Product Description
Guide to Sea Kayaking in Central and Northern Californialets kayakers of all skill levels explore 40 trips, providing morethan 100 route alternatives, in some of the most spectacular andwildlife-rich marine habitats on the planet. Designed for beginner,intermediate, and advanced kayakers, this guide gives mile-by-miledescriptions of the routes, including prominent landmarks andinteresting sites along the way. Detailed maps as well as overviews ofCentral and Northern California's weather, tide and current patternsadd to the thorough coverage of paddling this spectacularcoastline. Whether exploring quiet, bird-filled estuaries or protectedbays, navigating rock gardens or exposed Pacific headlands, this bookis a must for all sea kayakers. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (4)

Great Kayaking Guide
If you like to paddle on the Calif coast, this is the book for you.My wife and I have paddled (we thought) most of the coast, this book brought us to places that we could only dream of.They way its laid out, you can plan for a part/full or overnight trip.Tips on where to go, what you might see, camping, lodging, ect are great.If you paddle the Calif coast, you will be happy to have this book.

Clear, concise, good maps - well written
Outstanding, useful guide to the coastal areas - greatly appreciate the tips on local conditions and access.

Clear, concise, good maps - well written
Outstanding, useful guide to the coastal areas - greatly appreciate the tips on local conditions and access.

User friendly.A guidebook for paddlers of all levels.
Roger and Jan's book gives seakayakers invaluable information regarding some of the most beautiful paddling areas on the west coast.The maps included with the easily understood text allow the reader to easilyvisualize the targeted area.This guidebook will be of interest topaddlers of all skill levels since most of the featured paddles alsoinclude intermediate and advanced level alternative routes.The sidebarsscattered throughout the book impart interesting information about thearea.This book is a must have for those interested in exploring the coastof California. ... Read more

Product Description
A sea kayak battles the freezing Irish waters as the morning sun rises out of the countryside. On the western horizon is the pinnacle of Skellig Michael-700 feet of vertical rock rising out of exploding seas. Somewhere on the isolated island are sixth-century monastic ruins where the light of civilization was kept burning during the Dark Ages by early Christian Irish monks. Puffins surface a few yards from the boat, as hundreds of gannets wheel overhead on six foot wing spans. The ocean rises violently and tosses paddler and boat as if they were discarded flotsam. This is just one day of Chris Duff's incredible three month journey.Amazon.com Review
"Every time I thought I had reached the peak, that the passionfor the journey must certainly begin to wane, I would stumble onanother experience that pulled me onward," writes Chris Duff,recounting his solo circumnavigation of Ireland by sea kayak in thesummer of 1996. "Stroke by stroke, four miles an hour, Ireland wasfilling me with its life blood." Beginning and ending in Dublin, Duffpaddled 1,200 miles over the course of three months. Sometimes hepiloted his frail craft through waters too tumultuous even for hardylocal fisherman; other times he sought refuge in sixth-centurymonastic ruins on coastal islands or waited out storms for days on endin his tent. In this sense, Duff's journey is a study in contrastingworlds: land and sea; past and present; solitude and society. Thestory's suspense comes not from a questionable outcome but in thesurprise of daily encounters. Who or what relic of the past will theauthor stumble upon next? Ultimately it is Duff's openness to ancientand elemental forces, expressed in starkly honest prose, that propelshis narrative through the churning waters of Irish history andlandscape. But this is also the story of a sea kayaker at the top ofhis game, dealing with nature's harsh blows and quietcaresses. --Kristopher Kaiyala ... Read more

Customer Reviews (31)

One Man's Journey
Chris Duff's sense of adventure and writing style takes you around Ireland with him.I found this book to be a great read.For those who have not taken up the addiction of sea kayaking you don't know what you are missing out on.His descriptions of the coast, sights and the people brought life to his writing.I know there are those out there who could have done without Mr. Duff's introspective passages, but I feel that it brought out what all sea kayakers do while paddling during long expeditions.We take a look at our lives, where we've been, where we are and where we'd like to go.Paddling anywhere solo you will experience all of natures beauty, life slows down and you notice things which you've never had or taken the time to notice.
I'm looking forward to reading his second book, southern exposure.I wish Chris Duff would have written a book about his first sea kayak journey he undertook with the east coast and the Mississippi River.

Kayak Story
Excellent written true encounter of one man solo venture around Ireland
very good read! adventure awaits for all who would like to make this trip but know they probably never will or for someone who is considering a similiar adventure, excellent and very well written!

Ireland from the sea
This story gave a new perspective on the normal life of Irish people and the coastal environment of Ireland. Very interesting read.

Saccharine travel writing
Parts of this book are well-written, interesting, and not entirely predictable, but most of the rest of it is ebulliently earnest, bordering on smarmy, and I could not take it anymore and gave up about a third of the way through. A childlike wonder at the glory of nature, enthusiasm for authentic, picturesque poverty - these are good in small doses. At book length, they make the mind gag. Three hundred pages of high-fructose corn syrup. Honesty compels me to point out that if the last 200 pages are better - something I doubt - then I'm painting only a partial picture and only 100 pages are intolerably precious and overflowing with the vitamin-D milk of human kindness and joy.

Celtic book
got this for my husband.He liked it but wasn't overly enthused.He likes historical more than this kind. ... Read more

Product Description
Now completely revised and updated, with a new design that's easier to use, Sea Kayaking along the New England Coast offers the best of New England ocean paddling in one handy guide.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

just right
this book came in a super timely manner and has all the info i was looking for.

