Carribean Kayak Trip
1 About Me 8
2 Education
3 Philosophy
4 Politics
5 News
6 Travel
7 Sports
8 Funding
1000s
1 Countries 0 0
2 8 Reasons Why 0 0
3 Gear 0 0
1 Travel
2 Get into Shape
3 Educate Myself
4 Make Youtube Videos
5 Entertain & Inspire Others
6 Be Alone
7 Be in Nature
8 Not Have to Work
2 Countries
1 USA 1stx
2 Mexico
3 Belize
4 Honduras
5 Nicaragua
6 Costa Rica
7 Panama
8 Columbia
9 Arruba
10 Venezuela
11 Trinidad & Tobago
12 Grenada
13 Saint Vincent & The Grenadines
14 Barbados
15 Saint Lucia
16 Martinique
17 Dominica
18 Guadeloupe
19 Montserrat
20 Antigua & Barbuda
21 Saint Kitts & Nevis
22 St Eustasis & Saba
23 Saint Barts
24 Saint Martins
25 Anguilla
26 British Virgin Islands
27 US Virgin Islands & Puerto Rico
28 Dominican Republic
29 Haiti
30 Turks & Caicos
31 Bahamas
32 USA 2ndx
UKT
1 Pages 0
2 Time 0
Views
Visitors
Facts
1 Miles/Kilometers
9,173/14,677
2 Duration
2 Years
3 Countries &
Territories
34
4 Countries
22
5 French Territories
4
6 Dutch Territories
3
7 British Territories
5
8 US Territories
2
9 US States
5
10 Islands
90
11 Mountains
46
12 Volcanoes
14
13 Island Crossings
64
Videos
4 The Ultimate Kayak 1, 2, 3, 4
6 Interview
3 List
1 Computer & Phones
2 Navigation
3 Filming
4 MP3's
5 Power
6 Lighting
7 Fishing
8 Cooking
9 Water
10 Kayak Parts
11 Repair
12 Safety
13 Security
14 Straps, Clips & Carribeaners
15 Bags & Cases
16 Transport & Excersize
17 Toiletry & 1st Aid
18 Clothing
19 Sleep & Comfort
1 8 Reasons Why in Order of Importance
scan0540-2
Good question. There's lots of reasons to do the Ultimate Kayak Trip. The first thing to do is look at the UKT as a lifestyle and not an expedition. Even though my goal is to complete the loop, I don't have a time frame for it; I just want to live the life of the sea kayaker. I have so many activities to do, and all on a different beautiful tropical beach every night. The UKT is the best big Kayak Trip in the World because it's so warm and you see so many countries, languages, volcanoes, ship wrecks, history, and varaity of kayaking conditions.
 
 

1) Travel - Traveling is great. You get to learn that how big the world is and how many different kinds of people there are and how many different way to be there are to choose from. It's amazing to imagine how a place will be and then being amazed with how much you guessed correctly and how many new qualities the place has that you never anticipated.

The best way to travel through these countries is by kayak. I can accomplish a lot more if I travel by kayak. If I travel the traditional way I would use up all my time, money and energy sitting and waiting for things, but if I kayak I'll excersize all day and will be free from the useless distractions that traditional travel has, like waiting in line.

 
2) Get into Shape The UKT is the best way to get into shape. All I will be doing is excersizing and sleeping. Kayaking is a good whole body work out because you have to use so many muscles. You have to hold a paddle up in front of you using your Lats and Triceps, then dig it into the water using your back and biceps. You have to propel the boat with your butt so every muscle in your core is always flexed and working. I will also paddle standing up which will diversify the muscles that I use even more as well as give my legs a work out.

The only muscles that won't be totally worked while I'm kayaking are my legs, but I have my own excersizes on the land for that. I will get up at the crack of dawn and stretch for a half hour and then do my excersizes on my excersize page for an hour or two with the goal of filming the breaking of the records of as many excersizes as I can, filming every new Personal Record so it can go on youtube. I will also get a lot of good excersise while I'm snorking around hunting for fish.

