It is now pretty much official; on either December 7th, 8th, or 9th, a crew from Riverbluff will be setting out in an attempt to set a speed record for CANOEING the entire St. Johns River. To my knowledge, a couple people have made the trip this way, but it was either in segments or they were more or less taking there time, so there is no official speed record set yet. We are hoping that, by the time the year is out, Riverbluff will hold both the kayaking and canoeing records for traveling the entire St. Johns.
The crew is still somewhat uncertain, but it looks like we will have anywhere from 6-4 canoers coming along. I'll be sure to keep you informed as the trip planning progresses.
-Daniel
01 September, 2009
31 July, 2009
Levren Completed!!!
I received my first printed copy of my new book, Levren, in the mail today, and all the formatting of the book seems correct. Therefore, I hope to open it up to the public on lulu.com within the next few days. I must say that I am very, very pleased at how this piece of written artwork has come together over these last several months, and I hope that those who read it are able to feel the same awe and wonder that I myself felt while on my journey. Even more, I hope that in reading this some will begin to have their own adventures, and in so doing better understand what they have to offer the world.
Also, there is now talk about attempting to set a canoe speed record for the St. Johns sometime in early December, but that has yet to be decided. We are still in the processes of recruitment and training, but I will write more if this possible trip matures into something more certain.
Also, there is now talk about attempting to set a canoe speed record for the St. Johns sometime in early December, but that has yet to be decided. We are still in the processes of recruitment and training, but I will write more if this possible trip matures into something more certain.
23 July, 2009
Levren...
Yesterday, I ordered the first copy of my new book, Levren, which documents my trip through the entire St. Johns River that I took in March. I haven't officially put it up for sale yet, because I want to make sure the format of the book is right. Once I've checked my copy, however, I will let you know when I make it available for purchase.
I'm pretty darn excited about it! Ever since I finished my trip in March, I have really wanted to share my experience with other people, but it's so hard to remember all of the little details and everything on the fly. This book has allowed me to do that, and I am very happy with the way it has turned out. Hopefully the actual printed format of the book works out and I don't have to mess with it anymore :)
I'm pretty darn excited about it! Ever since I finished my trip in March, I have really wanted to share my experience with other people, but it's so hard to remember all of the little details and everything on the fly. This book has allowed me to do that, and I am very happy with the way it has turned out. Hopefully the actual printed format of the book works out and I don't have to mess with it anymore :)
14 July, 2009
A Wee Adventure...
Hello everyone! Sorry it's taken so long for me to start writing again; I've been pretty busy, what with moving back down to Central Florida, getting married, finding a job, pretty much the whole nine yards. And...oh ya, we just got internet at our apartment :)
Since the "Big Trip", I've managed to draw up a complete map of the entire River, based on the course which David and/or I took along the way. I think it will be very useful, should we ever attempt another trip like that again, which doesn't sound that improbable. There are several people within the Riverbluff League who have shown a great amount of interest in accompanying me on a second trip; only this time in canoes. There has been no date set yet, but the Riverbluff Council should begin talking about it within the next several weeks. For such a long trip, we will, as before, have to plan the date well in advance, so that all those going will have adequate time to clear their schedules. But that is for another time.
On Sunday afternoon, David Heath and I set out for a Riverbluff campsite several miles into the Wekiva River. As most of you will recall, he has a bad rotator cuff injury--the injury which prevented him from finishing the "Big Trip" with me--but he is having an operation that will hopefully fix that tomorrow. That being the case, we figured we would do a short, one-night trip, since he will be out of commission for several months after the operation.
Unfortunately, on our way there the short journey became more of an adventure than we had bargained for, as a huge Florida thunder storm moved in from out of nowhere. The forecast promised little chance of rain; I should have known we'd get it bad! We were forced to tie off under a tree overhanging the Wekiva for nearly an hour, waiting for downpour to quit. It was so bad that we were constantly bailing water out with a small styrofoam cup that we'd found floating on the River earlier, just to keep our canoe afloat!
