Matt Keene, CT1 of Clermont, Fl, began Sept 15, 2008 at Ft. Clinch and ended Jan 5, 2009 at Big Lagoon State Park, Pensacola, Fl. He was the first paddler to complete the entire trail since it was established. He was accompanied part of the way by two other companions, Jodi Eller and Matt Gallagher. Several FPTA volunteers helped along the way. He and Jodi (now married) then backpacked the entire Florida Trail.

Mike Ruso, CT2 and Dan Dick, CT3 started on November 12, 2008, at Big Lagoon State Park near Pensacola and finished on March 26 2009. They are the first west to east paddlers to finish the trail. They had a SPOT Messenger device that allowed people to track their movements on their website. Mike developed an informative and practical guide for those interested in paddling the circumnavigational trail.

Charles Ingle, CT4 of Tallahassee became the fourth person to complete the entire 1,515-mile Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail. When he reached Ft. Clinch State Park on Tuesday, January 26th, 2010, he had paddled a total of 63 days, averaging 24 miles per day.

Ian Brown, CT5 of Orlando began his journey on the entire trail in November of 2009 at Big Lagoon and, after many stops and starts, finished at Fort Clinch in October of 2010. Several FPTA members assisted him along the way. This photo of Ian was taken by Mark Adams.

Jake Stachovak, CT6 began a 5000 mile "Portage to Portage Paddling Project" around the eastern United States. He began his journey in early December 2009 on the Wisconsin River in Portage, WI, and paddled down the icy Mississippi to the Gulf. He paddled the circumnavigational trail in 2010 and began his successful return up the east coast and through the Great Lakes back to Wisconsin: http://www.portagetoportage.com/.

Warren Johnson, CT7 of Hoover, Alabama, completed the CT in two parts, beginning in 2011 at Big Lagoon and arriving at the Georgia border in August of 2012 at age 62. He had already gained notoriety by paddling the Alabama Scenic River Trail both directions in one trip.

On April 6, 2013, Daniel Alvarez, CT8 of Tallahassee completed the CT, which was part of a nine-month, 4,000-mile kayaking journey from upper Minnesota to Key West called Paddling the Heart of America. The trip included the Mississippi River and on December 28, 2012, the state of Florida, finishing the CT and completing a loop through the Great Lakes that same year: https://predictablylost.com/

Gus Bianchi, CT9 began paddling the CT by sections in Apalachicola in December 2009. After 13 trips, ranging from 40 to 212 miles accompanied by a number of different paddling partners, Gus completed all of the CT at age 66 on September 13, 2013 in Cedar Key.

Carl W. Anderson, CT10 from Fernandina Beach, Florida , completed the CT in sections beginning in early 2011 at the lower Aucilla launch, completed each section as time permitted, and arrived at Fort Clinch State Park on September 16th 2013 at age 67. Carl paddled most of the trail with Gus Bianchi and his wife Barbara.

Jodi Eller, CT11 of St. Augustine became the first woman to complete the CT. She paddled most of the trail in 2008 with husband Matt Keene, the first CT thru paddler, and she completed the remaining sections in late 2013 with assistance from FPTA members. "The trail is amazing," she said. "It goes through so many different ecosystems. How the beaches change along the trail is just incredible. The trail made me a stronger paddler and it also redefined who I am in a way, bringing me back to the essence of being human. It's a powerful experience to go through."

Marc DeLuca, CT12 and Jim Windle, CT13, two retired police officers from Charlotte, North Carolina, began their journey at Big Lagoon State Park on November 2nd, 2013 and ended on March 1st, 2014. They were greeted at the end by thru paddlers Gus Bianchi, Carl Anderson and Ian Brown: https://kayakaroundflorida.wordpress.com/

Mary Mangiapia, CT14 is the first woman through paddler, completing the trail in one paddling season. She began her trek September 6, 2014 at Big Lagoon and finished December 10, 2014 at Fort Clinch. "I have been endurance paddling for 19 years in Florida and can say that this trip is an incredible challenge," she said. "Along the way, I have encountered 10' seas and numerous storms. I even cracked a Kevlar bulkhead while crossing Tampa Bay in big waves. I also have teeth marks in my kayak from a bull shark." She paddled an 18 foot Epic kayak.