Ultimate New England Kayak Book
A delightful collection of ocean kayaking trips along the entire NewEngland coast, from Maine to Connecticut. The book describes more than 30trips in detail: put-in spots, suggested route, possible lunch spots,scenery, caution areas, campsites, and local-knowledge items such as whattide is required for a passage, plus post-paddling eating establishments.Venn covers both day trips and multi-day camping expeditions. The authorhas clearly done her research in planning each trip, incorporating her ownknowledge and experience with that of local paddlers who have done thesetrips for years. Venn's style is easy to read and follow, and if you have anavigational chart of the area it is very easy to map her suggested routeusing her text descriptions and the maps provided. The introductioncontains very brief overviews of such general topics as equipment,navigation, and rescues, but because of the limited space delegated them,these topics are best covered elsewhere. Overall, this is an immenselyuseful book with enough detail so you know what to expect before you driveto the boat launch. If you live in New England, I highly recommend it. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Pretty Basic
Having recently returned from five months of largely sea kayak-based travel in Baja, and reflecting on the library that we brought along, Ramano Lax's book was not a particularily useful addition. That is really saying something, as there are very few resources out there for Baja sea kayak route information. Most of Romano Lax's routes are very basic follow-the-shoreline type descriptions that lacked information on the logistical questions involved if one does not have, as she appeared to, a full time vehicle support person that will repeatedly drop you off and drive down the coast to meet you in a few days time. The maps were hand-drawn as to be mainly too vague to be useful. The most distressing part of attempting to use this book was the all too frequent discovery, upon paddling some of the routes she included, that her descriptions of the nature of the coastline were dramatically incorrect (eg. a section of the northern Cortez is described as being "70 miles of cliffs". This is dangerously incorrect). This type of inaccuracy on availablility oflanding and camping options also extended into her "mile-by-mile" route descriptions and the chronological order in which topographical or geographical shoreline features appear. In short, as she says in her author's bio, she was a beginner kayaker when she did many of these routes. This is reflected in her writing and assessment of shoreline character.

Dated - Now History
The book was good.But too much has changed in the Baja since it was released (1993).No longer a useful resource if you're planning a trip.As the previous reviewer pointed out, this guide covers a HUGE geographical area (the Baja Pennisula is longer than Italy).Sadly, there isn't a current guide that covers how to plan and execute a Baja small-craft trip.Perhaps the author (Romano-Lax) should consider a 2nd edition - her writing is excellent and she knows the area intimately.

The author does a good job of tackling a huge subject.
The only guide in print for sea kayaking the Baja.The author does a good job of providing an overview of this vast subject.The book is geared towards people planning independent trips, and provides descriptions of about 15 areas, along with maps (non-nautical), put in points, trip difficulty, hazards, and colorful descriptions of each area including personal remembrances.If you're thinking of kayaking in the Baja (even in a tour group) this is a good reference. ... Read more

Product Description
A richly detailed guide to 30 of the best sea kayaking day trips spanning the coastline of the Old Dominion.

A veteran paddling guide offers her favorite routes and insights gleaned from years of experience. Spanning the length of the coastal plain, this guide includes the Chesapeake's tidal tributaries, the eastern shore, and the blackwater cypress swamps of the south.

Each route description goes beyond access points and paddling notes to include estuarine ecology, social and natural history, and sidebars covering a variety of topics from gear to wildlife sightings to local highlights. Beginning and experienced kayakers will appreciate the depth of information, including geographical, wind, weather, tidal, and safety issues. A brief introduction to other area trips effectively doubles the number of trip locations to pursue. 30 black & white photographs, 30 maps, index. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A Great Help--Enjoyable Reads
This book is fantastic! It was helpful when planning routes, deciding where to put in -- Nolan knows all the best spots -- but I also found myself reading descriptions of trips I didn't plan on taking, because the author really knows how to tell a story. It's hard to find a guide book that's savvy with relevant information but well written too. Probably the best I've ever found.

Two great kayaking books for MD and VA
Sea Kayaking Maryland's Chesapeake Bay: Day Trips on the Tidal Tributaries and Coastlines of the Western and Eastern Shore
by Michael Savario and Andrea Nolan
and
Sea Kayaking Virginia: A Paddler's Guide to Day Trips from Georgetown to Chincoteague by Andrea Nolan

Savario and Nolan are professional guides who have written two delightful guidebooks for kayak day trips in the area of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.The books document trips the authors have made a regular part of their itinerary and are written in a narrative style that is not only informative but makes for a great armchair tour for those nasty winter days as well.I found both these books at my local library and liked them so well they had to become part of my personal library.Enjoy! ... Read more

Product Description

Customer Reviews (1)

New Kayakers...buy this book!
I have been kayaking for about 8 years now and have amassed a small library of kayak books.This (an earlier edition actually) was my first and it has, in my opinion, not been surpassed.I heartily endorse this book for the new kayaker.I still occasionally will pull it off the shelf to get Mr. Washburnes take on some issue.I particularly like his "4 concentric rings of defense" conceptualization for not becoming a kayak fatality. In short: avoid trouble, if this fails, stay upright, if this fails, know how to get back in your boat, if this fails have the equipment at hand to signal for help.Of course, he goes into this in more detail than that.I found the information content of the book to be quite high.It has a good mix of safety content, skills content, equipment content, and information about different types of paddling environments and the types of skills that are particularly important for such environments. Also, he paints a good portrait of the mystique of kayaking.Several other intro sea kayak survey books that I have seen also seem quite adequate, but from personal experience I can certainly reccomend this one. ... Read more

Product Description
Guide To Sea Kayaking In Maine lets kayakers of all skill levels explore forty trips along the spectacular, island-dotted coast of Maine.

Two expert kayakers guide you, providing thorough descriptions of each route, including safety guidelines and interesting sights along the way. Detailed maps and information about coastal Maine's weather patterns and tides help you navigate one of the most beautiful and dramatic coastlines on the planet.

Whether paddling among the islands off Stonington in search of seals, exploring the rugged Downeast coast, or navigating the waters of Penobscot Bay, this book is a must for sea kayakers. ... Read more

Product Description
Guide To Sea Kayaking North Carolina lets kayakers of all skill levels explore 35 trips in some of the most spectacular and wildlife-rich marine habitats on the planet.

