Thankful for the Paddle

Good Day Crew,

I have been working at a high production rate this week…the holiday was fast approaching and I needed some down time…I had to finish my class in cellular Detox (got a high B- proud of this as it was not an easy class), cleaning the garden, I got my medical patients ready for their holiday, I am also writing articles of Kayaking.org, taking care of family holiday plans and work on the paddle…can you say busy?????

 I am working on an instructional letter for site usage…this is so The Sunshine Paddle website can be used to the best advantage…thank you for so many updates on how your classrooms are using the site…thank you for responding from so many countries…we do love the snail mail too…what a great way to teach youngsters that e-mail is not proper for everything and how to write a letter…I do respond to ALL snail-mail…it is good to hear how grandparents and home school parents are getting a lot from the site;)

Cleaning the garden helped to bring nature into focus…since I have been on the paddle, my garden had been neglected…until that point I had been quite vigilant so a little neglect did not hurt….the clean up however is important (much like that of the gulf oil spill), when the area is clean- the plants breathe better….when the plants breather better- they clean more toxins from the air, hence I breathe better…after all I have seen of our Florida gulf coast, we are in a recovery stage…this can be seen from the amount of dead loss and missing fish (fish that are known to be in an area that have-hopefully- momentarily disappeared)…the mullet and lady fish seem to be the cockroaches of the gulf…they are everywhere and plentiful….also they keep jumping in my boat…lol

The patients love what I am trying to do and often offer me good information…it is the positive energy they give me that shoves me into the cold water to practice…we talk about menus and supplements…I am a firm believer in being an individual…as my menu is set for that which is happening in my life…I sit and listen and adjust the menu and supplements to that person…it has kept them excelling with me…it does tend to keep all of us healthy and when we do get sick we have an easier time of recovery- most of the time with minimal or no use of prescriptions…

I have now started a series of articles for Kayaking.org…due to the unusual way this paddle has come about; they asked if I could share the story…with my usual open style I accepted…as soon as I find out when they will start running, I will post the link:)

Most of my family was out of the area for Thanksgiving…my husband and I took my parents to the Golden Coral in Zephyrhills…the service was great and restaurant was very clean…the food was amazingly YUMMY…I was allowed to take a quick video at the salad bar (which is OMG HUGE)…no shopping or clean up and you can buy left-overs by the pound…great time

I have spoken to many about the site…added updates to all sites…then early yesterday I had to go to see the computer doctor in Holiday…his wife spoke to me of a county park…Anclote River Park –this is a county park, not to be confused with the state park ‘Anclote Island’…

 

Anclote is a small park, but packed with stuff to do…kids playground, swim area, boat launch, fishing area, etc…my husband saw dolphins near shore…they do have a $2 per car usage fee- BIG BANG for your buck here…I launched from the beach and paddled all around the small mangrove islands in the channel…I need a boat mounted camera…I saw so much wildlife above and below the water…I saw several types of fish (even saw one rubbing the dead skin on the coquina) and birds seem to be all shapes, sizes and colors…I saw many kayakers here…fisherman and families on an outing day- quiet and shallow area with clear water, great beginners space...it does not suprise me that pirates loved this area....it was really good fun

 

Side note…the more I paddle the more I note 3 pet peeves…’No Wake’ means you need to go slow- to protect people, animals and yourself…if you have a motor, please makes sure it is well kept- if a dolphin does not have a right to pour motor oil in your home, do not do it to his…most situations can and should be handled with a cool head for the best chance at a good outcome

The Blue Horizon should be home from the kayak doctors at Economy Tackle next week…I plan to pick her up on Saturday (Sunday if weather is bad)…if you want to paddle Turtle Creek Park on Siesta Key in Sarasota, call me (813)907-6279…it is a great beginners paddle and has lots of wild life;)…I plan to be there most of the day...also note there is a campground there...

May QueenAnne’s Revenge be below your hull and your sails above,

Captain Rooney

Fifteen Men on a Dead Man's Chest

Ahoy Mate,

The last week has had me deep in study…I am setting up maps and day bags for each stop along the journey…day bags contain all the information we have for each day (maps, pics, info, charts, etc…)…learning the coast from the land and the water has me feeling like a true Captain…I have also read ‘The CompleteSea Kayakers Handbook’ by Shelley Johnson recommended to me by Terry Brawley, cover to cover…great book, I would recommend for anyone who is thinking of doing any type of kayaking…well worth my time, packed with great information and ideas

I had to write more letters…this time to each Governor in every State along my route…I am not great at writing letters and sometimes it is hard to find the correct words…I have written and rewritten some letters up to 20 times…whether sent via snail mail or e-mail it is important to write some letters properly…in the personal world ‘BRB’ is okay, in a professional medium one must use full words

