| Aardvark's Group Paddles |
Aardvarks sponsors a kayak club of sorts, Aardvark's Nature Coast Kayakers. We call the club outings outtings
Sunday Safaris. There are several ways to participate in the Sunday Safaris. We've revamped it again to try
to get a few more new paddlers and it may turn out we have more cancelled trips, but I'm going back to
the original informal get together format and dropping the structured membership idea. That means
anyone can come along regardless of where you purchased your boat. It'll be up to you to keep up with
the others. You can also come along on tour using one of our boats at $40 plus tx per outing. The
standard reservation and cancellation policy applies.
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 the no later than the Friday 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 a week in advance. At 7 days out we will cancel the trip if here is not enough interest.
4. Rental boats need to be prepaid 48 hours in advance.
Sunday Safaris. There are several ways to participate in the Sunday Safaris. We've revamped it again to try
to get a few more new paddlers and it may turn out we have more cancelled trips, but I'm going back to
the original informal get together format and dropping the structured membership idea. That means
anyone can come along regardless of where you purchased your boat. It'll be up to you to keep up with
the others. You can also come along on tour using one of our boats at $40 plus tx per outing. The
standard reservation and cancellation policy applies.
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 the no later than the Friday 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 a week in advance. At 7 days out we will cancel the trip if here is not enough interest.
4. Rental boats need to be prepaid 48 hours in advance.
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|
| Sunday |
| ALL |
| Sunday |
| DATE |
| NOTES |
| ALL |
| TRIP |
| SKILL LEVEL* |
| Strong Beginner |
| DAY |
| Sunday |
| Sunday |
| Sunday |
| Strong Beginner |
| LONG |
| LONG |
| LONG |
| Sunday |
| Beyond Beginner |
| Beyond Beginner |
| 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. 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. Kayaks should be a minimum 10' long on the ALL rated trips
and on trips rated greater than ALL, a 13.5' boat should be considered a minimum requirement.
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. 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. Kayaks should be a minimum 10' long on the ALL rated trips
and on trips rated greater than ALL, a 13.5' boat should be considered a minimum requirement.
| Open Water |
| Sunday Safaris are Temporarily Suspended We will restart in the fall with a new lineup. |
| Sunday Safaris are Temporarily Suspended We will restart in the fall with a new lineup. |