  3) Educate Myself - The UKT is the best way to learn because audio is the best way to learn, and the UKT is the best way to listen to Audio. Audio is the best way to learn because you can study all day every day and keep doing what you normally do, instead of putting everything on hold while you sit on your ass and burn your eyes out on a book. If you sit on a couch and read a book all day, your body will begin to ache, and the reduced volume of blood passing through your body and brain will reduce your brain function and hinder your ability to retain what you are reading, however if you excersize while you listen, your heart constantly pumps fresh oxygenated blood to your brain to power your thoughts and retain the information. The UKT is the best method to learn this way because of it's physical strenuity mixed with the simplemindedness of sitting in a boat and paddling; keeping the distractions to an absolute minimum.

I have a great audio encyclopedia. It is 297 Gigabytes, has 22,067 files, 1,585 folders and covers pretty much everything, but specializes in history, with 211 Gigs dedicated to that. I have my entire collection layed out here condensed in a way that I can have a good understanding of what I have, so I can constantly listen to the subjects that are interesting to me at the time that I want to listen to them.

 
  4) Make Youtube Videos I love making Youtube Videos, and the UKT is the very best lifestyle choice if that is your priority. My Youtube Channel Kylepounds has 2,336 videos and 155 Playlists and covers just about every subject. I love making videos because it's fun to get into a mental zone where I let all of my accumulated knowledge from different sources in a fascinating way that ties everything together into a conceptual framework that is unique to myself. I learn more every time I watch myself on camera, and it's always fascinating to notice what I forget and what I remember to say and how I say it. I always have something new to talk about. The only thing that keeps me from making more videos is that I am usually preocupied with something and can't take the time to just do it.

Time isn't going to be an issue while I'm on the UKT because I can make videos while I paddle. I have tripods that I can fix to the boat in front of me that can hold my camcorder so I can make videos while I paddle. It it's too windy that day I can do it while I'm lying in the hammock. Either way, I'll always have the time to make more videos.

I have all the talking videos that I have done organized in their playlists on my Video page that I can look at on my cell phone to get ideas about subjects to talk about. When I get an idea about a video to do I put it in it's appropriate playlist with a green background. I have a lot of video ideas accululated there now, and will continue to get more with each new video that I record. Recording videos gives me ideas about more videos to do because I see where I want to expand on certain concepts.

 
  5) Entertain & Inspire Others - There's something magnetic about a story that you can see unfold every day in all it's detail, and you never know what will happen. I learned that last winter when my six year old channel went from 700-1100 subscribers in three months because I started doing daily vlogs, where all I did was talk about my boring life as a history researcher (the UTL maker). I know that if somebody had a detailed daily Vlog that I would definitely watch it because it would be interesting to see how their life ebbs and flows with their mood and the pattern of their activities and fequency of their various activities, etc... The key is to explain all the details of what you do from day to day so people feel like they are living your life with you.

I want a lot of other people to do this trip after me. People have the wrong attitude towards big trips like this. They think they are harder than they really are.

 
  6) Being Alone I love being alone and the UKT is the best way to be alone. Over the last couple of years I have developed a taste for being alone and have learned that in the period that I am in my life right now I need to be alone all the time if I am going to be able to learn my audio encyclopedia, make videos and keep my body in good physical condition.



The UKT is the best way to life a simple life with no distractions where I can do all the things that I want to do. I can be all by myself and share it with the world at the same time. There's nothing I can think of that I would rather do for the next couple of years. The sky is the limit.
 
  7) Be in Nature The UKT is the best way I can think of to be immersed in the elements of nature in a comfortable yet fascinating way, and it's a wonderful feeling being in touch with nature. Our bodies soak up the vitamins and minerals that the sun and water and and smells of plants and ozone and animals and everything else the natural world has to offer. We shouldn't forget that we come from the natural world and so being physically emmersed into it is healthy for our bodies.

