PFD (personal floatation device, aka-Lifevest-it’s not kool to NOT wear one. You just MAY NOT get that floaty vest on if the kayak turns over. I have been kayaking a while now, and I’ve yet to hear of someone drowning with a PFD strapped on their body. Call it the “dad” instinct. Uncomfortable, yep, some may qualify, but I’d rather you be a little unconfortable than dead! I realize you lived through it, but you truly needed a buddy along on this boating event-I would have felt safer for you! Kool video though!
I didn’t want to be that guy, but you are 100% correct. Also, shame on the outfitter for allowing her to go out with a PFD totally inappropriate for kayaking
Hey, good to see you on here again! The Peace River is a beautiful trip. I did Fort Meade to Arcadia a few years ago and it was one of the most memorable canoe trips that I've ever done. I saw lots of gators but the outfitter at Arcadia had been in business almost 20 years and had 200 canoes that he usually had all of them rented every weekend and he never had a gator problem. As long as you stay away from the nests, you'll be fine. I was in a 15-foot canoe and saw at least 5 gators that were as long as the canoe and probably 50 smaller ones. They will come off the bank and swim straight toward you and then go under about halfway to your canoe or kayak, but they are just showing you that it is their territory. I was MUCH more worried about snakes than gators. You are doing fine, just enjoy the trip and relax. The gators are not a problem. I even saw a kids rope swing in a tree on the bank with a gator sunning itself on the beach under the swing tree. BTW, anytime you're on a river and not sure of direction, look for grass in the water. It will be bent over and pointing the direction of the flow. Good to see you and hear your story again. geek
Welcome to Florida!! As a kid my parents used to take us canoeing and fishing in the wetlands. A couple of times gators bumped our canoes but it was mostly like just a curiosity thing and then they’d move on. Somewhere out there, there is a picture of my mother, in a lawn chair, fishing, and alligators sunbathing about 40 feet away from her. Us kids playing at her feet- It was the 80s so 🤷♀️ Now I find that TERRIFYING 😂
I will definitely be on the lookout for your next vlog for this adventure! I can't imagine how your heart jumped when you saw that first gator...my heart jumped and was racing for a while after that clip...sheweee....I love seeing your adventures...and as much as your AT thru hike made me want to get out on the trail, this particular adventure solidifies my belief that I will never be kayaking in a florida river...ever! LOL Good on you for doing this...I know it must be thrilling and you will look back on it and be glad you did it!
Florida is wild even 1/4 mile away from a town. Bears, alligators, snakes, hogs, quick sand, and a million other things. People always under-estimate the danger.
Great job pushing through and processing your emotions Maddie. 👏 I was anxious and sitting on the edge of my couch watching you! You earned all 9% of that beer brave adventurer! 🌴⛺️🌴
This reminds me of two guys who rode their off-road motorcycles across the US and came by many fallen trees blocking the dirt road they were on. They couldn't go around because they were riding in the mountains. They had machetes with them and had to chop through most of the trees to get through. They were running out of water and fuel. BUT they didn't have huge lizards lurking around!
Glad you felt comfortable with your campsite at the end of the day! It was beautiful seeing the river! Takes me back to my Florida days! Of course, I was sad to see you scared! I really felt that!
I love the Jai Alai beer from Cigar City so I bet yours was delicious. I commend you for keeping your cool and not panicking. It's not like you can use OnX offroad to navigate and the overgrowth makes it hard to figure out where the river is going. Keep up the good work Maddie, we're all with you in spirit.
Gosh, Maddie you are a braver woman than I. I almost had to shut it off when I saw that first gator. I hope you had a more peaceful trip! Following to see how you did.
You are brave. I’ve been kayaking once in Florida. Saw a couple big gators, cottonmouths, and spiders! I said not again lol. The manatees were cool to see
You are such a trooper Maddie! You sure like pushing your envelope. For an interesting take on camp cooking check out Chef Corso. Good luck with this new adventure.
Welcome to Florida! I admire your courage to come down here and leave your comfort zone. The Peace River is a very wild and historic river, and yes it has a lot of gators. I’ve hiked along side of it before at a state park and one of its tributaries. I like how you said it looks like Jumanji….lol. I’ve also heard the Chronicles of Narnia.
That was truly entertaining and I was on the edge of my seat watching for alligators just like you. You're so funny and I will be watching the whole way through, I live in Florida and every time I'm near a puddle I'm on high alert too
I wasn't sleep deprived, in a big life moment, or at my wits end on this trip as much as I was on the AT! I thought about doing a gator count, but I only caught maybe a third of the ones I saw on camera!