Designed for beginner, intermediate, and advanced kayakers, this guide gives mile-by-mile descriptions of the routes, including prominent landmarks and interesting sights along the way. Detailed maps and overviews of North Carolina's weather, tide, and current patterns complete this first major treatment of paddling this spectacular coastline.

This book is a must for anyone paddling the north Carolina coast, whether exploring quiet, bird-filled estuaries and protected bays or navigating around the Outer Banks. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (7)

Don't Outerbank without it!
I got this book approximately two weeks before we arrived at the Outerbanks. It was interesting to read all the differnt trips and how they were described in the readings. Very Very informative, detailed as to what level skill was needed and how long it would take you. It is a MUST HAVE for the outer banks. The stories in the book were focused and detailed about the wild life as well as the writer providing details about his personal experiences on his trips. My husband and I are not avid Kayakers,, but we go frequently enough to be much more than novices. Recommend this reading if you are going out to OBX amd it's great reading for the night before your trip. Because it gets you siked up for the trip knowing you have it all mapped out for you. Thank you, Let me add that the purchasing this was as easy as 123. On time shipping and in great brand new condition. Thank you... Nery R. Central NJ

must have book.
I go to the outer banks a few times a year and i love to kayak.i bought this book a few months ago and finally got to do 2 of these trips last week.i did the alligator river on the mainland and the hog island trip in wanchese.both were great.very beautiful areas and fun paddles.this book was a great help.the maps and the descriptions were great.i know the outer banks very well and i had no idea where all of these put ins were.i cant wait to go back down in april and do a lot more of these trails.one thing i did on my own was i photocopied the maps and trail directions.i then cut and taped the directions onto the back of the maps and copied them again.then i took the finished product and went to kinkos and had each map lamenated.it cost me about $1 per map and it was worth every penny.i had the map on one side and mile by mile directions on the other, waterproof and easily stuck under my front deck lashings.i also took a friend with me who had a handheld garmin gps. .Garmin eTrex Legend CX Color Mapping Handheld GPS i had never used one before (never really needed one on small lakes and rivers) and was suprised how handy it was (not needed but very helpful).i may have to pick one of these up.this book is well worth the small cost.i am picking one up for my brother for christmas.

EDITED REVIEW 9/27/10
This book gets more and more worth the price every time i go to the OBX. I keep doing more and more of these trips and every one is described accurately.Also, I am finding out that there are so many boat launches that are available, but the trips in this book are the cream of the crop as far as scenic paddling spots.Stick with these and you will not be disappointed (pretty much anywhere is a good place to paddle in the OBX, but these trips really are the best spots).You don't even need to follow the mapped out trip in the book.If you don't have a lot of time, or you don't want to be out that long, these are all good places to put in and just paddle around.I have done a lot of the trips from Corrola down to Avon and have not found a bad one yet.Also, the Alligator River trip is one of my favorites, I have done it twice.I did buy this book for my brother and he was happy to recieve it.I can't speak for any of the trips below Avon, but i am sure they are all great places.

I have used many of her trails, but disappointed by Bald Head Island.
Felt that Bald Head Island trail was the not so impressed type of trail.And in fact was sort of annoying.The cost of 15.00 per person, 8.00 per child for ferry ride, and oh, by the way you must pay for the kayaks as well, at 15.00 per pop, then you get to the island, and they tell you that you can't put in where Pam indicates, that you have to truck your kayak all the way to the northern side of where the ferry pulls in (our kayaks are rather large, and heavy and with 2 kids who don't really truck their own kayaks around, this could be very crucial informaiton.

However, we have used Pam's trails up and down the outerbanks, and down wrightsville beach, and have been pretty happy overall, however, don't reccommend the Bald Head Island trip, for nothing!

missing critical information
I used this book to plan a trip to Lake Mattamuskeet in January but the author fails to note that the lake is actually closed to kayakers every year until March 1st.Makes me wonder what else is wrong in this book.

Guide to Sea Kayaking in North Carolina
A wonderful timesaver for the kayaker on the Outer Banks.This well organized guide provides concise information of all the day trips in the area including launch directions.I've been on 6 of her trips already and find the information to be accurate and informative.I'd have to spend significant time gathering all this information from the locals myself.A must have book! ... Read more

Product Description
It was as daring an adventure as has been made in modern times. For the first time, three men were going to kayak the 800-kilometer length of the Antarctic Peninsula.

The peninsula is a finger of land jutting north from the northwestern corner of the ice shelf. It is there that the swells of the Southern Ocean, with a world to gain speed, meet the ice and rock of the coldest continent. Temperatures reach zero at their highest. Icebergs bigger than ships lie in wait. Brash ice-smaller chunks-can fill a bay and completely cut off access to shore. The Antarctic wind-the katabatic-is notoriously brutal, and can go from zero to gale force in an hour.

Here is the tale of the journey-undertaken by three New Zealanders-and what they found on the edge of 14 million kilometers of ice and rock. They were paddling within sight of the epic landings of the sealing captains of the nineteenth century, and their story is here, too, along with notes on many of the greatest explorers of the frozen south.

From the first day, when they attempt to make a midnight camp in the middle of a penguin rookery, to the grueling final hours, this is a rare adventure, told with wit and perception-a new classic of the genre.
... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

fascinating, inspiring, beautifully understated, and very human
There is no derring-do in this story of 3 mens voyage to Antarctica. And not just a voayge, a 528km Kayaking trip from the Northern most tip of Antartica, heading south......as you do for your summer holidays....While there are threats and potential problems, the reality of the trip was that most of them didn't come to fruition. So this is more than just a book about close shaves, encounters with man-eating wildlife, and battling the odds-but it is a very real tale of three men and their close encounter with Antartica from Kayaks.

I didn't really enjoy the book in the first few chapters at first. It felt trite, there was a great deal about planning and the problems of expeditioning. HOwever once the trip began it suddenly became a very real and fascinating read. Each chapter is told in turns by one of the three paddlers and their perspective, tone and issues come through adding colour and depth to each of the sections.

