Overcoming Obstacles

Thank you so much for asking…I am starting to feel better…we knew the first attempt was going to be epic…too bad it was an epic fail…lol…like the Phoenix we will rise from the ashes…Sometimes bad shiz happens…epic fails- divorce, job loss, planned things go to hell, etc…it is not the bad things that tell people who we are, but how we handle them…believe me, doing the right thing is never the easy thing…

Lessons Learned from First Attempt (Good and Bad)

1)    I will leave a week early next year- to a quiet place with no TV/ Computer/ Phone. At that time, I need to put all focus on the paddle…my safety depends on it. Distractions almost cost my life this time- though many people meant well, they left me a nervous wreck…their concern almost killed me literally…

2)    Girly Pirate Camping consists of at least a cheap hotel…though the campsite and park (Anastasia) were quite beautiful and the staff was impeccable…this Girly Pirate requires a shower with hot water and a toilet with toilet paper in the room…I am aware that from time to time I will need to camp, but only when necessary

3)    Though I was honestly shocked and surprised by how accurate the information was that I had found on the internet and I was also given good information-but, there is nothing like checking it out myself…a few very important pieces of info were missing…a proper float plan must have all possible information-there is no such thing as being too aware

4)    This will give Debby time for proper training…I was impressed at how she jumped into the role of the driver- this job has a lot of tedious responsibilities…she is picking up the computer role…I hope to have her active with a camera soon…

5)      We over prepared- we had everything we could need or ask for…the next time we will not carry so much…weight among the vehicles is something to consider…room to move is a thought also

6)    Though I started on the Intercoastal, I went to the Atlantic at the first available inlet…The Lady Blue Horizon cut the water like a knife thru butter and stayed completely water tight…I admit I was nervous about her first time in the 8-12 foot breakers…she handled just as easily as she had on calm water…heading into the Intercoastal as the Man of War jellyfish became to plentiful…the Intercoastal is beautiful, but offers little in the way of shade or places to pull off to take a break

Lessons learned…bad things happen…evaluate what happened…find your obstacles…then find out how to overcome them or if they are worth overcoming…do not give up on your goal…

Avast and Good Day Me Hardies,

Captain D  

Altering My Dream

I left Monday to set camp…I had been having direar for the week before due to nerves…this does not mention not sleeping or eating very much- again due to nerves and people plucking my nerves…the whole way across the state the Horizon kept coming unroped- we even lost a foam block…it was 97 and OMG humid when we arrived in St Augustine…

AnastasiaState Park is awesome…the rangers and vendors are very polite   Mr. Crawford has a wonderful crew…they gave us a campsite upfront…we saw gofer turtles walking down the street…as we set camp, I thought Debby was in the truck and I climbed in the camper- she was under it…I almost popped her little skull like a grape…thankfully, she was only bruised- I felt like shit…

With camp set, Debby and I went down to the beach…there was 6- 10 foot breakers…and these beautiful looking electric blue things…looked kind of jelly like was beautiful though)...Then it started to storm…Betty’s camper tent was thin and started to leak…Debby and I became Queens of the Duck tape mansion very quickly…this was really not how a Girly Pirate needs to have it…at least the dent it Debby’s head had started to fill in…It was time for bed…for me sleep was an elusive bitch…the very clean rest room became my best friend (even though I kept breaking my knees on the toilet paper holder)…I kept drinking fluid and tried to eat, but felt like crapp…

Ranger Chris was cool and took me to the drop…North Peninsula was full of Man of War with 10- 12 foot breakers…it was Chris’s recommendation that I use the Intercoastal Waterway and he dropped me at Gamble Rodger’s State Park boat launch…I agreed and he helped me put in the Horizon…one would never guess it connected to the ocean- it was like glass…

The vibe here is far different than the west coast- they do not seem used to kayakers…I saw dolphins, manatee and many different fish…the birds seemed to be everywhere…the Intercoastal is cut like ditch and The Blue Horizon had no problems…no trees overhang here, so be sure to have sunblock- even thought of attaching some type of umbrella as you get pounded by the sun…I was pounding water, but my head was light- I ate a few nutrigrain bars…I pulled up on the beach and called Ranger Chris…he told me of a landing and to call when I got there…I got another Lifewater and climbed back in and began to paddle…I paddled for some distance and did not see anything, but the occasional houseboat…a few motor boats who though it was funny to speed up as they passed to leave me in a big wake- I can handle this, but it is quite irksome…I heard a young man yell to me, so I paddled over (I must have looked like hell)…he offered to help me off the water...I called Ranger Chris and the man told him where I was…the man helped me with the Horizon…I tipped up a Lifewater and chugged it…

Chris offered to come get me- he was kind of surprised I had made it around 22 miles (I was cutting 6 miles an hour with taking pics- this was very slow to me and I wondered if I had kept my normal speed could I have made the 30)…he was telling me of the garden he and his girlfriend had made…I was angry I had not made it the 30 miles I had planned…I got to see parts of St Augustine that most do not get to…hmmmmm…I was having a girly Pirate thought…could I salvage this…If so, how…we were at the camp

