Wild Florida Waters

Let the names of Florida's rivers and coastal waters roll off your tongue: Ocklawaha, Chassahowitzka, Suwannee, Waccasassa, Aucilla, Wacissa, Sopchoppy, Withlachoochee, Loxahatchee, Homosassa, Pithlachascotee, Econfina, Kissimmee... If you've paddled these waters in a canoe or kayak, the Native American place names evoke winding streams and shaded hammocks, shimmering coastal waters and wild tree islands. Florida is made for paddling. "Wild Florida Waters" places Florida's unsurpassed beauty and abundant wildlife in the forefront, from the mangrove labyrinth of the Ten Thousand Islands to the springfed Ichetucknee River. It also includes an exciting dose of paddling adventures, whether it's tipping over in the Suwannee River's Big Shoals rapids, surfing wind-generated waves while paddling the remote Apalachee Bay, or meeting up with a different form of "wild life" on a scenic waterway. Through all of the adrenalin, a strong conservation message permeates the volume, and useful how-to information is included at the end of each chapter. "A celebration of a part of Florida most visitors-and many residents-never see, a celebration of what old-timers call the real Florida." --Warren Richey, author of "Without a Paddle: Racing Twelve Hundred Miles Around Florida by Sea Kayak" "It is past time somebody wrote a book of this caliber. A treasure trove of information for nature enthusiasts." --Bill Richards, Executive Director, Paddle Florida "His blend of history and personal anecdotes is both entertaining and enlightening." --Tom McLaulin, president, Florida Paddling Trails Association