It's also amazing to watch all the wildlife swimming below me and birds flying above me and all the animals scurrying around. I think after a few weeks of snorkling that I'll start to recognize the different kinds of fish and their behaviors and how to catch them, which should be fun.

 
  8) Not Have to Work I predict the UKT will not be very expensive. I already bought all my gear, and I'll be far away from a store for the vast majority of the time, so the only thing I will need to spend money on is the $100 & 65$ per month Cell and Satelite bills and the simplest, cheapest food I can get. Plus, I will have the opportunity to fish with my pole and spear. I will send my memory cards to my mother to upload to youtube, so I my phone bills should be covered by the money I make from youtube from that. The UKT should be a much more interesting vlog than the living in the van was, and I was making $135/month from that when I was doing it.

* The possible extremily low cost of this trip is something to be considered by kayakers who have the gear and might otherwise think that money is an obstacle when it's really not. I am extremily interested in seeing how the finacial part of the trip pans out, because if it turns out to be very cheap there is no reason why this trip shouldn't be something that many more people will do in the years to come.

 
Gear Organized By Funtion
Computer & Phones
Comp
Cable
Battery
Sat Ph
Cable
Cell
Cable
HD
HD &
Cable
Navigation
GPS
GPS
Watch
Map
Map
Case
Watch
Compass
Filming
Camcorder
Helmet
Camcorder
Cell
MP3's
Sony
Sandisk
Roxio
Power
Panels
Battery
Chargers
AA's
AAA's
Inverter
Lighting
Green Light
Blue Light
Light Blue Light
Fishing
Pole
Bait
Mount
Spear
Strap
Mask,
Snorkel
Fins
Neo Bib
Neo
Shirt
Neo
Shorts
Neo
Gloves
Neo Hat
Cooking
Jetboil
Mugs
Cans
MSR
Pot
Cans
Fork
Spoon
Knife
Water
Bladders
23 L
Fresh
Filter
Salt
Filter
Sail
Kayak Parts
Kayak
2 Paddles
2 Skirts
2 Covers
Pontoons
Sail
2 Pumps
Electric
Pump
Xtra
Rudder
Repair
Vinal Bond
Aqua SealĀ 
Sealant
Rubber Cement
Patches
Nuts & Bolts
Wrench
Xtra Straps
Xtra Clips
Pump
Needles
Thread
Straps & Clips
2 Deck
Straps
3 Pole
Straps
Back
Strap
Yoke
Strap
Paddle
Clip
Spear
Clip
Bag
Clip
Pole
Clips
Safety
Radar
Light
Flares
Radios
Whistle
Throw
Ropes
Helmet
Security
Big Lock
2 Little Locks
10 Pad Locks
Mace
Bags & Cases
8 Deck
Cases
3 Deck
Bags

Cook
Bag
2 Comp
Bags
Battery
Bag
Cable Bag
Strap Bag
Toilet
Bag
Sleep & Comfort
Sleeping
Bag
Hammock
2 Tarps
Chair
2 Pads
Poles
Toiletry & 1st Aid
Hair
Brush
Tooth
Brush
Bar
Soap
Vaseline
Sun Screen
Blister
Pads
Bug
Creme
Band Aids
Dram
Asprin
Asthma
Pills
Asthma
Inhalers
Contacts
Contact
Cases
Hair Ties
Clothing
3 Pair Socks
Long T Shrit
Shorts
Hat
Rain
Jacket
Rain
Pants
Gloves
Glasses
Glasses
Strap
Croakies
Jacket
Tank Toop
Long
Undies
Arm Warmers
Leg Warmers
Sandles
Lycra Hat
Transport & Excersize
Cart
Pump,
Patches
Yoke
Strap
Jump
Rope
Jump
Weights

