Aardvark's Group Paddles for August/September 2010
READ CAREFULLY - WAIVER AND RELEASE OF LIABILITY - IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE YOU MUST AGREE TO
THE FOLLOWING
I agree as follows:
I fully understand and acknowledge that outdoor recreational activities have: (a) inherent risks,
dangers and hazards and such exists in my use of Aardvark's Florida Kayak Company equipment and my
participation in Aardvark's Florida Kayak Company activities; (b) my participation in such activities and/or
use of such equipment may result in injury or illness including, but not limited to bodily injury, disease,
strains, fractures, partial and/or total paralysis, death or other ailments that could cause serious disability;
(c) these risks and dangers may be caused by the negligence of the owners, employees, officers or agents of
Aardvark's Florida Kayak Company; the negligence of the participants, the negligence of others, accidents,
breaches of contract, the forces of nature or other causes. Risks and dangers may arise from foreseeable or
unforeseeable causes including, but not limited to, guide decision making, including that a guide may
misjudge terrain, weather, trail or river route location, and water level, risks of falling out of or drowning
while in a canoe or kayak and such other risks, hazards and dangers that are integral to recreational
activities and/or use of equipment, I hereby assume all risks and dangers and all responsibility for any
losses and/or damages, whether caused in whole or in part by the negligence or other conduct of the
owners, agents, officers, or employees of Aardvark's Florida Kayak Company, or by any other person. I
further agree to abide by a policy of no alcohol on rental or guided trips and to wear a life jacket at all
times.

I, on behalf of myself, my personal representatives and my heirs hereby voluntarily agree to
release, waive, discharge, hold harmless, defend and indemnify Aardvark's Florida Kayak Company and its
owners, agents, officers and employees from any and all claims, actions or losses for bodily injury,
property damage, wrongful death, loss of services or otherwise which may arise out of my use of
Aardvark's Florida Kayak Company equipment or my participation in Aardvark's Florida Kayak Company
activities. I specifically understand that I am releasing, discharging and waiving any claims or actions that
I may have presently or in the future for the negligent acts or other conduct by the owners, agents, officers
or employees of Aardvark's Florida Kayak Company. . I permit the use of any photos, slides, films, or
sketches taken during the day’s activities for publicity, advertising, promotion or other commercial
purpose. The above agreement shall be binding on my heirs, successors, assigns, administrators and
executors.

The Venue of any dispute that may arise out of this agreement or otherwise between the parties to
which the Aardvark's Florida Kayak Company or its agents is a party shall be either the city of Inverness,
Florida Justice Court or the County Court in Citrus County, or State Supreme Court in Leon County, FL
I HAVE READ THE ABOVE WAIVER AND RELEASE AND BY SIGNING up for any trip, AGREE THAT IT IS
MY INTENTION TO EXEMPT AND RELIEVE Aardvark's Florida Kayak Company. Inc FROM LIABILITY FOR PERSONAL
INJURY, PROPERTY DAMAGE OR WRONGFUL DEATH CAUSED BY NEGLIGENCE OR ANY OTHER CAUSE.
Aardvarks sponsors a kayak club of sorts, Aardvark's Nature Coast Kayakers.  We are revamping how the club
works and our outings are now called Sunday Safaris. There are several ways to participate in the Sunday
Safaris. MEMBERSHIP (1) Buy a new or demo kayak from Aardvark’s and receive a free membership to our
club, Aardvark's Nature Coast Kayakers. Members paddle free on the Sunday Safaris. Free memberships
are retroactive, so if you’ve already bought a kayak from us, you’re in.  (2) If you have your own boat, but it
was bought from someone else, you can purchase a membership for $25 a month, $125 for 6 months, or
$200 a year. We average* four paddles a month, so that comes out to $6.25 a trip at the monthly rate, $5.21
at the 6 month rate, and $4.17 at the yearly rate. (3) If you don’t have your own boat, purchase a
membership and receive a rental at $25 plus tx per trip. (4) Reserve on a per trip basis at $40 (plus tx) per
person per trip regardless of who provides the boat..

(*) Adverse weather may cause cancellation of some trips and effect the actual number run. Standard
reservation and cancellation policies apply to paid memberships requiring use of our equipment.
Memberships are not transferable and other restrictions may apply. When bringing your own gear,
minimum lengths and skills may be required to participate in some trips.If you want to come along, check
the appropriate boxes, enter your e-mail notification information and hit send when you're through.

1. Sign up is online.  We need you to do that so the insurance waiver is covered.  If you don't have a computer then
you'll need to come by the shop and sign the waiver in person and get put on the list. Once you do that, you'll get
launch time and directions. They will be available one week before each trip. If you are renting, you can pay for your
rental at this time. (See #4)

2.  Notification is by e-mail .  Often I don't pick a specific launch point until I have a good weather forecast at about a
week out. From here on, it is a two e-mail system.  The 1st e-mail goes out not later than the day before the trip.  It
usually goes out on the Friday before. This e-mail contains a confirmation of launch time and a map or directions to the
launch point. I will now always send out a 2nd e-mail the morning of the trip confirming or cancelling. If you don't
have a computer, you'll need to call between 7:00 am - 7:30 am to check the trip's status.

