Clear You’re Scupper Holes Get Ready to Haul Anchor

Welcome aboard,

Maps and charts abound….where is the quartermaster when you need him?

I will be in Sarasota next weekend…I hope to spend all day Saturday around both sides of Turtle Beach…it will be my last time to see my friends there until after my return from the journey as I will start training in the Atlantic in February…it has been a great place to train…I have been given instruction and support from everyone in the area…a lucky girly pirate am I…it has been a blessing

We are working out the details for our first Atlantic launch…I am currently trying to obtain permission to use the beach at Canaveral National Seashore…you may wonder why I chose this spot…this will be our first visit to a National Park…it is also across from our county as the flamingo flies…lol…I am excited and as we finalize details I will keep you posted…I have heard much about the east coast of Florida and I guess I am about to see what it’s like:)

Many hours of prep work go into each paddle along with…along with my own small business and being a full time student, it takes up almost every spare moment I have to put this together…I have to call ahead to make sure we can be accommodated or if they need to charge us, put together maps, pack all we might need (most places are well over an hour from home/ the Atlantic is 4 hours away)- this is just for the individual paddles…I have a plastic storage bag with all paperwork, business cards and maps from each area as I like to continue business with those who have been so supportive what I am trying to accomplish…it also help us keep things straight for the website and all adjoining media…we believe in our goal and that pushes us forward...I could not do any of this alone

If something is worth doing it is worth doing your best…if it takes hours of study, time to train and hard work you should feel you goal is worth it…accept that nothing will end up perfect and enjoy what does happen...here I go, channeling my inner Capt. Phil again...

I am doing all of this through Donations…every penny helps…you can donate at PayPal or mail it in (information listed below)…as you put up your new stuff from the holiday, please remember to send us any camping or boating equipment you may be replacing and no longer need…we are trying to be as green as possible (reduce, reuse, recycle)…as I said earlier, we are still looking for some type of camper…

30131 Clearview Dr

Wesley Chapel, FL 33545

(813)907-6279

Dee@Sunshinepaddle.com

Girly Pirates hate office work, but it is so cold most of my crew has fallen ill…I put a blanket over The Lady Blue Horizon and another over Yum Yum…I do not need them sick before the temperature goes back to normal Saturday…

May the wind fill your Sails and the sun be warm on your back,

Captain D

Pirating in the New Year

The Girly Pirate had to make a treaty with the family to be landlocked this week…went to the beach a couple of times, but weather was too bad for Yakkin around…we didn’t like those waves anyway

The Christmas holiday was good…Santa gave me new paddles, a kindle fire, new sheets, YakPad and Chris’s wife smuggled me in some Thornton’s Chocolates all the way from England…I was a good Girly Pirate this year:)

I have used my time on land to catch up with office work…I have put out more requests for sponsorship…still looking for that camper to be donated…caught up all sites and have written several articles for kayaking.org…starting to make plans for our first workout on the east coast in Feb…I need to find someone to make the Girly Pirate a large flag- I have to be able to see it from the water, so that I can know where to land…

I bought a book (Sea Kayaking Illustrated by John Robinson)…do not judge this book by its cover…I thought it would be full of pretty pics…when it got here, I was disappointed to see the cartoons- until I started reading…for this sport this has quite a bit of very useful knowledge…real pics could not give such a full view so it turns out I am really happy for the cartoon figures now:)

I have been making appearances around Florida…the Blue Horizon loves the children to touch her…I think she sparkles for them…an elementary teacher spoke of how Native Americans used such craft and how The Lady Blue Horizon would help keep mommy’s and kids safe…

Did I tell you how lucky I am to be her Captain?

I am doing all of this through Donations…every penny helps…you can donate at PayPal or mail it in (information listed below)…as you put up your new stuff from the holiday, please remember to send us any camping or boating equipment you may be replacing and no longer need…we are trying to be as green as possible (reduce, reuse, recycle)…as I said earlier, we are still looking for some type of camper…

 Well it is New Years Eve and the Blue Horizon wants to go to the water…I will need to find portage to the water…have fun tonight, wear your best long clothes and don’t end up in the gibbet cages…