Gear Organized by Location

WS_NorthStar_Pro_side_previ
Deck
Rear Deck
Cart
Poles
Locator Light
Radar Beacon
2 Solar Panels &
Charger
Hat
Mid Deck
Fins
Mask & Snorkel
Fishing Pole
Fishing Spear
Extra Paddle
Extra Paddle
Shark Leash
Front Deck
Grill
Yoke
Dry Bags
Cooking Bag
Jetboil Stove &
Canister
Pocket Knife
Cookable Food
Spoon & Knife
Food
Salt
Mid Deck Dry Bag - Clothes
Warm Weather Gloves
Cold Weather Gloves
Neoprene Gloves
Neoprene Hat
T Shirts
Jacket
Rain Jacket
Rain Pants
Front Deck Dry Bag - Neoprene
Neoprene Bib
Neoprene Shirt
Neoprene Shorts
Front Cockpit Dry Bag - Food
Inverter
Pasta
Bread
Cheese
Dried Fruit
Fresh Fruit
Canned Food
Salt
Cases
 
Near Left Case - MP3 & Video
GPS
Camcorder
Walkman MP3
Sandisk MP3
Roxio MP3
Earphones
Near Right Case - Phone & Watch
Satelite Phone
GPS Watch
Cell Phone
Earphones
Far Left Case - Charging
GPS Watch
Charger & Cable
4 USB Cables
for 3 MP3's & Cell
Far Right Case - Battery
AA & AAA Batteries
Battery Tester
Xtra Camcorer Batt
Front Cockpit Back Left Case - Fishing
Bait
Hooks
Line
Xtra Parts
Front Cockpit Back Right Case - Charging
Shark Leash Charger
Camera Charger
Bread
Cheese
Front Cockpit Front Left Case - Food
Fruit
Cans
Bread
Cheese
Front Cockpit Front Right Case - Food
Fruit
Cans
Bread
Cheese
Inside
Rear Compartment Dry Bag
Sleeping Bag
Hammock, Tarps
Spare Rudder
Computer
Computer Battery
Computer Cable
Main Hull

Xtra Bladders

Front Compartment Dry Bag
MSR Stove
3 MSR Canisters
Pot
WS_NorthStar_Pro_side_previ
IMGA0440
Cable
Case
IMGA0442
Cards
IMGA0387
Extra Battery
IMGA0533
External Hard Drive & Cable
Computer & Phones
satelite phone
Satellite Phone

satelite phone caseCase

IMGA0443
Cable
IMGA0390
Windows 7.5 Samsung Focus Flash Cell
 
     
Gear
IMGA0431
Suunto Vector Watch
gps
Garmen Colorado GPS
carribean maps
SanDisk GPS Cards
for the Carribean
IMGA0452
2 AA Batteries
IMGA0451
Clip
IMGA0467
Stand
IMGA0534
Compass
compass light
Compass Light
Navigation
IMGA0382
Canon ZR830 Camcorder
IMGA0384
Charger and
Extra Battery
IMGA0383
Remote Control
tripod
Video Camera Flexible Tripod
tripod (2)
Video Camera Flexible Tripod
Filming
IMGA0439
Helmet Camera
IMGA0457
Card
IMGA0452
2 AA Batteries
Gear
IMGA0458
Sony Walkman
IMGA0551

? Pair of Earphones
IMGA0507
Earphones 1

IMGA0535
IMGA0536
IMGA0537
MP3's

IMGA0432
Sansa MP3
IMGA0433
Roxio MP3

Gear
IMGA0464
2 Goal Zero
Nomad 7 Solar Panels
goal zero solar packed
Panels Closed
IMGA0482
Panel Cable
IMGA0460
2 Goal Zero
AA & AAA Chargers
2 AAA Adaptors
IMGA0483
Inverter
Battery Pack
IMGA0388
Solio Solar System
Power

IMGA0453
Battery Bag
IMGA0461
21 AA & 24 AAA Radioshack Rechargables
10 For Radios & 9 for 3 lights + 2 extras
IMGA0462
36 Non Rechargable AA's
2 for GPS & 2 for Helmet Camcorder

- Solar kit We will have a solar kit with the panels to strap on the deck and the charger down below. This will serve to charge the batteries to all o four electronic equipment.