Walter completed the yak stand, so Yum Yum has her spot too…I was able to send Marilyn Lemay of MA some fabric…she can sew and will be making me some goodies for the trip…I am excited…we got an e-mail from Trish who received the books…Chris has been sending to the BBC and some Kayak/Canoe clubs in the UK…Monique still has a kayak in MA at an incredible price, please message her if interested…I stopped and spoke to the woman who owns ‘Attitudes’ in Wesley Chapel…she will soon be sending a care package to the Sunrise Shelter…she and the ladies who work for her have taken care of me and my twins for 10 years…they stay up to date on all the latest cuts and the pedicure has an awesome foot massage…

I have made it my resolve to call at least 3 school systems a week…some are really quick and some are covered in red tape…I keep reminding myself “the amount of kids who will benefit are worth the amount of crapp I have to wade through.”

The Blue Horizon is with the kayak doctors at Economy Tackle, I left her with Lee yesterday…I know they will be good to her…it is strange, but I seem to be having a slight twinge of separation anxiety…her spot seems so empty…

Walter and I rented a tandem ‘Wilderness’ Yak from ‘Siesta Key Bike andKayak’ and paddled around the ‘Neville Wildlife Reserve’…Lance brought our Yak down to the water with everything (PFD, paddle, map, etc…) and we were off…paddling in and out of mangrove tunnels was just too cool…mullet jump VERY high out of the water and birds everywhere…the water was shallow, clear and cold…we saw some other fish, but I am not sure what they were yet…the soil/sand seems quite fertile here…I saw many clam holes and much sea grass…great workout…We got to meet some people from Minnesota who were just Yakkin around too:)

Right over the sand dune from Lil Sarasota Bay is Turtle Beach on the gulf of Mexico…the last time I was here, we did not have time to stop…this time I made time…Walter and I were greeted by the most beautiful blue/green water and such a clean beach…so many different birds, beautiful shells and calm, clear water…so glad we stopped…

All hands on deck…this trip is being done solely on donations…if you have any boating or camping equipment in the garage or attic that you might could donate please call (813)907-6279…every penny helps, please feel free to donatethrough our website…we are always open to accepting positive thoughts too:)...we are thankful for all help

May your brightwork stay polished and your Bigwigs stay oblivious,

D

http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Sea-Kayakers-Handbook-ebook/dp/B002KCFICQ/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1321907738&sr=8-2

Dancing in the Daylight- Felling Productive

The Blue Horizon is still in dry dock…though Walter has tried several times, since the repair could mean my life, he feels safer with her going to the Yak Hospital in Sarasota (Economy Tackle)…we both have great faith in Dr. George…I am excited as while they work on the Blue Horizon, I can call Lance (941)346-0891 and Rent a Yak...push off Turtle Beach…anyone want to go???

Janice helped me get some books ready to be mailed…people in this situation need education that applies them to a better situation…I called Trish to let her know to expect them and to request the ability to give some items to the local food shelter…we also put together the walkie talkies, digital compass (both are great for kids to learn-but they will not work for us at the moment) and a few books and sent them to the Lutheran Church on SR54 in Wesley Chapel…it is the food pantry in this area…I thought of how many children are in those VERY long lines….keeping their mind occupied gives the parents and staff some peace…educational toys and books give the kids knowledge…how can that be a bad thing???

Walter’s vacation has been spent putting together a rack of the Yaks…this will keep them off the ground and in the shade…also at a level I can work with…I am impressed with his design…it is quite solid, but quite arty at the same time…It is hard to believe it cost less than $30…this pic is when it was only half done, promise I will post full pic soon….

My old computer that handled the pictures died and it too will be on the way to the doctor also….I have been taking the card to Walgreens…they burn me a disk for upload…as this computer is not made for pics and has no card slots

Donations are a big thing for this trip (this is why you do not see adverts all over the pages)…we need all the help we can get…I am trying to be green as possible…Catherine and Paul Cooper of Wesley Chapel have donated all the land maps we will need for the trip and camping guides to the coast…in fact, the maps are just as important as those we got off the computer- with very different details…Mr. Cooper even took time to take my packages to the post office for me…

I have started calling several different schools to let them know this resource is available to them and how it works…it makes my heart swell when they find out that it is free to use…they are so happy…

We went to Fort De Soto to train this week…a really amazing place…the cannon were huge and look as though they could work again if needed…made me feel safe…this beach was loaded with all kind of shells…the fishing pier was busy and 3 fish were caught in front of us…birds of every kind all over the park…you can paddle to the  ‘Sunshine Skyway Bridge’…though please keep in mind the current can be kind of strong, make sure you have the muscle for this paddle

If you have camping or boating equipment that you could donat or loan us please call me (813)907-6279

If you can donate money please click here, every dollar helps

May your sails be full of good Chi…

D