Captain D

To reach me with Information or Donations-

Dorraine Cooper-Rooney, LMT
30131 Clearview Dr
Wesley Chapel, FL 33545

(813)907-6279

Dee@Sunshinepaddle.com

Power in the Paddle

Merry Meet My Crew,

As we draw closer to Yule, life has become hectic…none of the children will be home for the holiday… the start of the week found me staring at my guitar……9 months ago I quit smoking cigarettes…I had  purchased the guitar to keep my hands busy while I quit...I can not play a song, but can run scales really well...lol…I read a book about being a good sea captain…they always brought the spiritually back to shore…with this in mind I called the Lutheran Church (no I am not Lutheran, but they do the most for the community in my area- food bank, welfare sign up, etc….and I thought they could use the help)…I spoke to Preacher Scott and offered the guitar as donation as long as it was used at the church…he agreed and I offered to bring it by later in the week…he also spoke to me about the special tree covered in special angels and he was worried for the older children as no one was worried over them and they were boys…NONE of the young men I raised have ever hit a woman…if a young man in my community needs a hand to grow strong in mind and heart…I will be here

After checking for gator content, I found a few big retention ponds and Yum Yum and I snuck in a few workouts …I felt like a teen going cow tipping, sneaking around trying not to get caught- I am not sure if I am using an area I am allowed to be in…Massage has picked up, holiday shopping and I had Midterm Test in Naturopathy with a paper due…all of this left me pressed for workout time…(passed my exam, turned in my paper, shopped and handled all clients…still able to workout…YEA!!!)

I called Economy Tackle to get an ETA on the Blue Horizon…George said he had been swamped and I told him that I would be there on Saturday…I called Siesta Key Bike and Kayak….Lance was off, but Scotty was a big help…he booked my weekend rental and referred me to Gayle at Siesta Key Bungalows…

        Time again had come to head back to the doctor…all is well…he has been amazed at my tenacity on improving my health…being my doctor (since I have battered women’s syndrome) is not an easy task…Dr. Robert Casanas has helped me a great deal and it is through his wisdom that I now have the ability to pull the Sunshine Paddle off…

The 8^th Annual Peace Breakfast for the SunriseShelter was a rather nice fund raiser held at the Tampabay Golf and Country Club….it was a chilly morning and it was a beautiful spread…the food was tasted good…the speakers were very powerful…it strengthened my resolve for my journey

On Saturday Walt and I headed for Sarasota….did you know it was named for Sara De Soto…interesting story/ worth the Google…I got to EconomyTackle to find George swamped due to a current sale…he said he has to call perception- currently they own the Dagger Brand, and see what they recommend…I was disappointed that after 2 weeks she was not ready…safety comes first…even young Lee was swamped so I will not complain…I am happy they are busy

             After checking in with Lance and setting up for the rental yak to be delivered, we went to the hotel…I was expecting some shlumpy room as I had booked last minute and due to the paddle Gayle (she owns the place) was letting me have it for free…we got there and got given keys to the dolphin suite…OMG…it was so beautiful…an intimate courtyard led to the most lushly appointed room…the open living space layout gave it a homey feel…the bed was so amazing…felt like I was climbing back in the womb…all I can say is AWESOME…the landscaping around this property was fantastic...Gayle at Siesta Key Bungalows has set a new standard in guest room:)

We headed down to Turtle beach Launch…The Neville WildlifeReserve is an amazing place at sunset…we had a wilderness 12 foot Yak…since it was windy, tracking was a challenge…Walter is feeling better about the water…I think for most people, the more you Yak the better you get…we were out for hours and the sun seemed suspended in the sky…we got back and ran over to Turtle Beach (over a sand dune) to catch the finishing of the sunset…we parked our behinds in the sand to watch, when suddenly appeared many birds….this was quite funny as one little guy tried to go home with Walter

We got supper at Captain Curt’s Crab and Oyster Bar upon Lance's recommendation…the staff was sweet and gave good service…they offered a nice variety on the menu, it was very clean and the food was really good…it was here I really noticed how green people here were…if a room was empty lights were shut off, nothing on unless in use, recycling here was normal...as we wandered around we noted most of the island is this way…I have to admit, it made me feel better to spend my money in an area that is attempting to be eco friendly

Walt and I got up to take pics of the sunrise and found a crew of seniors cleaning the public beach- please note the public beach at Siesta Key is kept spotless…not suprising at all that this is the #1 beach

We worked our way back to Siesta Key Bike and Kayak and it was still early…we noticed the Orange Octopus had someone working at the early hour and she offered exquisite pastries…she was also sweet enough to watch the gear until Lance arrived so Walt and I could get on the road…how cool is that?

Though I am missing the Blue Horizon, I am glad she will give me a chance to go back to that area and visit with my new friends…in the meantime; Yum Yum will continue to build me up…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 donate through our website…we are always open to accepting positive thoughts too:)...we are thankful for all help

Captain D

  "May the Lord fill your sails with fair wind, support your hulls in inviting seas, guide your hands upon the tiller toward pleasant places and bring us home, O Lord, to a safe and loving harbor."