Gear

IMGA0428
Blue Waterproof Light
IMGA0425
Green Waterproof Light

Lighting
Gear
IMGA0417
Fishing Pole
fishing worms
Bag
Hooks
Weights
Lines
Baits
binocolors
REI Binoculars


Fishing
As I'm sure you have noticed by now we have a firm belief this trip can be done safely if we take all the necessary precautions. The most dangerous aspect to this trip will be our lack of experience, so we will prepare as well as we can while we are in Miami. Some of the safety precautions I can think of now are to have two extra paddles, be attached to the kayak at all times, have the satellite phone, three GPS's, maps and two compasses. If we have the time we would like to learn how to read the stars to know exactly what direction we need to be going.

Obviously the trip tactics will be different depending on where we will be kayaking, so I will divide it up into three different kinds of paddling days: 1) The long inter island crossings, 2) The shorter island hopping crossings, and 3) The skirting of giant islands and continents.

Long Inter island crossings - Our first inter island crossing will be our very first in our lives and a whopping 50 miles across deep ocean with 4 mph northward current. It will be very exciting but also very frightening, so we definitely want to do it right. We figured that if we travel four miles an hour it will take 12 hours to complete, and I guarantee we won't be wanting to do any hanging out during this crossing; we will be hammering the whole time out of sheer excitement. We will want to utilize as much daylight as possible on this trip so as to not freak ourselves out in the creepy murky depths of the vast ocean, and to see where the waves are coming from and see what we're doing. We will be brave enough to endure a couple hours of dark paddling though, so we will want to get up at around three and shove off at around four so as to give us plenty of daylight to get to Bimini. As far as diet goes we will have a big breakfast and stuff our life jackets and deck bags with power bars and energy gels, and tons of water. In the storage compartments we will store a few more days worth of food for good luck, but will count on only eating the food we won't have to get out of our seated positions to eat.

Shorter island hopping crossings - These crossings will just be a whole lot of fun. My strategy for these is to put on my earphones and paddle as hard as I can until I feel the need to eat, at which point I will take my sandwich out of my pocket and eat it as fast as I can before paddling as hard as I can again. If my legs get sore I will have a bite to eat on the hammock.

3) The skirting of giant islands and continents - These will consist of us just hammering from point to point. At each point we will consider grounding and walking around a little bit while we eat.

IMGA0418
Fishing Spear
IMGA0419
Trident
IMGA0420
Extended
shark strap
Shark Leash Shark Deflector
IMGA0463
Cable
On the Boat
Gear
IMGA0472
Jetboil Cooking Set
IMGA0471
Stove
IMGA0473
3 Jet Boil Gas Canisters
jet boil mugs
2 Jet Boil Stove/Mugs
IMGA0474
Fork
IMGA0475
Spoon





Cooking

 

IMGA0400
MSR Cooking Set
IMGA0479
Stove
IMGA0481
Gas Canisters
IMGA0480
Pot
Short Fish Knife
Gear
IMGA0423
Katadyn Salt Water Filter
Water

 

fresh water pump
Fresh Water Filter

IMGA0505
7 Camelback Bladders 24 Liters total

Gear

IMGA0444
Kayak
IMGA0470
3 Paddles
IMGA0445
Pontoons
IMGA0421
Passenger Cover
2 Skirts
Hammock Poles

back hatch cover
Rear Hatch Rubber
bilge pump
2 Bilge Pumps
bilge sponge
NRS Bilge Sponge

Kayak Parts
Sail - Sails kick ass so I think we'll take one. The best kind of sail for this trip would be like the one to the right. It looks easy to take down and put up, its light and small, and appears good for pulling our boat forward which will want to point forward anyway because of the pontoons in the back. Maybe in certain sections where the wind is going our way, we will even be able to just sit in the hammocks and let the sail do all the work.There are other kinds of sails that are bigger, but I reckon they will give us too much trouble to deal with, plus our space will be limited.