Jeff “Treehouse” Buncie, CT15 is just one part of a crazy long-distance endeavor he calls the BNC Odysseia. According to his Facebook site: "the BNC Odysseia is in fact a measure of one's endurance both body and mind. I have compelled a journey that will encompass the next 4 1/2 - 5 years of my existence. Over these years, the goal will be to travel over 16,000 miles by foot and 5,000 miles by kayak. Follow his adventures on Facebook

Sean Bowers, CT16 is CT through paddler arriving at Fort Clinch on April 4, 2015. He paddled along the Gulf to Key West in 2014 with Richard Wood, took a break, and continued his journey in 2015. To learn more, log onto https://gokayakflorida.wordpress.com/

Zane Blakey, CT17 and Scotia Stein, CT18 embarked from Big Lagoon State Park on January 1st, 2015 and finished at Fort Clinch on April 18th that same year. They are the first people to paddle the entire trail in a tandem kayak. https://zaneandsco.wixsite.com/travels.

By paddling five miles to Key West on March 4, 2016 Richard Wood, CT19 completed the trail in sections, making him the 19th person who has paddled the entire CT. Taking more than six years, he prides himself at being the slowest person to have completed the trail!

Nicho Rivera, CT20 and Jake Parker, CT21 started paddling the entire trail in early January of 2016 at Big Lagoon and finished on April 4 at Fort Clinch, making them the 20th and 21st paddlers who have completed the trail. Recognizing the need to be part of something bigger, they supported the Surfrider Florida Chapter and its focus in on the education and preservation of coastal waterways and our complex interaction with the oceans.

Rich Brand, CT22 completed the CT in 2016 as part of a much longer journey paddling the Great Loop that includes the Mississippi River, East Coast and Great Lakes. Follow along with him on his Facebook Page, Captured Heartbeats: https://www.facebook.com/Captured-Heartbeats-1389455564651776/.

Scott Warren, CT23 started his journey October 30, 2016 at Big Lagoon and finished February 19, 2017 at Fort Clinch. He was well received and supported by trail angels throughout his journey and was joined by several thru paddlers at the end. Check out a blog of Scott's adventures at: http://www.h2otraveler.com/.

Tim the Baker, CT24 finished the trail at Clearwater Beach on February 17, the first for 2018. "I just bloodied my knuckles on the same seawall I dropped in at 26 months ago," he said. "I ended with a lot of big days in fair weather."

Esteban Blyar, CT25 began the trail March 10, 2018 at Big Lagoon and finished at Ft. Clinch on May 9 the same year, paddling on average about 25 miles a day!

Diane Arnold, CT26 and Warren Johnson, CT27 completed the trail on May 10, 2018 at Ft. Clinch. This was part of a much longer journey that began in Fort Benton, Montana along the Missouri River in 2016. This was Warren's second time around on the CT!

Mississippi resident Camille “Paddling CHIK” Richards, CT28 was the first paddler of the 2018-19 season to complete the CT. Paddling to raise awareness and support for adults with congenital heart defects, she paddled the trail in sections over three years and finished on December 30, 2018 at Fort Clinch State Park near Fernandina Beach. "Doing this was a huge accomplishment for me mentally and physically," she said.

Steve “Oz” Cournoyer, CT29 completed the CT on April 14. 2019, an adventure many years in the making. Steve supported the journeys of many other CT paddlers through his mapping work for FPTA and accompanied some of them on various segments. He describes one hair-raising experience, “My worst day was crossing Tampa Bay in 30 mile-per-hour gusts. There were no other boats on the water except for a Coast Guard cutter.”

John Shinner, CT30 Began his quest in late 2017, and became the 30th paddler to complete the CT on February 11, 2020. “When I paddled The Mighty Cetus across Tampa Bay and finished my CT adventure, it was a thrilling moment for me. However, getting to know and having the support of so many incredible people along the way will be my favorite memory from this adventure of a lifetime.”

Bennie Giles, CT31 started the CT with Scott Hite in January 2018 as a thru-paddle, but finished on February 17, 2020 by tackling it in three different sections. “I've paddled the entire Mississippi River from source to sea, but this water trail was by far the most challenging. Florida is a true adventure and there's no better way to explore it than by a kayak!”

Katie “Tonks” Tonkovich”, CT32 and Brian Wolford, CT33 teamed up to through-paddle the CT, starting at Big Lagoon State Park on December 4, 2020 and finishing on April 11, 2021. After facing strong headwinds and big waves through the Everglades and Florida Keys, they took a few days off the trail to reassess and recuperate before hitting the water to continue up the east coast to Fort Clinch, arriving to a great welcoming committee. They are the 32nd and 33rd paddlers to complete the CT.