3.  You must sign up at least 48 hours in advance.

4.  Rental boats need to be prepaid 48 hours in advance.
Reservations are Required.
Once you've submitted the form, kick back and relax.  I usually send out maps and final itinerary 2 or 3
days before the event.  If you haven't heard anything by the night before, you might want to check in.  
Hint: Double check your e-mail address before you submit, if it's not right or not there, I can't send you
the info. We cannot make notifications by phone and still keep this a free service. Feel free to call us at
the shop during normal working hours for updates if you don't have e-mail.
 
 
TRIP SIGN UP
Check  the Appropriate Boxes to Sign Up for the Trips, Then Fill Out the Contact Portion and Hit the SUBMIT Button.
I Want To Go To:
 I Need a Rental
Lake Henderson
Ozello Sandy Hook
Demo Day
Withlacoochee Bay
Gum Slough
Your name:
St. Martins Keys
Your email address:
Blue Spring
Initial to agree to the
waiver
Suwanee
Comments or Questions
Are you a member as
defined above?  Yes/No
St. Martins Keys
Sunday
Intermediate
Sunday
Free Demo Day Wallace Brooks Inverness
LONG
DATE
NOTES
Very Long
Beyond Beginner
TRIP
SKILL LEVEL*
September 5
ALL
Ozello Lunch at Sandy Hook
Lake Henderson Sunrise
August 22
Sunday
DAY
August 8
Sunday
Sunday
September 12
Intermediate
Withlacoochee Bay
Gum Slough
Sunday
August 15
August 29
ALL
LONG
Blue Spring
Current
Sunday
September 19
Beyond Begginer
All
Suwanee River
Some Current
Sunday
September 26
ALL
We've developed a Skill Level classification system to better enable people to judge if they have the skills necessary to
make a given trip. Remember we do teach beginners classes on an on demand basis.

* Skill Level. Please Note:  None of these are float trips which means you will need to actually paddle. These
classifications are meant to give you some idea whether you should consider going on the trips.  All generally means that
the trip is suitable for any skill level, including first timers but as with any outdoor activity, you may encounter unexpected
conditions that can make the trip more strenuous than you thought. Kayaks must be at last 10' long.  Beyond Beginner
means that you should at last have some idea of how to paddle and have been on at least a few outings or taken a basic
class before trying this trip level. Kayaks need to be at least 12' long. Strong Beginner means that in addition to having
some basic skills, you need to have the endurance to paddle distances longer than 6 miles, spend up to 4 hours sitting in a
kayak and handle  less than optimal conditions (wind/current). Kayaks need to be at least 13.5' long. Intermediate means
that in addition to having some basic skills and physical ability, that you have some knowledge of basic rescue techniques
and can perform at least an assisted rescue as both rescuer and rescue. Kayaks need to be at least 13.5' long. Advanced
means that in addition to the intermediate skills you can successfully perform a self rescue in adverse conditions and have
the proper equipment necessary for offshore paddling.  Kayaks need to be at least 13.5' long.

These classifications are just guidelines to let you self-evaluate your potential to participate and should be considered as
minimal skills.  For those bringing your own boat a word of advice.  Except on the ALL level trips, you may find yourself
working hard to keep up if you are paddling very short boats. I don't want to discriminate against short boats (<12'), but
they are not suitable for much more than a short paddle on flat water or a downstream float trip.  That being said, feel free
to come along on the ALL and Beyond Beginner level trips but be forewarned. On trips rated greater than ALL, a 13.5'
boat should be considered a minimum requirement.

For August and September:

First we'll try to beat the heat and do a Sunrise Paddle on Lake Henderson.  We'll start out in the little lake and move on
over to the big lake with a stop at Wallace Brooks.  ALL

Ozello Lunch on Sandy Hook.  We are recycling this one. Sandy Hook is a large shallow sandbar just north of Mullet Key.  
This is a leisurely paddle, but there may be some tidal action.  Time permitting, we may swing on over toward Shark Point
and the Bird Keys. Bring a lunch.  ALL

Demo Day. This one is by request. Location to be Determined.  We'll be bringing an array of sea kayaks for people to try
as well as demonstrating some basic techniques.  ALL

Withlacoochee Bay starts north of the Withlacoochee River and continues north.  We tried this last month but had to cut ti
short because of the wind. This is the southern edge of what is one of the most remote areas of Florida's west coast, the
Big Bend.  Dolphins are almost always a sure bet.  It's a bit of open water and a rather long trip compared to some of the
others, so I rate this as Intermediate.

Gum Slough is next.  It'll be hot, but we'll take a dip in the head spring.  For the uninitiated, this is considered an adventure
paddle by many. Watch out for the Poison Ivy. Wild and scenic with a heavy canopy, but long at more than 12 miles total.
Beyond Beginner

The St. Martins Keys lies off the mouth of the Homosassa River.  We'll launch in Ozello and take the St. Martins River out to
the tidal flats.  We'll take a more northerly route than usual.  The flats are unique in that they hold stands of star coral and
large loggerhead sponges.  Also expect to see some sea turtles along the way.  Intermediate

Blue Spring is on the Withlacoochee upriver from the HWY 200 Bridge.  It's a scenic section of the River and has a great
swimming hole.  The current can be strong heading upriver so it Beyond Beginner

Finally to close out the summer, we'll head up to Fanning/Manatee Springs on the Suwanee River to watch for flying fish (or
artillery shells as one of the locals calls them).  They are actually Gulf Sturgeon and they jump like mullet but weigh up to
200 lbs.  This is an hour and a half drive north.  ALL