NEXT TRIP: SUWANNEE RIVER

yep! as in "Way Down Upon The..."

Plans are underway for our next expedition - a little closer to home this time, but equally as exciting and a bit more self reliant than the backpacking thru Egypt: Bill Collins, Bill Bates and Steav are planning on solo canoeing the entire Suwannee River from Fargo GA to the Gulf of Mexico in Spring 2010.

225 miles of paddling in about 14 - 20 days (haven't got the itinerary planned out yet) in solo canoes - We have each purchased new Wenonah Wilderness solo canoes. Bill B and Steav have matching spruce Royalex, Bill C's will be in "Carolina Blue" gel coat & Kevlar. They should arrive early April 2009. This will give us about a year to do some shorter trips, sort gear, figure menus, and get into shape for the Suwannee.

Why the Suwannee? Well, it is supposed to be a beautiful paddle, it is relatively easy, and it will give us an idea on how we might survive a week down the Peruvian sections of the Amazon at a later date. Bill B & Steav explored a few nooks and crannies of the Lower Suwannee after Christmas 2008 for a week. Scenic wilderness and great paddling so the decision to try the whole thing grew from that.

Bill C decided that he, too, would enjoy the journey and has added himself to the roster (not unlike our trek to Egypt) and we are just waiting to see if Tom P decides to take up canoeing (seems unlikely, but you never know...)

We will update this blog periodically with pictures and information on our pre-Suwannee trips and plans as well. Likely places are the New River (NC/VA) and JoCassee, and some of the other river trails in the combined Carolinas. Equipped with iPhones and Bill C's Blueberry (or whatever it is...) we should be able to give regular 'on-the-spot' updates as we float, paddle, capsize and swim through our canoeing trips. Stay tuned!