to observe the coastal make up of Florida’s sub-tropical beaches. This offers us yet another unique environment with its own separate flora and fauna. Then we will experience the best of Florida by swimming and playing on a deserted white sand beach. Nights will be spent around the campfire, fishing, or just relaxing.  

We will meet at noon. on day 1 at the lobby of the only hotel at the Miami International Hotel. Participants driving to Flamingo should contact the park for driving directions to the group campsite.
Day 1: We will have a brief orientation followed by basic instruction in kayaking and how to load our kayaks. We will spend the early afternoon setting up

SPECIAL CONCERNS:
This adventure will take us into a wilderness area with real wild animals, I.E: alligators, saltwater crocodiles, bears, snakes, panthers, and sharks. It is possible to avoid all contact with these creatures and its possible to observe the creatures from a great distance. Please educate yourself about keeping a distance from all wild animals and the dangers involved with letting wild animals becoming comfortable around humans. If at anytime during the trip you have any concerns, please approach the leaders.

Since this is a wilderness trip please leave all electronic games, cell phones, watches, palm pilots, walkmans, radios, or anything else that distracts from the natural environment at home or in your car.

CONSERVATION:
Clearly a paradise in jeopardy," the Everglades is dying of thirst and other maladies. Upstream demand for water by the sugar industry and growing cities has slowed a much-heralded restoration program to a crawl. Promised federal funding has not been forthcoming. The national park is not over-visited, but off-road vehicles have scarred Big Cypress. "A culture of big swamp buggies, high-speed watercraft, and airboats does little to preserve the more fragile areas." Birding is still good, if only a shadow of what it used to be. "Rapid development on all sides has created an unpleasant, unattractive gateway to one of the planet's unique places."__

EQUIPMENT LIST

Small day pack or fanny pack
Compass
First Aid kit
Duct Tape
Pain reliever
Personal medical supplies (Prescriptions, inhaler, antibiotics, etc.)
Water bottles
Flashlight or head lamp
Spare batteries
Sunglasses
Prescription Glasses/Contact lenses and supplies
Tent
Spare tent stakes
Ground Cloth
Sleeping Bag (Temperature appropriate)
Camp pillow or stuff bag to fill with clothing to serve as pillow
Sleeping pad
Waterproof stuff bag for sleeping bag
Waterproof stuff sacks (For clothing and other gear)
Equipment repair supplies
Leatherman™ or Multi™ tool
Knife, fork, spoon
Knife (Swiss Army™ or good a folding model)
Cup
Plate
Feminine hygiene products
Toilet paper
Trowel
Toothbrush
Toothpaste
Hair brush/comb
Biodegradable soap
Antibacterial gel
Pack towel/wash rag
Moist towelettes
Water shoes or sandals
Bandanas
Brimmed Hat
Mosquito head net
Raingear - waterproof/breathable jacket
Fleece or wool shirt or sweater
Light weight camping pants
Swim suit
Shorts
T-shirt
Long Sleeve shirt - light weight (Great for sun protection)
Underwear
Gloves (For paddling and warmth)
Sun Screen
Sunburn Cream
Insect repellant
Lip Balm

Optional Stuff (but nice)
Candle Lantern/candles
Books
Journal and pen
Playing Cards
Binoculars
Camera and film
Waterproof Camera Bag
Fishing Gear
Favorite beverage (wine, beer, soda, powdered drink mix)
Guide books


ABOUT YOUR TRIP LEADER:
Kayaking and the outdoors have been Greg Pflug’s love from an early age. Greg’s adventures began with long-distance backpacking; he and his wife Melissa even through-hiked the Appalachian Trail as a belated honeymoon. Then he discovered water, and life has never been the same. Greg has dedicated the past fifteen years sharing his love of Florida’s waterways and his desire to preserve them. A Sierra Club leader since 1999, Greg has led over 100 national outings for the organization. Overall, Greg has guided sea-kayaking trips from Patagonia to New Zealand, Alaska to Wyoming. His goal is always two-fold: his child side wants to find the perfect unspoiled waterway, which is tempered by the mature desire to educate people on protecting and restoring the rivers, estuaries, and coast lines that have felt the hand of man. Greg is a certified kayak instructor, outdoor specialist, and wilderness first responder, but he truly takes pride tailoring his trips by removing worry and injecting fun and child-like wonder in the great outdoors. His favorite outings are the Suwannee River, Okefenokee, and the Everglades.

Email: gpflug@yahoo.com