The book is beautifully illustrated by Graham Charles's photographs. And while the wildlife was gorgeous - penguins, seals, and whales, and the landscape spectacular - the photo which haunts me is the pictures by Charles of 'Jonesy' hood up, head down, paddling through sloppy seas, with wind howling around him, said most to me about the trip. It was probably easier and more scenic to take the spectacular shots, but this was ultimately human.

Once I had read it through I went straight back and read this book again. It is a great read. I suppose for the needs of their sponsors they mentioned pretty much everyone who helped them in the beginning, but their planning chapter - while logically at the beginning of the book, I found made better reading the second time around.

The great thing about these three is they are good friends, and the friendship has clearly stayed with them - they have since done another trip which is a book I would also like to read now. I enjoyed reading the human element of their voyage, and their individual way of doing things. As they point out, expeditions often fall apart because small individual differences in the way each member operates become annoyances to other members.

The three men write well, without interlarding their text with unnecessary superlatives. They leave issues to the intelligence of the reader to sort out. So when they are sunbathing naked on the shores of a bay and a cruise ship with 500 passengers turn up, it is discussed sparingly and left to the reader to imagine, not just what the cruise ship passengers must have felt seeing three naked kayakers on shore, but how it feels for the three men to be in the middle of one of the most remote regions in the world, with 500 extra guests.

This book is a real keeper - and I will be getting other books by the group.

Brings back the memeories!
My brother and I went on an expedition ship along the Antarctic Peninsula last year. We brought back some great images, but 8 days in the area wasn't nearly enough. The images in this book are magic, especially so when you remember everything was carried in and done from 3 kayaks. The typical Kiwi understatement may hide the true passion that must be there to undertake such an unearthly challenge. I can understand the immense effort involved, and also the absolute fascination of this unique environment. So much so, that we're going back next January for a 21 day trip. Can't wait.

Thanks guy's for an un-put-downable read and set of images!

The Frozen Coast
Very well written.Read from cover to cover without stopping. A tribute to the vision, research and sheer determination to succeed and overcome awesome conditions at times.Very philosophical in attitude to overcome daunting prevailing circumstances.

Chilling Out
One day New Zealander Graham Charles realizes that no one else has kayaked the Artarctic Peninsula, and so he rounds up two similarly experienced Kiwi paddle pals to join him on a 528-mile voyage that is so well-planned it's almost dusty. (The fourth author, Sarah Moodie, is a journalist involved only in the writing end.) The three men write a little about each other and a little more about the trip per se (this is not a text-heavy production), each taking for himself one section of the journey. All in all there's more hard work than drama here, at least partly because their planning (exemplified by an excellent chapter on equipment) precluded the endless death-defying adventures, mishaps and show-off machismo that are all too commonly the stock of books of the into-the-void variety. In short there are some thrills--but no thrills. The gang's greatest drama, in fact, comes when they're in someone else's hands, being ferried back to Argentina.

The prose is workmanlike and in all there's a rather muted emotional tone here: The paddlers seem to think the voyage is a bit of all right as a fairly extreme male-bonding experience, but clearly no one's actually obsessed with it. To pump the emotional temperature up a bit, Mme. Moodie is dragooned to staple on some sonorous and high-flown prose about the idealism of adventure: how man must needs go a-questing, a-daring the unknown, and how the race needs people test themselves. Jeez: There's even a Mission Statement! Adding this claptrap to a lot of sudden realizations of man's wee-tiny place in the vast universe occasionally made me long for George Mallory's empty-headed (but brief!) explanation of why he wan ted to climb Everest: "Because it's there."

But then there are the photos. Many of them are so perfectly exposed and beautifully composed that they look like studio shots or Sierra Club posters. They make you wonder who carried the 8X10 view cameras--and who lugged Ansel Adams. I'd like to see these shots three times as big and three times as many. They're perfect for winter dreaming by the fire with your feet up and some wine at your elbow. You can stare at them until you fall right into the frame.--Bill Marsano is an award-winning editor and writer whose own kayaking voyages fill only pages, not books.

Antarctic adventure journal with spellbinding photos
The trio of authors are New Zealanders, with Charles the photographer. With the journalist Moodie, they do a journal of their incredible kayak trip around the Antarctic Peninsula jutting out toward South America. Charles's dramatic photos shift back and forth between shots of the kayaking and camping, and the forbidding, rugged, yet entrancing Antarctic landscape. The journal records the hardships and satisfactions on the challenging trip. The section "Equipment" following the text and photos lists the varied gear and supplies needed for the trip--which list in itself testifies to the uniqueness of the physical challenge and the hardships the kayakers had to overcome by careful preparation, ingenuity, and determination.
... Read more

Product Description
Veteran sea kayaker John Lull provides you with a wealth of useful information to increase your safety and performance on the water.Rescues that work in the real world of wind and rough water are covered in detail with accompanying photos.In addition, the book takes a very comprehensive look at all the safety issues that affect sea kayakers in a multitude of environments, ranging from inland waterways to tide rips, ocean rock gardens, and the surf zone--information that may save a life! ... Read more

Customer Reviews (10)

Not All Wet!
John Lull is an excellent paddler and teacher, a combination that doesn't occur often. As the only core member of the Tsunami Rangers that paddles a decked(true)kayak, he lends a real, practical level of expertise to the science and execution of safety practices and rescue procedures. Unlike many other treatments of this subject, Lull looks at the big picture of hazards and conditions that can complicate recovery and rescue, rather than looking at the practices in a vacuum. Great photos give a real sense of progression to the rescue and recovery methods presented. These photographs are backed with well-written explanations that help paddlers choose and apply methods that appeal and apply to them. A really concise book that packs Lull's extensive experience and knowledge into a portable format, this is required reading for anyone venturing into water in a kayak.