 

front hatch cover
Front Hach Coverkayak from the front
Sail

Gear

extra rudder
Extra Rudder
extra watch strap
Extra GPS Watch Strap

Extra Stuff

 

pontoon pin
Extra Pontoon Clip
extra cables

Extra Cable

Gear

1 purple strap & 4 red straps
Straps
2 paddle straps
2 Paddle Leashes

Straps, Clips, Carribeaners

 

Gear
IMGA0397
Life Jacket
IMGA0398
IPERB
IMGA0399
Knife
whistle
Whistle
IMGA0469
Waterproof MP3
Player Bag
IMGA0425
Green Waterproof Light
Safety

 

 

 

 

 

 

radar beackon
Radar Alerter
beacon light
Locator Light
Flares

Gear
Big Lock for Kayakmace
Defender Mace
Security

 

lockes packed
2 Cables & Locks for Kayak

Gear
IMGA0403
3 Waterproof Deck Bags
8 plastic cases
8 Waterproof Plastic Boxes
Bags & Cases

wild wasser flotation bag (2)
2 Waterproof Compartment Bagssleeping bag
Stuff Sack for Straps

Gear
hammock (2)
Hammock
IMGA0411
Two Tarps
mosquito net
Mosquito Head Net
Sleep & Comfort

 

IMGA0498
Chair
camp seat (3)
Chair
comfort seats
2 Seat Pads
Gear
vynal bond
Vynal Bond for Patches
IMGA0494
2 Sealants
Repair
aqua seal
Aqua Seal for Patches
patch glue
Rubber Cement
Gear
IMGA0386
Tooth Brush
IMGA0539
Tooth Paste
dental floss
Dental Floss
IMGA0436
Bar Soap
IMGA0385
Hair Brush
hair ties
Hair Ties
IMGA0493
Mirror
IMGA0449
Sun Screen
Toiletry & 1st Aid
IMGA0434
Blister Pads
IMGA0553
Band Aids
strap
Guaze
dramamine
Dramamine for
Sea Sickness
lotrimin
Lotrimin for
Athletes Foot
aspirin
Aspirin for Pain
IMGA0552
Hydrocortizone
IMGA0437
Chaffe Creme, Vasaline
Gear
IMGA0501
Tank Top Shirt

IMGA0478
T - Shirt

IMGA0430
Long Sleeve T Shirt

IMGA0429
Red Shorts
IMGA0485
Leg Warmers
IMGA0487
Arm Warmers
jacket
Jacket
Rain Jacket & Pants
IMGA0448
Shoes
IMGA0506
Shoe Laces
IMGA0510
2 Pair of Socks
IMGA0532
Sandles
IMGA0491
Hat
IMGA0486
Lycra Hat
Clothing
IMGA0422
Glasses
IMGA0450
Glasses Straps
croakies
Croakies for Glasses
balance bracelet
Balance Bracelet
paddling glove for cold
Gloves for
Cold Weather
IMGA0499
Gloves for
Warm Weather
money pouch (2)
Money Belt
Gear
IMGA0395
Cart
IMGA0394
Packed
IMGA0401
Pump
Transport & Excersizes
IMGA0488
Yoke & Strap
IMGA0489
Jump Rope
IMGA0490
Jump Rope
Weights

 

 

1000s
1100s 1100s
1200s 1200s
1300s 1300s
1400s 1400s
1500s 1500s
1600s 1600s
1700s 1700s
1800s 1800s
1900s 1900s