After about an hour or so, the storm lifted and the sun shone through as if nothing had happened. We covered the last few miles to the campsite and spent the night there, the weather being surprisingly cool in the wake of the storm, making it much more bearable to sleep (something that is hard to do in the middle of a Florida summer).
All in all, it was a good final trip for David before his shoulder goes out of commission; our trips, regardless of how short, always seem to become a little more involved than we plan them to be!
Since the "Big Trip", I've managed to draw up a complete map of the entire River, based on the course which David and/or I took along the way. I think it will be very useful, should we ever attempt another trip like that again, which doesn't sound that improbable. There are several people within the Riverbluff League who have shown a great amount of interest in accompanying me on a second trip; only this time in canoes. There has been no date set yet, but the Riverbluff Council should begin talking about it within the next several weeks. For such a long trip, we will, as before, have to plan the date well in advance, so that all those going will have adequate time to clear their schedules. But that is for another time.
On Sunday afternoon, David Heath and I set out for a Riverbluff campsite several miles into the Wekiva River. As most of you will recall, he has a bad rotator cuff injury--the injury which prevented him from finishing the "Big Trip" with me--but he is having an operation that will hopefully fix that tomorrow. That being the case, we figured we would do a short, one-night trip, since he will be out of commission for several months after the operation.
Unfortunately, on our way there the short journey became more of an adventure than we had bargained for, as a huge Florida thunder storm moved in from out of nowhere. The forecast promised little chance of rain; I should have known we'd get it bad! We were forced to tie off under a tree overhanging the Wekiva for nearly an hour, waiting for downpour to quit. It was so bad that we were constantly bailing water out with a small styrofoam cup that we'd found floating on the River earlier, just to keep our canoe afloat!
After about an hour or so, the storm lifted and the sun shone through as if nothing had happened. We covered the last few miles to the campsite and spent the night there, the weather being surprisingly cool in the wake of the storm, making it much more bearable to sleep (something that is hard to do in the middle of a Florida summer).
All in all, it was a good final trip for David before his shoulder goes out of commission; our trips, regardless of how short, always seem to become a little more involved than we plan them to be!
30 March, 2009
New Book...
In my spare time these last several days, I have been writing down every tiny detail that I can remember from my trip. My hope is that I will be able to write another Riverbluff book which covers all the events of the trip. When it will be finished is anybody's guess, since I will be moving back to Central Florida next month and getting married in June. But who knows, maybe I'll finish it quickly :) Anyway, if you're interested, stay tuned and I'll let you know how I'm progressing on it!
-Daniel
-Daniel
25 March, 2009
Back Home...
Hi everyone! I'm back home at last! Like Jay said, I finished my journey around 1:30 yesterday and got to be on the news and everything! Keith Legette was there, too, which was awesome! It was weird traveling in a car after traveling for nine days at no more than 5.1 mph; I kept finding myself tensing up as the car approached red lights, still going at what seemed to me to be incredibly reckless speeds, but it was just normal driving :)
So, yes, I did it. Yes, I now apparently hold the record for the fastest time kayaking the entire St. Johns River. It's funny though, how little that kind of stuff matters by the end. Some of the things that have really meant to the most to me are the new friendships and experiences that I have developed along the way, and also realizing the devotion and determination of old friends. There are so many people that lent a helping hand or a word of encouragement that I am so grateful for. Here is just a short list:
David, Jay, Jimmy, Nicole, Lauryn, Carl and Danny at Holly's Marina, Zach at the Astor Bridge Marina, John and Bubba, Dan and Jenny, Eli, Lane and John, Matt, my dad (Carl) and my mom (Cheri), Sarah, Beebs and Noah, and the whole rest of my family, Big Country and the whole UNF environmental group for the warm clothes, and specifically Captn. David for all his help with Lake George info, Pat Hatfield, Dinah Pulver, and all the other news guys, Pat and Dennis, Josh, (the other) David, Katie, Jessica and Emily, that guy with the old tin boat and the NOAA radio 7 miles south of Lake George, the father and son that I met on that windy Sunday who offered to let me stay on their dock if I couldn't cross the River, plus all of the other families along the St. Johns that opened their homes to me as possible stopping points along my trip.