Basic kayak safety for the outer coast
This is the premier book on kayak safety for those venturing to the outer coast -- in my case for Alaska and BC coasts. It deals with rescues, rock gardens, breaking waves, surf landings etc. To the best of my knowledge, this book is the best of its kind.

Much needed
Although there are a few similar books that focus on Sea Kayaking safety; this author's approach is my favorite.He approaches the subject from the perspective of managing risk rather than "being safe".In other words, he takes a real world approach to being out on the water where things are rarely "cut-and-dry".There are plenty of introductory level books, some with useful information for intermediate paddlers willing to look for it.Lull's work is clearly intended for the paddler who wants to develop their skills and "sea sense".I recommend this book to any intermediate sea kayaker.

A Must Have Book
A great comprehensive book about the skills required to safely Sea Kayak in just about any conditions.Well written, easy to follow explanations and pictures on the skills of rescues, rolling, strokes, "reading" the water and Weather, essential equipment....basically everything every kayaker needs to be safe on the water.

Novices and experienced kayakers will find valuable information in this book.Read through it in a few hours and can't wait to get out and practice!!

A Great Newbie Kayaker Book
I am a new to kayaking with only beginning classes under my belt and 12 hours on mostly flat water. Living is the SF Bay area there is lots of water close at hand. Plenty of afternoon wind as well. As a newbie John Lull's book has been great. I really like how John breaks the water down into domains. As he goes through the characteristics of each domain he lists the "Skills Needed" to be successful in that domain. His first chapter "Building A Safety Foundation" has a great section on managing fear. I would recommend this book to anyone thinking about the sport of sea kayaking. It is a must read. It's an enjoyable read as well. ... Read more

Product Description
Spanning the 200-mile stretch of the Florida Keys, this field guide to the entire island chain highlights 50 paddling adventures, many for canoeists as well as kayakers. Trips include short paddles suitable for beginners and children, half-day trips as well as day-long and overnight excursions.

Kathleen Patton provides an overview of the region's environment, describing its terrestrial and marine habitats. She covers equipment needs, safety concerns, weather patterns, and adapting tide tables for specific areas. Trips are arranged geographically, beginning near Miami at the top of the Keys in Biscayne National Park and stretching 73 miles past Key West to Dry Tortugas National Park. Each profile includes directions to the launch site, estimated paddling time, kayak rental availability, a detailed itinerary, and a route map. Icons mark each route's particular strengths: for example, great snorkeling, historical interest, camping, and appropriate trips for canoeists and for children. Patton also directs paddlers to the best reefs, swimming holes, and pristine sandbars for wildlife viewing--birds, manatees, dolphins, tropical reef fish, coral heads, sponges, sea stars, and huge spotted eagle rays.

Clear, concise trip descriptions and detailed maps make Kayaking the Keys the most complete guide for paddlers of all ages and abilities who want to explore the only tropical waters in America that are accessible by automobile. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

Captures the magic and practical info of kayaking the Keys
If you, like me, are a deep lover of nature and someone who likes discover new adventures in the natural world this book is a prize!It's prose excited me about the wonders waiting for me in the Keys, and it's information gave me the confidence to take those three free days I had in South Florida while on a business trip and rent a kayak, throw it on my rental car, and explore.Wow!What a trip.Thank you Kathleen Patton for your passion and attention to detail.

good but lacks features
Nice book, engagingly written.Unfortunately, it lacks a good naturalist section, which is indispensable for answering those "ohmigod, what did I just see?!" questions.Bill Keogh's book has got all the trips, with better maps and precise GPS coordinates, plus a comprehensive "about the flora and fauna" section with fun animal facts and drawings that make it easy to identify your quarry. ... Read more

Product Description
Revised and expanded guide to the best kayaking daytrips and overnighters in an area eminently suited to saltwater paddling, with completely updated information on the original routes from the first edition, plus five new ones. Also includes information on the Cascadia Marine Trail, the only Marine National Recreation Trail in the country3/4how to use it, how to support it.

The extensive inland waterways of the Pacific Northwest are considered among the best in the world for sea kayaking. Beautiful scenery, intricate and protected waterways, clean and clear water, and abundant marine life define the area. On shore are ample public parklands for camping and exploring.

These fifty trips in Puget Sound's myriad islands and fjordlike canals and inlets cover the area from Canada's Gulf Islands to the shores of Tacoma, including the fabulous San Juan islands and the unique Hood Canal. Each trip lists details including duration, potential hazard ratings, directions, an explanation of the area's tides and currents, and more. Also included are safety tips and guidelines for kayaking and camping with minimal impact on the environment. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Great Reference Book
This is a great reference book.It is very well detailed for each trip.I like the layout, easy to read, giving ratings for protected, moderate or exposed waters, place to put in.I highly recommend it.

An excellent kayaking resource
This is the essential guidebook for paddling around the Puget Sound regions. It is one of those books that keeps getting updated every few years, so it is never too far out of date, which is important in our changing world. The marine environment doesn't change much, but access and facilities required to get and stay there do, and this book helps a lot with that.

This is a great book for the day paddler or the committed water traveler, since it rates the difficulty of each trip, lists places to camp and gives clear directions to launch and recovery points. It covers all the inland waters of the Puget Sound at some level of detail. Maps are a key feature of a book like this, and theirs are excellent. If you paddle the Sound, this book belongs in your truck.

