Customer Reviews

Without a Paddle: Racing Twelve Hundred Miles Around Florida by Sea Kayak

5 star:		(14)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Last night, I read this book about a 1,200-mile boat race around Florida without putting it down. First of all, I love the man against nature theme. The author, Warren Richey, is one cool-headed, thoughtful and courageous guy. Through tides, wild waves, dangerous water-dwelling beings, sun, darkness, exhaustion and fear, Richey comes as close as one can to the rhythm of nature and survive. All day I've been thinking about how on one of the last nights of this crazy race, he navigates the currents at the mouth of the Sewanee River only to plunge his sea kayak--in the utter dark--into the breaking waves of a stormy Gulf of Mexico. What guts and what an adventure! I enjoyed "experiencing" the watery geography (and history) of Florida, not the one we usually visit, but the seas, rivers, creeks and streams, even the oily, concrete-walled waters of the Intercoastal. I came away knowing the swamps, the mud, the uninhabited islands and the occasional manicured estate lawn where Richey hung his hammock, or fell asleep for a few hours after chomping down some food, somehow still able to distinguish reality from his nightmares. But this journey is far more than man against nature, it is the story of a deeply romantic man finding his sea legs after a failed marriage. He's ready to try marriage again, and in fact is dating the woman of his dreams, but has never let her know. Can he make it to the finish line, let alone win the race? Can he work through the pain and disappointment of one marriage to propose another? This book is a great ride all the way.

I was a little concerned over the first third of this book, as it seemed to be more memoir-style ruminations on failed marriage and finding new love than about kayak adventure, but I stuck with it. I'm glad I did. Once the race begins and Richey spends more time telling us about his adventure, as well as personal and historical anecdotes about the areas he traverses, the book became much more exciting. I still found myself skimming the short chapters that seemed written directly for the benefit of his new love, but that's just me. Other readers might find it heartwarming, it just isn't my thing. I think if there were less of that I would give the book another star or two, but that's just my preference. The book I wanted to read wasn't necessarily the one Richey wanted to write, and there really isn't anything wrong at all with what he delivered. There was still plenty here for me to enjoy anyway, and it definitely makes me want to explore Florida.

Just finished Without a Paddle -- in a day -- could not put it down. My S.E. Fla kayak club has paddled many of the areas mentioned and it's fun seeing them through Warren's eyes. Have not had so many laughs reading a book in a long time. Even though I paddle frequently, there is no way I could possibly do the race. But, by Warren's laying out the different portions of the trip, my friends and I realize that we could do it in bits and pieces. This book allows an avid paddler or armchair-paddler to appreciate all the beautiful sights available from the water.

Went to a book review and reading by Warren and he talks just like he writes--very knowledgeable and likeable. Looking forward to another adventure and book.

As a keen sea kayaker, member of WaterTribe (KiwiBird) and fan of Warren Richey as Sharkchow, I was drawn to the book. Not only did it fulfill my interest in learning more about the actual paddling and logistics and down-right hard knacker involved in a 1,200 mile paddling race, I learned more about the author than I knew. I want to thank Richey for sharing his heart, his soul and his love for life and for Linda, and for his son. I feel extremely privileged to have been able to join him on such a wonderful, beautiful journey.

There are many things that go on inside the cockpit during a 1200 mile race, some are race issues (camping, eating, etc) but many are not. The book touches on all the issues- including the myriad of emotions and sometimes truly odd thoughts that go through one's mind. But the book touches on much more than just the Ultimate Florida Challenge.

Perhaps the best compliment that I can give the book is that for those who want a good feeling of what it is like to be in a 1200 mile event, "Without a Paddle" captures that and much more.

Great read! Thanks for taking the time to write it and share part of your on and off the water experiences.

