Whitewater...maybe???

[RomanLA]

I think I'm going to backpack a section of the Florida Trail this weekend. It's at the confluence of the Suwannee and Withlacoochee Rivers. Both of them have limestone bluffs and shoals creating small rapids. The biggest rapid in Florida (Big Shoals Class III) is right up the road on the Suwannee too. The level is a little low, but I'm going to bring a boat and see what I can find. At least I'll get to paddle in some moving water! lol Anyone ever been to this area?

p.s. For those that like doing multi-day trips on the Buffalo, you may want to look into the Suwannee. It sounds like a nice river.
http://www.canoe-suwannee.com/suwannee.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[JTarver]

Nope, never been there. But be sure to take some video. If we can't paddle any whitewater, we should at least be able to watch someone else do it. It's more fun when it's someone on the board. =)
Have fun, take video.

Joe

[RomanLA]

I'm planning on launching at the state park at the confluence of the two rivers and paddling upstream. Any idea how hard it will be to paddle against a 3mph current in a 8ft river runner?

[David Mac]

I'd say it depend on how much you can stay out of the current. As a general rule the flat-water speed of a kayak is between 4mph and 8mph depending on how hard you are working at it and boat type. (rec boats would be faster than playboats obviously) Anything faster and you're paddling a marathon.

Working upstream against a 3mph current means you are working pretty steadily to get just 1 or 2mph. if you have any kind of slow areas or eddy's to work it will help.