Winter Park Chain of Lakes

Ok so maybe I am not the brightest crayon in the box. After about 30 paddles on Lake Maitland I finally found out why they call it the Winter Park Chain of Lakes. There is a canal near the Rollins Boat house that connects Lake Maitland to neighboring lakes that extend all the way to Lake Virginia on the other Side of Fairbanks! Holy Smoke that would take about 15-20 mins by car. Last Tuesday was a beautiful day and I some how managed not to be busy. I ran 5.5 miles earlier in the day so I was a little tired when I decided it was too beautiful to sit inside and decided to go on a leisurly paddle. Leisurly it was not. I found the canal and went into exploration mode. I went from Maitland across Osceola, into Virginia, and the around Mizell. Wow my near by paddle world just tripled. I paddled 4 miles before i decided to make the against the wind paddle home. Overall i covered 7.5 miles and was on the water a little over 2 hours. Was I ever hungry that night. Heres some highlights of the canals that proove why Orlando or even any land locked area can be SUP heavon!


Rollins Boat house- I usually avoid this area due to the crews teams launching, guess thats why I never found the canal.


Venitian Canal- This canal is beautiful! about .3 miles it is landscaped, tranquil, and a beautiful spot to live. Only down side is getting trapped when the tour boats come through.


More canal- I felt like i was somewhere else. Amazing how the waterways can give you a new outlook on an area you have lived in for 10 years.


Opening to lake Osceola- a little over a mile to the canal to Lake Viginia. This lake has some big time homes and less traffic than Maitland or Virginia. This will probably be part of my new expanded training route.


Crossing under Fairbanks. Holy crap that seems far away! Really only 3 miles via water. 15-20 mins by car about 45 minutes of paddle power. I can't believe I can go this far now!


opening to lake virginia- This is Kim from paddleboard Orlando's home lake. So cool that I can paddle up to meet her. How come no one told me about this?


Rollins college- The beautiful school in the heart of Winter Park is slowly turning into a SUP hot bed thanks to Kim.


Lake Mizell- This lake is really awesome. Someone's peacock came to the waters edge to check me out. Who owns a peacock? Man these people are loaded.


House that is on both Mizell and Virginia, guess these people are paying for Obama's healthcare reform.


Nature on Lake Mizell- 1/2 the lake is natural, some visible from fairbanks, some mansions. My style with the no wake zone and nature. Great spot to aim for on my 7 mile+ paddles.


Finally the canal back to Lake Maitland into the wind the entire way. Yeah the exploring was fun, but the 20 mph wind in my facemade 3+ miles take over an hour on the way home. Oh well makes me stronger for next time.


Orlando/ Winter Park is a perfect place to paddle! Who's coming to Kim and I's paddlefit/ YOW class on the 16th!