I had an ice cold outdoor shower awaited me, as this park has no indoor facility…Deb and I had altered plans due to my being so ill…We had planned to drive to Lake Talbot State Park and I would paddle the island…Debby felt safer with that idea…That night- we will just say I was quite ill… the clinic doctor wanted to admit me and I refused…Walter and Debby wanted me to go to my own doctor…I was exhausted, dehydrated and hypoglycemic- all very serious…We started home…I felt quite defeated…yeah, yeah, yeah…I tried…I hear ya…Debby then asked me when I was going to retry…what retry???What kind of crazy shiz is this…it was killing me to think of that much hard work down the drain…our altered plan was quite cool…I just needed to add a few Girly Pirate touches…as the wheels of my mind started spinning…I just needed to restructure the idea...I got home and called the doctor…all disasters are the method of the higher power to grab your attention…my mom is going in surgery for a blockage of her heart to be removed…my best friend is having liver issues…at the moment I was needed at home…

(8 foot breakers- taken from my yak)

I will be going back out on June the 4^th…due to health issues, some things will change though…if you are worried, please understand I do not need to hear it so I will no longer listen- a Girly Pirate went out the first inlet and played in the waves…they were big and fun…also full of baby Man of War…I am too old to camp the old school way…hotel room a must- toilet and shower required…OMG…that is all I have to say…I will be stopping in 5 areas to Paddle…I will speak at shelters’ in those areas…Debby will still drive…this way we will not be gone as long…I have been shown many blueways that I would like to try…I will go to Virginia Beach, VA…Ma, Me, NC, SC…

Paddling was not the problem- lack of information was…if you have not noticed this is a recon mission to obtain information…I will complete this full paddle next May…I am not a professional paddler- just a woman with a great outlet and passion…I am not proud- just stubborn…

Your Favorite Captain,

D

Wenches on the Benches

Good Day to You,

 I am excited and moody as any good Captain is before a major voyage…trying to get all my loose ends tied up…let me fill you in

Massage clients have been coming in to get worked on….this is my first vacation in 8 years…I have only had 3 sick days in that time…so this is the first time for them to have me gone…I am blessed with such love and support- they understand what I am doing is important…

American Boudica Publishing and The Circle of Boudica have been turned over to ChrisBilton….he and Rose have been great while I accomplish this goal…how many business partners would say- ‘Go Follow Your Heat’…I was blessed when he found me:)

My personal blog is open, but I will not post there until I get back…this way all of the information is still available…

School was supposed to be done by now…a few classes were added on to give me more knowledge…so I will still be in school while on the paddle…this will not be easy, but the teachers and I are prepared for it

Walter and Harold have made sure the truck and camper are ready to go…new tires, brakes, gone through the motor, ripping out the sink and propane, etc…stripping all dead weight will help with gas mileage…they wanted to make sure we were safe so they have added panic buttons in the truck camper and boat- this will call the police or coast guard should problems occur…I have left a copy of all paperwork (registrations, insurance, license, list of all medications, etc) with the shelter to keep everything safe and legal…

 

Channeling Captain Phil…I remembered a ‘Deadliest Catch’ when he goes to the grocery store to get ready for the trip…this was a helpful show to get ready for this trip…it made me think on the entire trip and what would be needed in our stores to keep us going…

I have been running to Hudson Beach or Anclote River Park as they are both close to the house…any questions I had were erased by my animals…Fred came over to Anclote…he was here at the start and, like any of my human coaches, he let me know that I was ready for this…the manatees from Crystal River came down to Hudson…it was fun to play with them…they let me know, I would see them when I got back- this was kind of sad…flipper and his dolphin crew came out to play at both parks…it would not surprise me to see them on the paddle…I do not own them, but they feel they own me…lol…I had a bald eagle land on the front of Yum Yum….40 pounds dropping out of the sky on an 8 foot yak…I almost flipped-freaked me out-the talons are huge…then I thought ‘how cool is this’…the whole time he was summing me up…I felt like a soldier being given orders…I have seen him watching me in the yard…I guess he is going with me too…

C and N Renovations loaned me a shade tent and cooler (this is big enough to hide a body…lol)…Pepsi (Tampa Bottling 30^th St) hooked us up with some Lifewater and Aquafina, they also tricked out The Lady Blue Horizon…Tim O’Hara is hooking up cameras and music- thankfully he is a teamster and knows the importance of both…The Florida Winery has donated the months tip jar to the shelter as promised- A big Thank You…Attitudes Hair Salon has also made a promised donation to the shelter- another big Thank You…I am proud to be among such fine people…EVERYDONATION HELPS

Each port of call will be unique…I have several friends who will be stopping to see us…I have offered to speak in a few ports…my family is spread along the coast and I will get to see many of them…All through my practice- I have been picking up bits and pieces for the children who will visit…Debby and I will empty the truck on the way up and go shopping to fill it on the way back…lol…that’s what Walter is afraid of:)

Your Favorite Girly Pirate,

Dorraine Cooper-Rooney, LMT

Captain of the Lady Blue Horizon