Good book about the waterways of Puget Sound.
Lots of good trips, lots of tips about timing your trip with the tides for a more enjoyable and safe trip. Good list of saftey tips. No book is a subsitute for experience but with this on you are less likely to get into trouble. The Puget Sound region has a lot of good open water kayaking and this book covers a lot of that ground. ... Read more

Product Description
Sea Kayaking Safety & Rescue is the most comprehensive manual on how to kayak safely in a wide variety of sea environments--from inland waterways to ocean rock gardens, tide rips, surf zones, and the open ocean. Aimed at beginners through experienced kayakers, this book describes how to deal with hazards, not just avoid them, using real-life, extensively tested techniques proven to work. You'll learn fundamental skills for recovery and rescue, and master safe paddling techniques in ocean conditions. Numerous photos accompany step-by-step descriptions of the Eskimo roll, towing methods, self- and partner-rescues, backup strategies, and group dynamics. The second edition has a fresh chapter on fine-tuning your strokes, which will significantly increase kayaking fun and safety. ... Read more

Product Description
The Inside Passage is something of a holy grail for contemporary sea kayakers. It is without question the most scenic and challenging paddling trip in North America. Kayaking the Inside Passage will aid kayakers both in planning and in carrying out paddling trips on the rugged Pacific artery that runs along the western edge of North America.

It is a complete through-trip guide to sea kayaking the entire 1,300-mile length of the Inside Passage along one select route with some alternate variations. This route runs from Olympia, Washington, past Vancouver Island and up through Glacier Bay National Park in Alaska. No other paddling guide covers the entire length of the Inside Passage. There are 33 maps, 50 photos, and pen-and-ink illustrations. Miller includes complete historical and natural background along with proficiency and equipment recommendations. 50 black & white photographs, 33 maps, index. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (6)

Motivation
This comprehensive book is routinely recommended for a reason. Plus it should motivate anyone who has not made the final decision to kayak the IP. Get it and go.

Not what I was looking for
I was looking for more of a resource for making this trip. This book went into more depth about the history of the region than the specifics of the trip. In general I was pretty disappointed with it.

Kayaking the Inside Passage: A Paddling Guide from Olympia, Washington to Muir Glacier, Alaska
Mr. Miller has a wealth of knowledge in kayaking, the passage, and the environment. He shares this with humor and historic accuracy. I particularly enjoyed his observations of human interaction. However, it would be a much more digestable read if I didn't have to use the dictionary every ten minutes to discover the meaning of the obscure language he uses throughout the book. Although I clearly understand the gist, the audience (me)... would be more interested in a text that had a manageable rhythm. Perhaps he is trying to prove he is a literate, intellectual outdoor person. I will use this book to help plan my own month long trip in the inside passage.

Been There, Did It ... With This Book.
This summer 2005 I used this book to kayak the inside passage from Anacordis WA to Glacier Bay, AK. I left Anacordis on 18 June 05 and reached Glacier Bay on 25 Sept O5.This book was my guide the entire way.I tried every recommended campsite, and paddled the recommended route almost entirely, without stopping, for 1400 miles, and 3 1/2 months. So ... perhaps, in a small way, I am qualified to review this book.

The book's recommended route is impecable - perfect all the way from Anacordis to Glacier Bay, with one exception, as follows: Between Petersburg and Juneau AK, the author routes the kayaker along admiralty island to see a bear sanctuary, and then into a blind lagoon where the kayaker is forced to use a land trolley to transport his kayak across a peninsula. This route is a poor selection because 1)The bear sanctuary is impossible for kayakers to see because of beligerant forest service policies requiring advance reservations. No exceptions; 2)The blind lagoon's trolley has the rails disconnected at the north end, requiring the kayaker to CARRY his kayak on his back down a steep, high hill to finish the portage.Instead, kayakers buying this book would do best in ignoring the author's Petersburg to Juneau route, and instead paddle along the mainland shore, where multitudes of iceburgs float, where the second best whale-watching area in north america is, and best of the best, where the Tracy Arm Glacier is, arguable the finest, most impressive and actively calving glacier in all of Alaska.Why the author bypassed the miraculous Tracy Arm to NOT see a bear sanctuary that doesn't permit impromptu kayakers ... we can only guess.

Campsites:The author openly admits that he lost his notes on what his campsites were for much of the trip. Thus, the campsites recommended on the book's maps are anotated in the book with painful phrases paraphrased like "... the topo map shows this to be flat ground, so there maybe SHOULD be a campsite there...." OUCH.Speaking as a traveller who has visited all the author's recommended campsites, the author is right only better than half the time, and when the campsite he recommends turns out to be a swamp ... or indeed IS flat ground but is fronted by jagged rocks impossible to haul a kayak up the beach on ... that means the tired kayaker must continue paddling blindly and exhaustedly, perhaps with light failing and conditions deteriorating, looking for a campsite on his own. Now this wouldn't be so bad, except that for the vast majority of the inside passage, the mountains fall directly into the sea, leaving jagged cliffy coastlines where campsites appear only once every ten miles or so. Campsites are as scarce as hens teeth. So ... a tired kayaker having timed his paddling day to end at the author's recommended campsite ... has only a 50-50 chance of indeed finding shelter there, and will perhaps be forced to continuing paddling on ... and on ... and on.

Author's commentary and background research is superb. Many times I found myself teaching the locals about their own area by reading them this guidebook's commentary. The book is very readable and fun, yet is highly educational. The author's anecdotes had me rolling on my tent floor in laughter many times. Exceptions: The author comments that one can expect to see one to five bears a day along the inside passage. This is not so. I paddled 3 1/2 months, and only saw 6 bears, all of them black, none of them browns. Bears, and signs of bears, were few. Land wildlife is actually very rare along the entire inside passage ... but marine wildlife abounds.Only three places in 1400 miles did I see a deer, for example.

Overall, this book earns its 5 stars. But note the exceptions above to correct the book's few quirks. Hats off to the author on doing such a good job guiding us through such a demanding, lengthy, and thrilling journey.

Not Just a Kayak book
Full of history, regional politics, and local knowledge, this book is not just for kayakers.Anyone planning or dreaming of an Inside Passage voyage will enjoy this read. And yes, it hasthe maps,references, and all the hard-to-find details for actually doing this trip. ... Read more

Product Description
This revised guide to a fast-growing water sport is for both novices and experienced kayakers. Whether you want to fish or just watch wildlife, sea kayaking offers new ways to enjoy Florida’s hidden bays and open oceans. You’ll find the latest information for a kayaking adventure: boats, camping, clothing, and gear, as well as an expanded list of boat liveries and outfitters. Learn about the birds, wildlife, and coastal vegetation you can expect to see as you paddle Florida’s coasts.

