Mom Inspires 4,500 Mile Kayak Trek
KEY LARGO (CBS4) - A ten-month, 4,500 mile kayaking trip up the East Coast will be the backdrop as one man researches how human beings have impacted sensitive environmental areas in a negative way.
The waters off Key Largo are a beautiful backdrop that provides nature room to grow, but John Davis said we are moving in and putting this all at risk.
"We have a lower quality of life because of that," said Davis to CBS4's Jorge Estevez. "Our air and water are polluted and our ecosystems are unraveling."
Davis is beginning a 4,500 mile trek up the East Coast in conjunction with the non-profit he helped start, Wildlands Network.
"South Florida is an amazing place for the number and type of animals and plants," said Margo McKnight, Executive Director of Wildlands Network.
The trek starts by kayak in Key Largo and ends in Canada. The inspiration for the journey for Davis is his mother, Mary Davis.
"My mother has cancer and I wanted to start while she is still alive," said Davis, who talked about the time his mother spent as a conservationist herself.
"She described many of the places that I will be seeing. My journey will be guided by the research and writing she did years ago," Davis said as he tried to hold back his emotions.
Davis shares his mother's passion from exploring Alaska in the snow to moving through the mountains of Vermont, from biking remote trails to kayaking in the colder climates.
The mission is all in an effort to research and explore the areas that we could help save and cherish much like the idea he will cherish of doing this trip for his mother.
"She is glad I am starting soon. She is very supportive of this trip," Davis said.
