James Broxson
Have you ever dreamed about adventuring up one of our local rivers or waterways? I believe that all of us have at one point, now imagine doing it on a paddle board. Crazy? Not necessarily. 100 percent hardcore adventure? You bet. The sport of SUP has grown immensely in the past few years and it shows no sign of slowing down. The latest craze is hopping on an SUP and going on an expedition that is both relaxing and challenging. The crew over at BOTE Boards took a trip last year and paddled 100 miles through the Everglades! Now get this, they did it in 4 days, eating only what they caught, while seeing numerous sharks and alligators. If you visit their website, www.boteboard.com, you can read about their adventure. I am not suggesting that everyone has to go to this extreme, but there is nothing like paddling. The sense of adventure and exploration makes you feel a little closer to nature and a little more in tune with your surroundings. Integrating paddling with camping has become very popular within the past year but you have to be prepared for these kind of excursions. Weight means everything, so make sure that you only bring what you need. Water, safety gear and a way to make fire are all essential items but you have to have a way to keep it dry. Make sure that you have a quality dry bag that fits on your board. Also, instead of a tent, try a light weight hammock with a rainfly in order to conserve space and weight. SUP expeditions are a great way to get back to the basics and enjoy the outdoors in a minimalistic form. Broxson Outdoor carries all of the paddling gear necessary for the first time paddler to the most seasoned veteran. This weekend all of our 2015 BOTE boards will be 20 percent off MSRP, so now would be a great time to come by the store and see our selection. You could save up to $500 on select models just in time to enjoy the cooler fall weather. Look for a fall fishing update in our next article.
