So I'm reading about this guy that rowed his way around the ICW and came across a part I though everyone here might find interesting:
this is the link to what I cut and pasted below
http://americanvictorytour.org./hear.php?action=i&message=2003-04-09%2010:39:41
After about an hour of slogging though the mud, I finally broke free into the Gulf of Mexico. The boat felt light and fast as I rowed through light winds and calm seas. For most of the morning I didn’t see another vessel.
By mid-afternoon the winds had picked up and were bringing a rougher sea out of the south. The waves were hitting on the starboard beam and beginning to give me some trouble maintaining my heading.
Thunderheads were beginning to form and I thought it might be wise to begin looking for cover. I was on the west side of Waccasassa Bay. I decided to cross over and then try to find a creek that would lead to the trees. The shore was lined with salt marshes and getting into the protection of the woods involved navigating my way through a maze of shallow waterways.
With no elevation I could not see where any of the water trails led. I found myself rowing into dead ends or on creeks that turned back onto themselves. It was late afternoon when I finally reached a stand of palm trees.
I found two dead trees that were a suitable distance apart to sling my hammock .
I have a very nifty jungle hammock that includes a rain canopy and mosquito net.
With my canoe tied directly beneath me, I climbed into the hammock too exhausted to eat and settled down.
As the sun went down the wind came up. My hammock began swinging in the wind and the lyrics of “Rock-a-bye-baby” came to mind. I grew cold in my perch and climbed into the canoe to pull out my poncho liners and survival blanket.
I spread them all very nicely in the hammock and then as I climbed into my nest I was flipped over and fell sprawling back into the canoe. Laurel and Hardy have always been role models for me. I felt I would have made them proud.
My next attempt to mount my bed was more successful. Finally, amidst the howling wind, distant thunder and sounds of the swamp, I fell asleep.
I woke up startled. The moon had set, and the world was ungodly dark. I was laying next to my rowing gear. My legs were draped over a life vest. My head was somewhat elevated as if on a very comfortable pillow. I was very confused .
Using my flashlight to see, I looked around. The tree which supported the foot of my hammock was gone. It had fallen over in the wind, missing the canoe by inches. I had dropped so gently into the canoe, I was never aware of falling. My landing spot was so comfortable it was as if I had planned it.
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