Paddle with the Authors of Florida Keys Paddling Atlas

Love Florida?

Love the outdoors?

Love kayaking?

If you answered “yes” to two out of three or all three questions, you might want to consider joining husband-and-wife writing team, Bill and Mary Burnham on one of their three customized kayaking trips.

As American Canoe Association (ACA) trained instructors, you can gain one-on-one instruction along the way as well as come away with a new set of skills to add to those you already have, says Mary Burnham.

Choose from the two-day/one-night Seven Mile Bridge Crossing tour or the two-day to five –day Lower Keys Backcountry tour, both offered through March. Then there’s the  ultimate nine-day/eight-night Paddle to Paradise: Key Largo to Key West, on February 9-17 and March 12-20.

“We’ve been dreaming of offering the Key Largo to Key West tour since researching the Florida Keys Paddling Atlas (2007) back in the early 2000’s,” says Burnham. “In February 2008, we did a 100-mile tour by kayak that included slide-shows, book signings and short ‘paddle with the authors’ along the way. All of this set up the idea that we could offer the trip as a guided service.”

“No one else we know of is guiding a trip of the entire 110-mile Florida Keys Paddling Trail.”

When asked if they have a favorite tour, she replies that while all of the Keys are beautiful, they really enjoy any place they can set up a tent, and watch the sunset and the birds feeing in the flats.

“This is typically in the Lower Keys, where the water is shallow and Caribbean blue.”

That’s not to say that other tours don’t have their special appeal.

“The Seven Mile Bridge trip is unique in its history of the building of Flagler’s Railroad, with a stop on Pigeon Key, a former work camp. The Lower Keys trip gets you into the backcountry, away from the sounds of Route 1 and on the edge of the Gulf of Mexico. It’s ‘out there’!”

And when it comes to paddling from Key Largo to Key West, she adds it’s really about “the people you meet along the way, the ability to pull up to a cool tiki bar for lunch or a cocktail at the end of the day and hang out with the locals.”

If you are thinking about joining them on a tour, be prepared for primitive camping, say Burnham.

“We bring in everything we need, including water, and take out all waste that we create. We truly strive for no-impact and Leave No Trace. As far as what to bring, proper clothing and footwear, a personal flashlight, water bottle and toiletries. we supply all food, water, camping and paddling gear.”

Remember to pack light, because Burnham says that everything must fit into the hatches of the sea kayaks.

While you should leave electronics at home, she does encourage you to “bring your camera.”

The Florida Keys Paddling Atlas earned the National Outdoor Book Award for best outdoor guidebook in 2008. Burnham describes it as a “first-of-its kind product.” The book features a nautical annotated chartbook made specifically for a paddler’s needs: where to launch, camp, rest, dine and more with insider tidbits on local history, flora and fauna.

All photos are courtesy of Burnham Guides, LLC: (top left) Paddling the Keys; (middle right) Billy key deer; (bottom left) Camp Burnham