We had a great time paddling on Sunday July 12 down Arbuckle Creek. Sean and I knew it was going to be an interesting day after we got some gas at a convince store. A chicken crossed the front of his automobile. I guess it wanted to go paddling with us. We saw several birds and colorful plants.
We are back to offering our friends and future guests unique kayak trips that you will remember fondly. We have great food cooked up. And new themes.…
Sunday July 12 we are inviting you to paddle with us on Arbuckle Creek in Sebring/Avonpark area.
The charge is $20 with your own kayak. There is no parking fee. This is the creek that Sean saw deer along the river bank.
E Arbuckle Road
Avon Park, FL. 33825
Directions:
| Merge onto I-275 Southbound, You will need $2 for this toll road | ||
| Merge onto I-75 south | ||
| Take exit 220 | ||
| Merge left onto SR 64 eastbound, you will travel on this road for 69 miles. | ||
| Turn right onto E Arbuckle Road, you will remain on this road for 3 miles. | ||
| There is a canoe launch located at the end of this road. See you there at 10:30 | ||
| There are no rest rooms at the boat launch | ||
| There is no Parking Fee |
Just respond via email if you are planing on paddling with us, this way we will have plenty of food for our guests. jeff@liquidrhythmkayaking.com
Hey Paddlers,
After writing my previous blog on Sea Urchins titled Search’in For Urchin, I promised to write a blog about First Aid for Marine Animal Bites, Stings, and Punctures. But first we need to put up the dreaded DISCLAIMER: By no means is the information here supposed to be considered THE LAW, and is not to take the place of PROPER MEDICAL TREATMENT BY A LICENSED AND CERTIFIED PHYSICIAN, or other Qualified Healthcare Provider. The info here is for informational purposes only!!!!
Whew!!, Now that we got that out of the way lets cover the animals that could give you a bite, sting, or puncture wound! First the BITERS: These would include the Shark, Barracuda, Moray Eels & their cousins, and just for the sake that they do live in the Keys: Alligators & Crocodiles. All of these animals can deliver quite a nasty bite ranging from just a nip to full on Critical Situation!!!
First and foremost get the victim out of the water. Second, keep the victim calm and still. Third, STOP THE BLEEDING with pressure to the wound site with either towels, wetsuits, or any thing that might be in your first aid kit. YES YOU SHOULD PADDLE WITH A FIRST AID KIT! I recommend Adventure Medical Kits, which can be purchased in sizes from Ultralight to You Too Can Do Surgery(Ha Ha Ha)!! 
Finally get on a phone or VHF Radio and contact Emergency Medical Services immediately and have them standing by or in route to your location!! Regardless of the wound size you should seek Medical attention because most of these animals have Bacteria that live in their mouth and you will need a strong dose of anti-biotics!!! It would suck to survive the bite only to DIE from infection!! I almost forgot some Eels can deliver a BAD SHOCK to you! The treatment for this is to lie down and elevate your feet for 20-30 minutes or until you feel better!
Now lets discuss the STINGERS; which when stung usually leave a PUNCTURE WOUND: These would include Sea Urchins, Stingrays, Scorpion Fish, Lion Fish, Stone Fish, all which would leave behind a nasty puncture wound and possibly a piece of the spine! OUCH! Now we must also include Jellyfish, Man O’ War Jelly Fish(which is not actually a true Jellyfish- but a group of Zooids: 4 types to be exact.) and last but not least some types of Corals – i.e. Fire Coral! While these would not leave a puncture wound they would still leave behind tiny stinging barbs called Nematocyts. If as the first responder you were to touch the same site the victim had been stung at, you too would NOT BE HAPPY! Also the above mentioned Stone Fish, Scorpion Fish & Lion Fish all carry venom that can be FATAL! ONCE AGAIN SEEK PROFESSIONAL MEDICAL HELP!!
FIRST AID should be as follows for Puncture Wound Type Stings: First, wear gloves to remove any part of the Stinger/Spine left in the wound and rinse with SEAWATER! Second, soak affected site in HOT WATER for 20-30 minutes at 110-114 degrees Fahren- heat breaks down venom and relieves pain!
SEEK IMMEDIATE PROF. MEDICAL ADVICE IF:: Cant remove spine or victim starts to show signs of ALLERGIC REACTION- Diff. Breathing/ Uncontrollable Bleeding/ Body Wide Symptoms.
