Book Review: Canoeing & Kayaking in Florida
11 Dec
We’ve had a cold and snowy start to the winter in and around the Canoeing.com offices here in Minnesota. We’re not complaining; we like all the seasons.
Still, it was a welcome surprise when the book Canoeing & Kayaking Florida (Menasha Ridge Press, $17.95) arrived in our mail. The cover shots of liquid water and green foliage and the talk, inside the book, of gators and manatees made us hanker for a little down-south, winter paddling.
While we don’t claim to be experts on Florida paddling ourselves, the guide book — authored by Johnny Molloy, Elizabeth F. Carter, John Pearce, Lou Glaros, and Doug Sphar and which is a revision and consolidation of earlier Florida guides – is an encyclopedia of paddling info for the Sunshine State.
The 300-plus paged book profiles more than 100 rivers, streams, and costal waterways. It boasts updated maps, ratings for solitude and scenery, and data displays of the class, length, and duration of its trips.
If there’s a criticism, it’s that too much is crammed into too small a volume. The handbook sized pages cramp the photos, maps, tables, and descriptions to make for a busy look and a difficult read. We’re more fond of the browsing-friendly style of the guide books produced by Trails Books, although we acknowledge that the relaxed lay-out comes at a higher cost to buyers.
But the content in Canoeing & Kayaking Florida, however presented, is detailed and comprehensive. If the winter chill gets to be too much for us, the book will be packed with our gear for any Florida paddling we might do.