In this new edition you’ll find new maps and campsite guides to the Big Bend Sea Grasses Saltwater Paddling Trail, as well as an expanded trail itinerary allowing you to see even more of Florida’s "nature coast." There are also additional tips, maps, and campsite locations for paddling the open water of the Everglades. Though the Everglades and the Big Bend are the two most important paddling areas of the state, the rest of the coastline is also described, highlighting Florida’s history and geography. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Can't tell a book by its cover
I bought this to gain information (campsites, currents, hazards, etc.) about paddling specific locations in Florida.The first half of the books was generic babble about camping, fishing, clothing, and a few other irrelevant topics, and dubious information at that.

Not finding what I wanted or what the book title would have you believe is the content, I skipped to the index to find the locations of interest.They were either completely omitted or were only mentioned in passing with a few sentences under geography or some other section. There are no maps (save for one small stretch where the authors might actually have some knowledge of), no camping info, no paddling conditions, no reference to area resources - pretty much no anything. This is a fraud.

Misleading and dangerous
This book should be avoided as a resource if you plan to paddle the Big Bend Saltwater Paddling Trail.Gluckman presents erroneous and misleading information throughout the book concerning camping and using the trail.He fails to mention that a permit is required from Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission to camp on designated sites along the trail.These permits are free but necessary to protect the fragile coastline and maintain a wilderness experience for groups paddling the trail by preventing group overlap on the small sites.Gluckman invites people to camp illegally on private and public lands along the way with no regard to resource protection.He also downplays the potential dangerous conditions that can arise along the open waters of the Gulf. Only experienced sea kayakers with excellent rescue skills and primitive camping experience should use this trail. Fatalities have occurred and search and rescue missions have been undertaken to rescue paddlers caught in dangerous weather conditions. This coastline must be respected in terms of preserving the fragile habitats and users must be well-informed about the safety issues encountered in this area.

Take it with a grain of salt
If you're an experienced paddler, already familiar with equipment, navigation, and good safety practices (or a novice with a cautious nature, a stack of other kayaking instruction books, and a strong sense of your own limits), and you want to get acquainted with Florida's coastal waters, by all means buy this book.

Gluckman plays down the potential dangers of sea kayaking in Florida. It's a reasonable stance for an experienced outdoorsperson who's seen northern-based kayakers come down with drysuits and rubber boots (and incipient cases of heatstroke) in tow, but not for a book that will likely serve as an introduction for tourists with little on-the-water experience. Novices are likely to catch the overall message that Florida waters are "safe", without paying much attention to the buried disclaimers--if the weather is good, if you have a more experienced person along on more challenging trips, if you stay out of the high-energy surf zones, if you stick with situations well within your level of ability, if you are well-prepared, if you have the sense to come in out a lightning storm, etc.

The overall tone and quality of the information is similar to a long chat with a good buddy who knows the area well, not to a lecture by a kayaking or outdoor skills instructor. There is a great deal of useful "insider" information here that you won't find elsewhere--not to mention a really entertaining read--if you keep it in that context. This book should not be your first or only source of paddling information, but it does make a valuable addition to the bookshelf, and a vital one if you plan to paddle long-distance on Florida's Big Bend.

He should be paddled
I am a kayak instructor and guide in Florida, and also an avid reader. At a recent get together with other guides and instructors, someone got out this book and suggested that we read some sections out loud to each other- (she said we would see why soon).After we stopped laughing, I became somewhat concerned- some of the information regarding paddling skills, equipment use, and safety were flat- out WRONG AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS. I would highly recommend against anyone ever using this book!

Good read for armchair and real explorers of Florida's coast
Imagine yourself gliding past palm-studded hammocks surrounded by salt marshes teeming with wildlife. An 85 mile stretch of the Big Bend coast makes up the state's first officially designated kayak trail that runs from St. Marks Lighthouse to the mouth of the Suwannee River. A "sea" (the term touring kayak probably better describes the craft referred to here) kayak offers people of all ages a quiet way to explore Florida's protected coastal waters, larger lakes and rivers. A well-designed kayak can readily track through calm waters or choppy seas. The longer, narrower craft also handles much easier than its shorter, wobblier whitewater counterpart. Best of all, touring kayaks allow you to explore waterways without harming the creatures that live in them. Tallhassee attorney and lobbyist David Gluckman offers many tips on kayaking our state's vast coastline. He presents spirited accounts of his adventures in Everglades National Park and the Big Bend Sea Grasses Paddling Trail. He tells how to choose a boat and paddle and touches on safety equipment and learning to read tides and weather. Gluckman discloses how a kayak can be used for camping and fishing. Lastly, he gives us tidbits about early coastal history, critters--including mosquitoes the size of hummingbirds--and Florida geography. The book ends with six appendices that may prove helpful to kayakers. This work should be an invaluable introducution to anyone interested in learning more about the nation's fastest growing water sport. Much of what the author covers also will be useful to general readers whof find themselves irresitibly drawn to Florida's diverse shorelines. Reviewed by Michael Wisenbaker, Tallahassee, Florida ... Read more

Product Description
The first and only sea kayaking guide to the Chesapeake Bay region offers information and guidance for 30 paddling trips.

The Chesapeake Bay watershed covers 64,000 square miles and drains parts of six states and Washington, DC. Along with its 400-plus rivers and creeks, the Chesapeake boasts 4,600 miles of tidal shoreline suitable for kayaking.

Sea kayaking is booming in the Chesapeake region, and the state of Maryland is fully supporting paddlers in finding access and creating routes and safe places to explore. This new guide will describe dozens of trips along the Eastern and Western shores, in the Bay proper, and in its tributaries.