FIRST AID should be as follows for Nematocysts Type Stings: First, Keep victim quiet and still. Second, where gloves (if possible) and try to gently scrape of tentacles with a credit card or or towel. Third, wash area with SALTWATER- freshwater will make the nematocysts fire more toxin. Fourth, Soak affected area in Hot Water for 30-90 minutes. Also can spray affected area with Vinegar- neutralizes the nematocysts/toxins! There are too many variables to use the URINE TRICK- besides we all get p-s-e- on enough in the world!!!! As mentioned before IF THERE ARE ANY DOUBTS ABOUT VICTIMS CONDITION SEEK IMMEDIATE MEDICAL ATTENTION!
Hope You ALL Enjoy the INFO!! Sea Turtle Sean
Hey Paddlers,
Just wanted to drop a post in about The 1st Liquid Rhythm Kayak Trip that took place on June 20th at Chassahowitzka River. This post is a little overdue but as those who read my posts know: I BE BUSY!!
For 8 years Jeff & I led trips & taught classes for Osprey Bay Outdoors(kayaks) a local outfitter who gave us our start, a solid base, and countless hours of instruction!! Jeff and I will never forget who gave us our start, but it was nice to be our own bosses. Also to not have to load 20 rental Yaks was nice too(sure Jeff will agree)!
We had 9 1/2( 1/2 paddler being Nick- I think 4yrs. of age) paddlers on the trip! I must say that I was surprised at the turnout as Jeff and I both have been on a break from guiding and teaching for about 9 months. We had mostly old friends on the trip but did have 3 1/2 new paddlers!!
The weather was good, the water was cool, and the people were GREAT. I had forgotten how other paddlers can really add to your paddling experience!! Although Jeff and I have nothing against having a rental fleet of Yaks or newbie paddlers, for now its really nice to just meet, paddle, and EAT!! Also you don’t feel as though you are having a bunch of in-experienced paddlers to watch out for. Just have to remember to not lay down on the job and be any less vigilant with the paddlers that are on the trip just because they have a little more experience! Jeff had this in an earlier post about becoming lax because you know the area or people you are paddling with.
The other cool thing Jeff and I did was to stay the night at the campground at Chaz River! The staff at the campground are very helpful and accomadating, and at $16.00 a night for the primitive site not a bad deal either! Jeff and I set up our tents in the fading afternoon light with some Guiness Extra Stout Beer, and talked about the people(all GOOD stuff HA HA HA!), places on the river, and wildlife we had seen. We also decided to make a camping trip outa as many paddles this year as we can for the simple fact its nice to extend the trip and not have to pack up and rush home! I believe Jeff said it best: We are actually LIVING THE LIFESTYLE!, not just paddling because its work or about the money. Hope everyone who went had a GREAT TIME,I know Jeff and I did!, & THANK YOU TO THOSE WHO DID PADDLE WITH US. YOU ALL ROCK!!!! YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!!!! Its nice to just be a Paddler/Re-Formed Guide/Instructor again!!
Totally Stoked, Sea Turtle Sean
P.S.- DON’T FORGET ABOUT OUR NEXT TRIP SUNDAY JULY 12TH to the
ARBUCKLE CREEK in SEBRING/AVON PARK AREA of Florida! Directions and times to be posted soon!!!!!
Retailers lure us in and then try to brainwash us into purchasing their flashy inventory. The reality is that we do not need a lot of fancy stuff to stay safe on the water. To think people created the kayak to hunt on some of the deadliest waters known to man. And they survived. Their greatest tool was common sense.
Following the assumption that kayaks are nearly invisible on the water, there are still a few things we can do to increase our chances of being seen. I do not recommend exclusively using chemical light sticks. Their soft glow does little to light a 17 foot kayak. And they easily blend into the nighttime clutter of land lights reflecting off the water.
Some LED lights allegedly produce a 360-degree light visible a mile away on a clear night. I use the “Paddlers Supply Company LED Kayak Deck Light with Suction Cup Base” placed on the stern of my kayak. And I place a “Princenton Tec Aqua Strobe” on highest point of the back of my PFD. I have a Princeton Tec Apex Pro LED Headlamp. My boat has reflective deck lines, and 3M reflective tape. The backside of my paddles also has reflective tape on it.
Interesting, some blogs maintained by retailers have stated that a person can purchase a headlamp that is visible over a mile away (1609.344 meters). This is a curious claim. I have compiled a list of four manufactures and their top headlamps.