Bill "SnoreBringGator" Herrmann
2010 UFC Finisher

Warren Richey has produced a great read "Without a Paddle". It is fantastic!
I wish I could take on a challenge like paddling a kayak around Florida. I don't have the courage. It was great being a witness to the planning and the challenges of Warren.
I enjoyed the narrative about Florida. I learned so much about a state I have visited many times, especially places I have actually been yet knew so little.
I marveled at Warren's taking measure of his life. Rarely do I take the time to think about where I am in life and where I want to go. A 45 minute walk on the beach does wonders for me. Twenty days on the water must be a rare experience. I appreciate Warren's sharing.
The book reminded me to appreciate life more fully-a hot shower, a warm meal, a candy bar and time spent with family and friends.
I especially enjoyed Warren's model for decision making expressed with a single question-"Is the door open?"
My most important take away was the realization and reminder that we are better than we think we are. When we think we have gone as far as we think we can, we can still go further. My recommendation for a second book would be an expansion on "Is the door open?"
This is a great book and fun to read.

A great book! I have kayaked a handful of times, probably only a mile or two at a time, so I'm not familiar with the challenges of tackling a 1,200-mile sea kayaking race, but this book really captivated me. The author puts you inside his boat and his head throughout his incredible and grueling journey. The race is the backdrop and often the focus of the story, which is compelling on its own, but what does a person do when alone on the water for days on end? He (or she) reflects on life experiences (past, present and future) - love, loss, work, play, parenting, fears, joys, highs, lows... that's what raises this book to another level and makes it relevant and interesting to anyone who reads it.

Sea kayaker or not, read this memoir!

WITHOUT A PADDLE: RACING TWELVE HUNDRED MILES AROUND FLORIDA BY SEA KAYAK is a pick for any travel, memoir or nautical library, offering a fine survey of the author's discovery of kayaking the Ultimate Florida Challenge. With only 30 days to complete 1,200 miles, Richey found himself recovering from loss and undertaking many challenges. A top pick!

The Ultimate Florida Challenge: 1200 miles by small craft in 30 days or less. No motors, no cars, no outside help. This is the race for those who are looking for more of a challenge than the Everglades Challenge, a tough as nails 300 mile race from Ft. Desoto in Clearwater, to Key Largo. My wife and I are entering our first Everglades Challenge in March 2011, so I made sure to both read this book, and meet Warren at a book signing. Both were eminently worthwhile.

It's taken me over a week to really digest this work and discuss it. It's really deep, and yet elegantly simple in the way it's written, and you really feel like you've just had a long conversation with the author when it's over. And, although I'm not going to give away the ending, I will tell you that I understand why certain things took the amount of time that they did.

This is a story of a man, his life, a crazy trip, and what brought them all together in what seems like an inevitable part of his existence. Lulled into domestic complacency while somehow unconsciously knowing there were problems, he, like many others, was thrown into the miasma of a divorce with no real warning, just the signs we all ignore.

In recovery mode, Warren discovers kayaking. With a vengeance. As many of us have done, he walked into the kayak (substitute store of choice here) store with no intention of doing anything more than sampling a kayak, and walked out with more than he bargained for. And not just with the boat.

Warren leads us forward through getting ready for the race, while simultaneously leading us through his life and what got him to where and who he was at the beginning of the book. We discover that Warren is simply a man, and that being simply a man is enormously complex. Warren offers insights into himself that are seldom voiced, and even thinking similar introspective thoughts scares many of us away from ourselves. Warren embraced himself instead, sometimes reluctantly, sometimes full speed ahead, and the results show him to be far deeper than you expect. In fact, the most memorable line in the book, for me, had nothing at all to do with the trip. Rather, Warren was reminiscing about raising his son, and he wrote that "it's a mother's job to teach a child how to live,while it's a father's job to teach a child how not to die".

I've written this much without even discussing the race, so let me tell you, Warren describes it fantastically. You will feel the adventure inside as you follow the narrative, especially knowing that, as you start the book, somewhere in the chapters ahead is the part about the 40 mile portage, where the entrants have to race across LAND with their boats!

Until I read Warren's book, I thought my adventure during the 1989 La Carrera Panamericana Rally in Mexico was pretty heady stuff. I still think it was a great, grueling adventure, but Warren, a simple man with a unique depth of character, strength, and spirit, has helped me put myself in perspective.

I bought this book twice...left one half read on a plane, so had to buy it a 2nd time. And yet it was worth it.

This book is hysterical...the way he talks about his car, his life, his divorce just had me in hysterics. I can't recommend it enough.

For those of us also enjoying a mid life crisis...it made me laugh.