Dorsey “Halfshell” DeMaster, CT34 On August 5th, 2021, Dorsey became the first woman veteran to complete the CT. She section paddled it in just under 2 years. Upon completion, she said “The CT has been a physical, mental, and emotional journey. The sweetest part of this journey has been traveling the backroads of Florida, meeting the people who live there and most of all, cultivating life-long friendships within a fun-loving, supportive sea kayaking community. The world is my oyster and each and everyone of them have been the pearls.”

Dorsey was the first FPTA President to complete the 1,515-mile Florida Circumnavigational Saltwater Paddling Trail. She credits her ability to accomplish this remarkable paddling trail to the support of FPTA, Gus Bianchi (CT 9) and her "tor-mentor" Steve Cournoyer (CT 29).

John Pretzell, CT35 Finished his "CT" on Nov 9th 2021 as a section paddler, starting in 2017 after finishing paddling the entire Suwannee River, Gus Bianchi told me about the "CT". Then while still working, I decided to take it on. I’ve had the privlege of paddling with 9 Hall of Famers before me. "Enjoyed every minute of the Journey" and will continue to help others in completing there journey. Seeing the State of Florida from a seat of my 19' QCC Kayak, has been simply amazing. The wildlife, the people along the way, as well as old Mother Nature all have left a lasting impression, that I'll never forget.

Greg Pflug, CT36 and Fred Goebel, CT 37 Greg Pflug and Fred Goebel teamed up to be the 20th and 21st through-paddlers on the CT. Starting at Big Lagoon State Park on December 9, 2022, and completing on January 21, 2023, they experienced everything from paddling the Big Bend during a record-breaking "Polar Vortex" cold front to glowing bioluminescence and night skies filled with millions of stars. Greg, an experienced kayaker and outfitter, and Fred, on his second kayak trip, were evenly matched in their pace, yet opposites in their approach and style creating a dynamic paddling team. Averaging 34, but often completing 50 miles per day, Greg and Fred's CT journey was one like no other.

Michael Woodside CT38. After listening to Marc DeLuca, CT12 and Jim Windle, CT13 (and Gus Bianchi "of course") talk at the Paddle Florida "Florida Keys Challenge" in January 2014 the CT seemed like a good opportunity to see Florida. Over the 9 years it took to complete there were many people that I was able to paddle with, but the key  individuals were Gus Bianchi (CT), Scott Warren (CT23), John Pretzell (CT35), Dorsey DeMaster (CT34) and at the end Heather Demeritt (current CT Section Paddler). There were so many wonderful people and things to see and enjoy along the way! BUT, parking makes segment paddling a chore.

Completed 3/30/23 in Cedar Key at age 73, to date, that makes me the oldest but not the slowest. I’m looking forward to helping others complete the journey.

John “Johnny B” Bengtson, CT39, a retired Air Force Pilot finished as a section paddler on January 29, 2024. He completed the CT in four sections beginning from his home in Cape Coral, FL on January 6, 2021. He paddled a total of 102 days and completed the segment from Everglades City to Long Key State Park twice. During his breaks he thru-hiked the 2,194 mile Appalachian Trail in 2022 and completed the Great Divide Mountain Bike Route of over 3,000 miles in 2023. He gives a special thanks to Frank and Monica McManus Woll, John Pretzell, Heather Demeritt and Dorsey DeMaster for their support along the trail.

Albert Wyatt Ruggles, CT40 of Waco, TX began November 12, 2023 at Big Lagoon State Park.  Albert is the first Texan to complete the FCT. He was accompanied by his closest friend, Charles Scarborough through the first 950 miles to Key West.  Albert soloed the last stretch from Key West to the Georgia border (above Ft. Clinch).  After 71 days of paddling, 15 days off for Christmas with an angel, and 28 zero days sitting out rain and wind in nice places, Albert completed the FCT on March 4, 2024. On the way back home to Texas, he picked up the last precious segment from Big Lagoon to the Alabama border.

“The wildlife encountered on this experience in a kayak is right there with any of the big three thru-hikes.  I was never alone with all the birds, dolphins, turtles, and manatees.  The trail angels and seafood opportunities are unrivaled.  Where else could you travel 1500-plus miles walking or paddling without getting lost and actually gaining weight?”