I've done a few canoe trips. Saco river Maine is a popular one. Never had to deal with gators though. For blow downs you can usually just go ashore and drag the boat past. Time consuming but does the job. It helps to sing a paddling song as you go. If you get cell service you should stream the movie Deliverance. A perfect movie to set the mood.
Lol nice try, I've seen Deliverance once and that was once too many. And I couldn't just drag it around because of how tall the bank was to the river and the cypress knees in the way
Totally agree, I can honestly say that was the scariest movie I've ever seen, it was so realistic. That was a sadistic comment to suggest watching that, smh@@BeerinBeautifulPlaces
Oh, Lord! How on Earth did you pick this trail? Beautiful, but anything with alligators and I’m out. You need to come up to the Adirondacks (NY) and paddle the St Regis Canoe Area. No alligators! ❤
I love kayaking, but we have no gators here. That a big NOPE. I'll sleep near bears, but gators scare the holy hell out of me. Well done on Day 1! And yeah, the outfitter should have provided you with a kayak PFD. Those orange ones are terrible in a kayak... so uncomfortable.
I feel bad about not wearing the PFD so I'm glad at least one person sees where I was coming from!! All day in that thing would've been a sweaty, scratchy nightmare
Hi Maddie, I really enjoy all of your adventures. The gators do freak me out though! I'd rather deal with the bears in the BWCA here in Minnesota. Looking forward to your next video!
I am from Florida and can say there is a greater chance you’ll be struck by lightning or hit by a car than attacked by a gator! They are very shy creatures. That being said, I too get spooked when I come across one sunbathing! They look like statues!
A physical compass over your phone is a better option. Also there’s times on a river when it will flow north east south and west. They wind and twist thier way through the environment.
I grew up in Central Florida. I used to wade around in a similar river all the time to scoop small fish for my aquarium. I would be up to my hips in water, and have full grown alligators float by in the middle of the river about 3 feet away. Easily could have reached out and touched them. I never had an issue. And I was CACKLING at you freaking out about all the gators. To this day I walk by a gator and don't even bat an eye.
Probably private land on both sides of the river. It's not unusual for some people (aholes) to drop trees across a river to discourage people from using it.
Goodness, you are doing something I would never do. You got guts, babe! Since you're in FL, check out the bioluminescence kayaking. It looks amazing. Take care 😘
i renig my first comment . At least your hanging tough . i dont know what would be worse , hiking the FL trail or Doing your adventure. I really admire your fortitude though
Cool adventure, you're definitely putting yourself out of your comfort zone. Do you keep your trail name "Ranger" when you finish a through hike ? Wish we could give helpful suggestions,but with the delay you'll be done already. I'm concerned you have equipment that isn't attached to the kayak,and also hoping you tie off the kayak when landing. Sure hope this turns into both type one and type two fun ! ✌🏼
I am off the river now and everything turned out alright! You can still call me Ranger if you want! I've noticed if I introduce myself in a video I say Maddie, but if people that found my videos because of the AT still call me Ranger, it's like a nickname for an old friend!
I have kayaked in all sections of Florida and my kayak is the exact same kayak you are in an Old Town Loon (it's even the same color). Gators can be scary but I promise you they will not bother you as long as you don't bother them. This is true the bigger they are because gators that bother people never have the opportunity to grow big! Water moccasins are what you need to avoid like the plague. With all that said I'm sure you are already finished so if I hear you have been eaten by a gator I will have to delete my post!
If only I would have known that out there! I expected the canoe outfitter would’ve told me all I needed to know, but maybe the info just fell through the cracks
Yes, haha, that would have been ideal! The swamp knees and high bank on the side I used made it impossible to lift my kayak up. I don't remember why I couldn't use the other side, but trust me, I would have loved to just drag it around!
1500 miles 1 way from Mississippi to the grand canyon. so my som can retake a picture he made there 10 plus years ago. in Flagstaff tonight hit south kaibab in morning 3 down 3 up. talk to you later. keep getting stuff done!!!
Such an ominous vibe but fun to watch. I'm just waiting for a gator jump in the kayak and praying it doesn't! But I'm sure you have everything under control!
I think a gator would have to be rabid, seriously starving, or something like that to jump out of the water and attack a human! Of course anything can happen, but they seem scared of people
As much as I admire your adventurous spirit this gave me some serious anxiety…the FL wildlife (gators and snakes) are not my vibe…I’ll sleep in the Minnesota woods with the bears moose wolves and cougars any day…I’m glad you made it to your campsite safely…the life vests for paddling are very comfortable…hope you find one for your next water adventure❤
Brave lady, but I’ve been so nervous watching you paddle without a PFD….agree with other comments on Outfitter not stressing & providing. That’s a #1 rule with kayaking. Don’t mean to lecture, just safety tip….Stay safe & enjoy the rest of your trip.
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