My deepest thanks to all you guys; you not only helped me to complete my trip, but you became a part of it.
I also learned a lot about myself from this trip; especially when it was just me the last four and-a-half days. I am positive that wilderness requires something from us for us to successfully pass through it. It has a way of stripping away all of the superfluous and trivial aspects of our selves through relentless tests, trials and obstacles until our deepest intents are brought to the surface.
To pass through wilderness, one must find a cause and a purpose deeper than "breaking a record" or "just to say I did it". Wilderness shows us that we are the one that must be conquered; we who so often hide behind sarcasm, fads and empty pursuits. Wilderness leads us through those veils to what we truly are. When you can come to terms with that, you find the strength, the discipline and the endurance you seek. I will never, ever be the same because of the way God has changed me through wilderness. He began years ago with the very first Canoe Trips, and has continued up to this very day. And I am confident that I will continue to be transformed, being washed ever cleaner by our wild River, the St. Johns.
So, yes, I did it. Yes, I now apparently hold the record for the fastest time kayaking the entire St. Johns River. It's funny though, how little that kind of stuff matters by the end. Some of the things that have really meant to the most to me are the new friendships and experiences that I have developed along the way, and also realizing the devotion and determination of old friends. There are so many people that lent a helping hand or a word of encouragement that I am so grateful for. Here is just a short list:
David, Jay, Jimmy, Nicole, Lauryn, Carl and Danny at Holly's Marina, Zach at the Astor Bridge Marina, John and Bubba, Dan and Jenny, Eli, Lane and John, Matt, my dad (Carl) and my mom (Cheri), Sarah, Beebs and Noah, and the whole rest of my family, Big Country and the whole UNF environmental group for the warm clothes, and specifically Captn. David for all his help with Lake George info, Pat Hatfield, Dinah Pulver, and all the other news guys, Pat and Dennis, Josh, (the other) David, Katie, Jessica and Emily, that guy with the old tin boat and the NOAA radio 7 miles south of Lake George, the father and son that I met on that windy Sunday who offered to let me stay on their dock if I couldn't cross the River, plus all of the other families along the St. Johns that opened their homes to me as possible stopping points along my trip.
My deepest thanks to all you guys; you not only helped me to complete my trip, but you became a part of it.
I also learned a lot about myself from this trip; especially when it was just me the last four and-a-half days. I am positive that wilderness requires something from us for us to successfully pass through it. It has a way of stripping away all of the superfluous and trivial aspects of our selves through relentless tests, trials and obstacles until our deepest intents are brought to the surface.
To pass through wilderness, one must find a cause and a purpose deeper than "breaking a record" or "just to say I did it". Wilderness shows us that we are the one that must be conquered; we who so often hide behind sarcasm, fads and empty pursuits. Wilderness leads us through those veils to what we truly are. When you can come to terms with that, you find the strength, the discipline and the endurance you seek. I will never, ever be the same because of the way God has changed me through wilderness. He began years ago with the very first Canoe Trips, and has continued up to this very day. And I am confident that I will continue to be transformed, being washed ever cleaner by our wild River, the St. Johns.
24 March, 2009
Day 9 - Successful Completion
View Larger Map and Get Additional Details of Today's Trip
Daniel completed his voyage today at 1:30pm with a big welcome from family, friends, and the media. Hopefully he will post/edit this blog with his personal observations of the trip. Here is a link to more media coverage: Firstcoast News I am very proud of both Daniel and David. They showed tremendous determination and resolve. This is truely a great accomplishment and I'm sure one they will remember for the rest of their lives. Thanks to everyone who gave them encouragement and a helping hand. - Jay
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