Trip descriptions will include important information on put-ins and take-outs, winds, and currents, equipment, paddling techniques, and safety issues. The authors enliven their instruction with informative sidebars on topics such as salt marsh ecology, wildlife, and social and maritime history. They also touch on low-impact paddling techniques, hypo/hyperthermia awareness, and many other paddling-related topics. 35 black & white photographs, index. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Sea Kayaking Maryland's Chesapeake region
This book was a great resource for going to the Chesapeake.We had a start location in mind but made the rest up as we went.Six different paddles in four locations.
Made for a wonderful week. We had never been here and it laid out where to start and even some good restaurantoptions as well.We were camping so a little more of that information may have been helpful, but that is not what the title was about so no complaints here. An absolute must have if you plan a kayaking trip to anywhere on the
Chesapeake bay!

Great book, needs an update...
This is a well-written, well-organized book which is a wealth of information about paddling on Maryland's Chesapeake.I particularly appreciated the maps and illustrations in the book; they made sure that my recent vacation was action packed and that I didn't overlook a thing! While all the information in the book that I used was correct, it was somewhat dated; things have changed a lot-for the better- in the local paddling scene, and the authors should consider a new edition.

Two great kayaking books for MD and VA .
Sea Kayaking Maryland's Chesapeake Bay: Day Trips on the Tidal Tributaries and Coastlines of the Western and Eastern Shore
by Michael Savario and Andrea Nolan
and
Sea Kayaking Virginia: A Paddler's Guide to Day Trips from Georgetown to Chincoteague by Andrea Nolan

Savario and Nolan are professional guides who have written two delightful guidebooks for kayak day trips in the area of the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.The books document trips the authors have made a regular part of their itinerary and are written in a narrative style that is not only informative but makes for a great armchair tour for those nasty winter days as well.I found both these books at my local library and liked them so well they had to become part of my personal library.Enjoy! ... Read more

Product Description
The Sea Kayaker's Pocket Guide is an indispensable field reference, a portable, packable tool offering quick access to no-frills advice on paddling, weather, navigation, safety, technique, repairs, and first aid. Need to know the quickest and driest way to launch through a building surf? The best way to make a channel crossing in the fog? Want to know how to take a bearing, time the tide for an easy ride home, deal with high winds, fix a broken paddle, treat a sore shoulder, or paddle at night? Can't remember the best knot to secure your kayak to the roof rack? Sea Kayaker's Pocket Guide provides answers and advice to these and nearly 100 other situations likely to confront a sea kayaker at some point--clearly illustrated, concisely and succinctly written by longtime sea kayaking instructor and author Shelley Johnson. Topics are listed under major headings in spread-by-spread displays that provide information the way a reader needs it--quickly. ... Read more

Product Description

Complete Sea Kayak Touring is the perfect guide for the newly proficient sea kayaker who's ready to move on to the next level of adventure. It covers everything from boats and gear to paddling techniques, rescues and recoveries, navigation, planning and provisioning, camping and cookery, cold-weather paddling, and more.

Customer Reviews (9)

An excellent and entertaining resource
My husband and I love this book!First we checked it out of the library and then we had buy it!Like others have mentioned, this book is well organized, informative, and written with a wonderful sense of humor.I love Hanson's little stories he tosses in here and there.We heavily relied on this book when we undertook our first solo kayak camping trip into a very isolated area in Maine.His advice on what to bring and how to pack it all into the sea kayaks was hugely helpful.We love that Hanson is a gear guy and gives the okay to be comfortable.
This is an all around great book!I hope he writes more!

Great Sea Kayak Touring instruction book
Very informative and easy to read instruction book. Fully loaded with tips and nice pictures too. I found several new ideas and detailes here for my next kayak touring plans! I really recommend this book for every seriouse seakayak padler.

Not only complete, but concise and easy to read
Perhaps it omits the items mentioned in the other review, but I would say that this book is as close to complete as is possible.It manages to be concise, as well, and is enjoyable to read.This book would be a good starting point if you are getting into sea kayaking, and also has useful information for those with more experience.

A great place to start.
I am an avid and experienced sea kayaker and recently spent 3 weeks padddling in Japan, island hopping from Okinawa to Amami Island. Although not quite complete, Jonathan Hanson's guide and bibliography are comprehensive. It is a great starting read for an adventurous soul with little paddling experience considering a journey by kayak. Similar information is covered in other kayaking books. However, Hanson's guide is easy to digest and the information is spot on. The lack of British Canoe Union dogma is refreshing. The author and I have similar taste in kayaks and paddles. I was particularly happy with the discussions of folding kayaks. I would have liked to see the mention of Greenland paddles and a blurb on the value of the services of a competent kayak instructor. Not sure if any book can truly be a complete guide. This book come pretty close.

Excellent for new kayakers
We recently bought two sea kayaks and were looking for an
"encyclopedia" on the basics of getting started with our own boats. The book gives excellent basic informtion on safety, skills, and equipment. The sections on kayak camping gear are really informative. The author uses his own experiences and lots of houmour to make this book not only informative but an enjoyable read. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (3)

Great Trip Selection Tool
As another reviewer notes, this book is a general review of the entire BC west coast.I have used it to get the flavor and identify areas for trips.Then I hit the charts and look for local contacts.I have never beendisappointed in the information.Ince's recommendations are absolutelysterling.My view is that specifics like campsites and itineraries arebest discovered not copied, so this book has exactly the level of detail Ilook for in a guide book. There are quite a few sort of goofy anecdotes,but they usually contribute to painting a picture of the area's aestheticqualities.This is a narrative from the paddler's perspective, not aMichelin Guide.It is the best guide for remote areas of Vancouver Islandthat I know.I'd like to see it updated.

a great book with a lot between the lines
I have used this book as a guide for over 10 years.It has helped and never failed me.

Too general
Very general information but none of the desparately needed specifics. Reads like someone's vacation monologue. ... Read more