It is the law that we paddle with lights on our kayaks. And the lights do help other boaters see us when they are near us. Unfortunately, from a fast moving powerboater’s perspective LED lights are a useless means of marking a kayak at night, as it moves in swells, twilight, in fog, and heavy rains. So, if you still think that powerboats are going to see you and move out of your way then I recommend doing two things. Kiss your loved ones and take out a good life insurance policy.
Beyond using lights there is the use of reflective tape, clothing, and deck lines. The drawback to using them is that a light must hit the reflective surface. Consequently, a powerboat traveling quickly with only their running lights on probably will not cast enough light to make the product visible until they are on top of you.
I always file a Float Plan with my wife and I do not deviate from it. If I am running late I call her. And because I carry a SPOT she can keep track of my location. Nevertheless, my most important piece of common sense gear for paddling at night is paddling with caution. I am always looking around and keeping track of boat traffic. When I see a boat, I stop; focus on what it is doing, and how the red and green lights are oriented on it. If the red light is on the left, the boat is pointed away from me. If the red light is on the right, the boat is pointed towards me. And even though I am lit up like a Christmas Tree and my paddles are covered with reflective tape I assume that the driver of the boat does not see me. It is also difficult to gage distance and the speed of a boat at night. Consequently, the best way to avoid a nighttime collision is to keep your distance from powerboats.
There is one reality to paddling at night. A kayak is nearly invisible on the water. A trained powerboat captain traveling on smooth water at a safe cursing speed on a clear moonlit night will have difficulty seeing a person in a kayak. This is an assumption that I always observe when I paddle at night.
Many powerboat owners are safety minded, and they do observe the rule of the water for traveling at a safe speed. The rule is that “Every vessel shall at all times proceed at a safe speed so that she can take proper and effective action to avoid collision and be stopped within a distance appropriate to the prevailing circumstances and conditions.”
The fact is a few small lights on a 17 foot kayak less than two feet from the surface of the water will not been seen by a boat a mile away moving on plane. Some LED lights produce a 360-degree light visible a mile away on a clear night. In addition, some blogs have stated that a person can purchase a headlamp that is visible over a mile away (1609.344 meters). I will explore that claim in “Kayaking at night: Gear”. Unfortunately, most of these types of lights usually become apart of the nighttime clutter of land lights reflecting off the water.
It is the law that we paddle with lights on our kayaks. And the lights do help other boaters see us when we are around docks, and boat launches. Beyond paddling around docks and boat launches, small LED lights are useless kayaking at night in swells, twilight, in fog, and heavy rains.
I paddle like many of you in seas of three to five foot swells. I also know that there are many people on vacation in my local waters who rent powerboats. Many times vacationers do not know the water like locals and are prone to making mistakes when it comes to navigation. I cannot tell if the person driving the powerboat is a local captain or a tourist. Nor can I tell that they are sober. I am not going to take the risk that the driver will stay on course and navigate the channel markers correctly.
Below is a video of us sitting in our kayaks next to a boat dock listening to a band. Look at how difficult it is to see the slow moving powerboat.
This is why I paddle with caution at night. I am always looking around and keeping track of boat traffic. When I see a boat, I stop; focus on what it is doing, and how the red and green lights are oriented on it. If the red light is on the left, the boat is pointed away from me. If the red light is on the right, the boat is pointed towards me. And even though I am lit up like a Christmas Tree and my paddles are covered with reflective tape I assume that the driver of the boat does not see me. It is also difficult to gage distance and the speed of a boat at night. Consequently, the best way to avoid a nighttime collision is to keep my distance from powerboats and to avoid the five common risks to paddlers (10 May 2009).
—Jeff
In Kayaking on June 21, 2009 at 5:00 am
How [KayakKev] spent [his] summer vacation…
Last Thursday I was talking with Darry Jackson and he was talking about helping some kids in a “Summer Camp” I replied about how that sounded like fun and if he ever needed help to let me know. From the smile on his face I knew I was in trouble, and it was confirmed when he said he would meet me tomorrow at 10am at Bay Pines Kayak launch.
Friday morning I arrived and was pleased to meet a Miss Rhegan Hyypio (the councilor) and a Great group of kids all from Country Day School in Seminole. When the kids showed up, they pick which yaks they wanted to paddle and then worked together to carry them to the water. It was nice to see a team at work.
