kayak trip - locations/advice

[curran]

hi folks,

 

I'll be finishing my junior year of high school later on this month and I plan on taking a multi-day fishing trip down to the cape to celebrate for myself and get college off of my mind. I've got my car fitted with some kayak racks and I hope to do a little bit of kayaking for stripers or scup (more likely the latter). I'll be sleeping in my car, fishing sunrise to sunset (or till I drop), and I'll only be without a rod when I'm eating or sleeping. I've got a few questions for you all if anyone has experience with this kind of thing.

 

1: any safe spots for kayaking? not looking for fishing spot burns, I just would like to be able to get out in the kayak without worrying too much. I would most likely stick with bays and harbors. In the chance I decide to go out on the ocean (but less than 1000ft out), would buzzards bay be safe? it seems protected by the Elizabeth islands. 

 

2: any tips for staying safe while sleeping in a car? I was planning a similar trip last year and I got some great feedback in this thread: https://www.stripersonline.com/surftalk/topic/855578-sleeping-in-car/. I'm thinking about sleeping in either a park and ride parking lot, or a walmart lot. Also, if I had my kayak on top of my car, what would be a good way to lock it up?

 

thanks all, this site is a great wealth of knowledge.

 

 

[z-man]

Finding a place that you can park/sleep all night is going to be the biggest problem. Maybe sleep at the canal and fish elsewhere? I lock my kayak by running a bike cable style lock through a scupper hole and around the rack then a padlock. 

[Richard_the_Aughth]

9 hours ago, z-man said:

Finding a place that you can park/sleep all night is going to be the biggest problem. Maybe sleep at the canal and fish elsewhere? I lock my kayak by running a bike cable style lock through a scupper hole and around the rack then a padlock. 

+1.

 

Canal lots are the easiest place to leave your car overnight, and get some sleep too. I did an overnight trip to MV with my friend and I had him leave his car in the rr bridge lot while we were away and he had no issues. People fish that area overnight and no one cares if they are cars there all night

[mikez2]

I think I said it last time; sleeping in cars sucks.

I know it's a fad on YouTube but reality and those videos are not closely related. 

 

It's one thing to grab a nap during an all nighter.

To go multiple days, fishing hard, in all weather, getting wet, all that gear crammed in there, you just can't get enough sleep. 

 

But that's just the cranky old guy talking. I remember being young. I did **** like that all the time. I wouldn't have listened to some ole crank back then either. 

Of course that's how I know how much it sucks....

[mikez2]

If you're committed to sleeping in your car, try to figure out a way to leave your windows open a little but keep mosquitos out.

You'd be amazed how claustrophobic and airless a car can be sitting still with the windows rolled up. Especially in hot weather. 

 

You end up spending a sleepless night battling between swatting bugs and being desperate for a breath of fresh air.

[Rmarsh]

I have used pieces of screen material held in place over the window openings with small magnets.......to sleep in my van.

[Richard_the_Aughth]

10 hours ago, mikez2 said:

If you're committed to sleeping in your car, try to figure out a way to leave your windows open a little but keep mosquitos out.

You'd be amazed how claustrophobic and airless a car can be sitting still with the windows rolled up. Especially in hot weather. 

 

You end up spending a sleepless night battling between swatting bugs and being desperate for a breath of fresh air.

I tried sleeping once in my car, more like I had to or I wouldn't have made it home. It was so awful that as exhausted as I was it was still the worst sleep of my life. Luckily I managed to scrounge together 2 to 3 hours and was able to get home safely

Edited June 8 by Richard_the_Aughth

[mikez2]

Over the years I abandoned serious attempts to get actual night sleep in cars.

To this day I still grab emergency naps or snooze while my son fishes, but any serious sleep is either in a tent, under the stars or a motel. Depending on weather, season and finances. 

 

When I bought my Rav4 a few years ago, I actually laid down in the back at the dealership just to check the camping potential. 

I have camped in it a couple times since. Although being able to lay down in back is a big step up over a car, it's still cramped and claustrophobic and I haven't solved the bug vs ventilation problem yet.

The biggest problem though is, on fishing trips, I have no room in the back with all my gear.

 

I don't mean to discourage @curran. In fact, I wholeheartedly and with a twinge of  jealousy endorse his adventures. 

I'm just using the thread to share my extensive experience with sleeping in cars. I started when I was about the same age, but I didn't always do it for fun.

 

Plus, those experiences left me with enough interest in car camping that I also watch or have seen alot of those "van life" and "stealth camping" videos.

 

[curran]

7 hours ago, mikez2 said:

Over the years I abandoned serious attempts to get actual night sleep in cars.

To this day I still grab emergency naps or snooze while my son fishes, but any serious sleep is either in a tent, under the stars or a motel. Depending on weather, season and finances. 

 

When I bought my Rav4 a few years ago, I actually laid down in the back at the dealership just to check the camping potential. 

I have camped in it a couple times since. Although being able to lay down in back is a big step up over a car, it's still cramped and claustrophobic and I haven't solved the bug vs ventilation problem yet.

The biggest problem though is, on fishing trips, I have no room in the back with all my gear.

 

I don't mean to discourage @curran. In fact, I wholeheartedly and with a twinge of  jealousy endorse his adventures. 

