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Bruce Paddock's avatar

So no Calusa travelled as far as Vera Cruz. But some extraordinary individuals, under extraordinary circumstances, [I]could have[/I] gone there. And given that it's a novel, I'm assuming that the individuals and/or circumstances are extraordinary, else why would you be telling the story?

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Will Granger's avatar

I'm basing my plot on the truth that the Calusas and Aztecs were both threatened by the Spanish. Sadly, their fates were similar: both nations resisted the Spanish, yet both ultimately lost more due to diseases than military power. In my story, the Calusas will seek to ally with the Aztecs.

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Ryan McCormick, M.D.'s avatar

I wonder how long it would take to paddle the long route along the coast instead of crossing the Gulf... not sure that fits your time frame, or even the geography, but some coastal exploring and Odyssey-like encounters along the way might be fun.

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Will Granger's avatar

That's a great question. It's also probably the most realistic scenario as they stayed close to the coast. I'm going to see what I can find about long-range paddling trips north along the Gulf Coast. I do think they might have run into hostile tribes. The Calusa influence was wide, but it did not not spread past the Tampa Bay area. Thanks for your comment.

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