An "un-road trip" across America

A 26-year-old Oregonian who just kayaked, powerboated and sailed around Lee County as part of his "Un-Road Trip" across America — a trip without the aid of traditional transportation — is scheduled to be on the "Today Show" this week.

Wait. Stop right there.

Some stories just don't lend themselves to straight news leads. But as odd as the first paragraph of this story may sound, it is not a ripped from "News of the Weird."

This is the story of a guy with an unusual name and an even more unusual quest, who landed in the Fort Myers area, spent several days traversing it without setting foot in a car or bus, and then left us in his wake as he headed north to the Big Apple.

Here's hoping some salt spray is still on his skin and he fondly recalls his friends he made here. Especially when he steps onto the "Today Show" set around 10 a.m. Thursday, May 28.

"Clearly the boating was beautiful," said Boaz Frankel, the blogger who masterminded the Un-Road Trip, which you can read about at unroadtrip.com.

And what was his favorite part of being here in our hometown? "The people."

PHOTO COURTESY NATHAN SILVERMAN Boaz Frankel kayaked his way across Lee County on the Calusa Blueway as part of his Un-Road Trip across America. From the time he got off a horse in Hendry County and moseyed into Alva, to the day he sailed up the coast toward Boca Grande, Mr. Frankel did the proverbial meet-and-greet everywhere he went:

• Lee County Commissioner Frank Mann graciously hosted him overnight in his guest quarters among Alva orange trees. "That was the best orange juice I've ever tasted," Frankel said.

• Wendy Rex of North Fort Myers and I kayaked with him for two days and 24 miles along the Calusa Blueway on the Caloosahatchee from Alva to the tip of Cape Coral, with the staff at Hotel Indigo generously overnighting him in downtown Fort Myers. "Kayaking under a bridge with cars whizzing overhead one minute, and the next minute being where it's all quiet in the mangroves was amazing," he said.

• Nancy Kilmartin of Estero Bay Buddies hoisted him aboard her powerboat one humid afternoon, scooted him away from thunderstorms lacing the river, and took him to the Pink Shell Resort at Fort Myers Beach. "The sky was looking a little menacing with dark clouds quickly approaching, so we headed out as quickly as we could. Nancy let me take the helm as we headed out of the Caloosahatchee River and into the bay."

• Then Doris Colgate of Offshore Sailing School had her staff at Pink Shell welcome him aboard the fleet for a learn-to-sailwhile you-un-road-trip. "We'd read over the sailing textbooks they had sent us, but seeing it in person was quite a bit different."

In this day and age of blogging and social-media journalism, it's easy to come across people who text and Tweet who appear, well, arrogant and egotistical.

Mr. Frankel is not like that. When I read his blog before meeting him May 13, he appeared to be gracious enough. But I remained skeptical. That lasted about two seconds. His enthusiasm, it seems, is for learning about new places rather than telling you what he knows about places he's been.

He's just a guy who tired of fluctuating gasoline prices and got an idea to seek out alternative transportation methods while creating an interactive media postcard of the United States. He's a guy with supportive parents back in Portland, Ore., who told him to go for it. He's someone whose enthusiasm for whatever moment is unfolding at the time is contagious.

Hanging out with him is like Discovery Channel meets "Mad TV." It's serendipitous. He meticulously plans his modes of transportation — Tweeting people, accepting suggestions from blog-followers, researching with his iPhone and laptop. Yet, he sometimes knows not where he'll rest his head, though on his two-month journey, he's only had to pay for a hotel a handful of times.

Oh, and he asks questions and tells good stories.

About bicycles, dog sleds, scooters, hotair balloons, camels, Segways, hang gliders, crop dusters, trains, skateboards and pogo sticks.

Add to that Mr. Mann's electric golf cart, Lee County Parks and Recreation's tandem kayak, Ms. Kilmartin's skiff and Ms. Colgate's sailboat.

We'll tune in Thursday to hear his highlights, knowing that some of those memories have lovingly been doused by Southwest Florida salt spray and rainstorms.

— Betsy Clayton is a freelancer based on Pine Island and also is Lee County Parks & Recreation's waterways coordinator. Contact her at boatingbybe tsy@yahoo.com.

The Un-Road Trip

>>What: Blogger Boaz Frankel on the "Today Show" >>When: Thursday, May 28. Watch for him around 10 a.m. >>Where: NBC >>Why you care: Frankel is on a 10-week quest to crisscross the United States without using a car. His Un-Road Trip recently hit Lee County, where he kayaked, powerboated and sailed. >>Online: www.unroadtrip.com