I'm just using the thread to share my extensive experience with sleeping in cars. I started when I was about the same age, but I didn't always do it for fun.

 

Plus, those experiences left me with enough interest in car camping that I also watch or have seen alot of those "van life" and "stealth camping" videos.

 

yeah, I can imagine it not being the best sleeping conditions. My plan is to fish so hard and so much that no matter the condition, Ill be able to pass out. Worst case I may pack a sleeping bag and tarp and throw myself out of sight untill sunrise. I am trying to cut costs wherever possible to save for college, and all the hotels require me to be 21 to get a room and cost an arm and leg. 

[mikez2]

30 mins ago, curran said:

yeah, I can imagine it not being the best sleeping conditions. My plan is to fish so hard and so much that no matter the condition, Ill be able to pass out. Worst case I may pack a sleeping bag and tarp and throw myself out of sight untill sunrise. I am trying to cut costs wherever possible to save for college, and all the hotels require me to be 21 to get a room and cost an arm and leg. 

The sleeping bag and tarp has served me well on many occasions. The secret is picking a safe, dry spot where no one will see you.

When I was in high-school, you could crash out on many beaches wrapped in a tarp. I mean beaches close to parking lots. You can still do it if you walk far enough away, but near the lots, probably not.

[KilgoreTrout]

I've slept in my car (also a rav4) a few times this spring/summer! Not the best night of sleep, but it works in a pinch. Here's a few tips to make things a bit easier. 

 

Put the back seats all the way down and use the trunk/back seat area as a "bed". If it's not completely level (like my car), try your best to park on a bit of an incline to make it as level as possible. Or add whatever padding you can to make things level. I keep one side of the area for sleeping, one for fishing gear. It's cramped, but it's just enough room.

 

Invest in a good sleeping surface! I've heard great things about inflatable camping mattresses (and they can be found relatively cheap), but I go with an old foam mattress topper I saved from college. I also bought another cheap 2" gel pad when Home Depot was having a sale (they still might be), and it's actually pretty comfortable. Spending maybe $40-100ish could make your night a whole lot better. College hockey ruined my back, but I surprisingly wake up feeling pretty good with my setup.

 

BLAST the AC for like 15 minutes before bed if you can. If you wake up and it's really hot/muggy, crack a front and rear window (on opposite sides, trunk window would work too) to create a nice draft. Bugs are always a problem, so I don't love doing this, but I'm sure netting could be found for cheap (I do my car-camp when going after trout at higher elevation, so the nights are usually pretty cool, and I never really have that problem)

 

And if possible, book a cheap site at a campground. It's always nice to have a place with good restroom/shower facilities, and it's safer than a random lot! Tiring yourself out all day, then a nice hot shower does miracles for decent sleep.

 

Good luck; those solo trips are always a great experience!!

 

Edited June 9 by KilgoreTrout

[NHAngler]

Campsite is a good option if you have the gear. ..or a really cheap hotel and spray yourself down with Lysol first thing in the morning. 

[mikez2]

My home for tonight. 

Over 30 years old, goes up in 10 minutes. Been all over. In campgrounds and not.

[z-man]

On 6/9/2023 at 5:03 PM, KilgoreTrout said:

I've slept in my car (also a rav4) a few times this spring/summer! Not the best night of sleep, but it works in a pinch. Here's a few tips to make things a bit easier. 

 

Put the back seats all the way down and use the trunk/back seat area as a "bed". If it's not completely level (like my car), try your best to park on a bit of an incline to make it as level as possible. Or add whatever padding you can to make things level. I keep one side of the area for sleeping, one for fishing gear. It's cramped, but it's just enough room.

 

Invest in a good sleeping surface! I've heard great things about inflatable camping mattresses (and they can be found relatively cheap), but I go with an old foam mattress topper I saved from college. I also bought another cheap 2" gel pad when Home Depot was having a sale (they still might be), and it's actually pretty comfortable. Spending maybe $40-100ish could make your night a whole lot better. College hockey ruined my back, but I surprisingly wake up feeling pretty good with my setup.

 

BLAST the AC for like 15 minutes before bed if you can. If you wake up and it's really hot/muggy, crack a front and rear window (on opposite sides, trunk window would work too) to create a nice draft. Bugs are always a problem, so I don't love doing this, but I'm sure netting could be found for cheap (I do my car-camp when going after trout at higher elevation, so the nights are usually pretty cool, and I never really have that problem)

 

And if possible, book a cheap site at a campground. It's always nice to have a place with good restroom/shower facilities, and it's safer than a random lot! Tiring yourself out all day, then a nice hot shower does miracles for decent sleep.

 

Good luck; those solo trips are always a great experience!!

 

A campground is a good idea even if just sleeping in the car at the campsite. Shawmee Crowell in Barnstable is less than $20 a night. 

[bob_G]

I take extended naps in my car often, esp when I'm across the state bird hunting or trout fishing.

Sometimes I'm just too tired to drive back 150 after a day in the woods.  If I have dogs I first try and get them comfortable. Give them some food and water, take off their collars so they know we're done for the day to settle them down.

Then before I put my seat back to nap, I often take a Tylenol. An old trick I learned. Makes you a bit sleepy, and helps relieve any leg cramps and aches from sleeping in a confined car seat.