When we launched, we headed over to a little spoil island a short distance away. I was impressed how well the kids stayed together and paddled as a group with no whinning or complaints. When we hit the waves of a boat wake I expected fear, but all I heard was laughter and cries for more… then I knew we had some natural paddlers with us. When we reached the spoil, everyone got out and went for a short walk…
and when they got done everyone jumped into the water for a quick swim
and a group photo Left to Right are; Amanda, Rhegan, Allen, Trevor, Logan, Tony,Renadall, Jake, Sarah, and Nadine. Thanks kids. 
And then back in our yaks for some more paddling.
and when some of the kids figured out how to splash others with their paddle, I passed my pump over to one of the kids showing what a water cannon it can be… who me??? An instigator???
As we were nearing lunch time it was time to head back. Along the way Darry showed one of the kids how to mix Bronc riding with kayaking
Close to shore there were a couple of kids that decided it was time to get me wet. And as I practised my bracing in trying to resist, they succeeded in flipping my yak and dumping me in the water. And as I am scrambling to collect my gear as it is floating by, the laughter I heard from those kids was the sweetist music I have ever heard.
I hope Darry will ask me to help him again when he does this. And I want to thank everyone that was there for a great day on the water. – KayakKev
After a nine month break from guiding, it was great to get back into the cockpit and take nine guests out onto the Chaz’ this past Saturday. Sean is writing a post about the entire weekend. But I wanted to get some pictures out and thank everyone who paddled with us. – Jeff
Yes there are Blue Crabs in the Chaz’
Whoo Hoo Everyone!
I have been so busy paddling and enjoying life,that its been awhile since I have done a post!! Sorry. Well I’m gonna jump right in then.
The other night Jeff and I went paddling for about 3 hours in the dark just for a new perspective on familiar waters. Boy was it an eye opening experience to say the least!! As we were paddling we happened upon an area of shallows and seagrass beds right off the Veterans Park,an area we paddle all the time. As we sat there observing life on the flats at night,Jeff discovered a creature that we never knew existed in these very well known waters. The SEA URCHIN!!!! I am a native of Florida and have seen the sun bleached shells on our beaches my whole life but had never ran into a living one, let alone hundreds like we did on Wednesday night!!
We were holding and touching them, it was only after we got back, I discovered they can stick you and inject poison! Although not life threatening,(for most people) they will give you a painful punture site for days to come! Fortunately for both Jeff and I, we handled them very carefully and we had no problems!
So after our really cool find; I decided to do some research on our spiny little friends! Check out what I found out: Sea Urchins are Echinoderms, this means they are related to Sea Stars(starfish) and Sand Dollars. The word urchin is olde english for Hedgehog or hedgehog like. They are nocturnal(why we saw them at night in such big grouping)and feed on bits of animal,plant,algae and seaweed. They get as big as 4″ in dia. & like Sea Stars can regenerate broken spines( which gives hope to us amputee paddlers-HA HA HA!!!!) They have 5 teeth that they use to scrape off food from rocks and the seagrasses. These teeth continually grow throughout the urchins lifetime. They also have suction feet called Pedicellaria that they use to grab bits of refuse and attach it to themselves as a means of camoflage and self defense as the sucker feet also can inject a mild amount of stinging toxin.
There are more than 700 different species of Sea Urchins in the world and they are found in waters all over the world-warm and cold! They come in colors ranging from black,red,brown,purple,pink and sometimes green. But the species that lives in warm water cannot change to cold and vice-versa. They have only 3 main predators- Sea Otters, Sea Stars, & Humans. The eggs or rowe have increased in popularity(Caviar) over the last few years especially with humans!!!! They are a very important part of the eco-system for the animals they feed, but can also be very destructive to coral reefs and ecosystems if their numbers become to great- Natures’ little balancing act!!!!
Well I hope everyone has enjoyed this little bit of info, remember to keep your eyes and mind WIDE OPEN for lifes little treasures.To me this is certainly a new respect for the little things- that as cool as they may be can also give quite a wake-up call should you tread on one!!!! WATCH WHERE YOU PUT YOUR HANDS AND FEET!! In a later post I’ll talk about Marine First Aid for bites and stings!!
Happy Paddling and Mahalo to King Neptune Mother Nature!!
Sea Turtle Sean
I would like to thank KayakKev for the help in selling some of my kayak gear. My wife and I have recently had our first child and it is time I make room. The selling of this gear will go towards infant swimming classes and a tandem kayak, so I can introduce my son to paddling. I also appreciate any recommendations on what type of tandem has worked for you. – Jeff
Kevin can ship anything with the cost of shipping being additional. You can reach him at kev_th@yahoo.com if you have any questions.