Make Safety A Priority

Since we had high wind on Sunday, I went to Philippe Park in Safety Harbor…It was quite beautiful at every view…this shares tide with Tampa Bay instead of the Gulf of Mexico…I pushed off at low tide and got to see the marsh grass;)…it looked far healthier than Dunedin Causeway and had many little critters above and below the soil/sand…

I spoke to Terry at Easy Kayaking…I ordered the books he recommended and find it was well worth the money…both books have been filled with very valuable information…the books stress the importance of Safety Training…I have never rolled my boat and wanted to make sure I knew what to do if it happened…We had several days of high wind and rain with lightening that kept me landlocked, so off I went to find a pool for practice…I also knew it to be important to have a bilge pump now…I got a cool one from Dick’s Sporting goods that looks like a water cannon…those guys find me the coolest gear:)

I was blessed…Dan at Meadow Point 3 gave me some pool time for Friday…okay so the temperature has dropped 20 degrees…I can do this…I started watching videos on YouTube on Kayak safety and the many different instructors who had so much information to share…I even watched the videos on what NOT to do

Friday Morning came…I was so excited, I woke up at 3 am…went through the books and videos just one more time before loading her on the car…I was expecting a small lap pool…OMG…I could paddle around this pool in the Blue Horizon and never bump the side…I felt truly blessed and wanted to cry, but there was work to be done…though it was a cold morning, the water was warm as I took my first roll…it was not as bad as I thought and not as easy as the video made it look…lol…the bilge pump worked well and she floats…the aft bulkhead is cracked…that made training difficult as the stern kept filling with water…Dan was kind enough to offer us use at another time and help me get her on the car

The Blue Horizon is currently in dry dock for the next few days undergoing repair…funny, I feel like a parent with a child in the hospital…she will be better than new…every woman deserves a spa day…lol…

May your waters be blue and flat for smooth sailing...please remember this is all running on donation and everypenny helps:)

D

Happy Girl Update

Last weekend was a wash…lightening, high wind and rain were not things to be kayaking in when you do not HAVE to…I actually got slightly depressed from being off the water :/…

I worked hard at the office work…either people love what I am doing or they placate me, thinking I will never accomplish my goal…I will make (I can see myself with goal accomplished)…I do have 2 more sites confirmed (Cape Lookout- I will need to tent camp there, Canoe River Campground in MA) …GA is afraid I cannot accomplish my goal…Fred Hay better hold on to his jeans…the waters of GA may fight my paddle, but I fight back…semper-fi;)..I also ordered 2 books that Terry Brawley recommended from Amazon…He is from Easy Kayaking and has a huge wealth of knowledge…I am so glad Yoda sent me to him to learn…I am pushing for donation of the last 2 big ticket items (camper and laptop)…I need to start loading both, fingers are crossed…

On Thursday, I went for a 5 lake paddle in Winter Park (cute, little, sleepy town) with some of the very top paddlers I met through meetup.com and Greg Pflug…I learned ever so much…it was an amazing morning…the sun coming up over the water…the canals from lake to lake were so beautiful, my breath caught in my chest…this is one of those times when pictures don’t hold a candle…it seemed like each paddler took time to teach me different things…I really felt blessed…we then went to breakfast at a cute diner with good food…the guys then spoke of other things I need to keep in mind to accomplish the task set forth…listening and being able to ask questions, was just too cool…everyone was very positive

I worked hard on Friday to be able to have the weekend off…Saturday, I was supposed to have a group go with me off Dunedin causeway…when no one showed up:/, Walter offered to try (he is not big on being in the ocean)…he did good until we got to the shipping channel…the Horizon handled well…the light chop had NO effect on her…guess who greeted me…Fred or at least that is what I have named him…he is a sand shark with a damaged dorsal fin- I do not have his picture yet…he was swimming beside me…glad Walt did not see himJ

I feel blessed…I am being given every water condition to paddle in…I am learning from people who do major tours via kayak…at times, I am left alone…it gives me time to work out the lessons and be one with the Blue Horizon…I have now lost 60 pounds and I feel great…my back and shoulders feel like they have wing span…lol...I have kept the Photobucket and Youtube updated as well as The Sunshine Paddle site...

Next week, The Blue Horizon will be getting some adjustments made…I need some extra seats…for this, I need someone who can sew…you see they no longer make The Magellan Class of Dagger Kayaks any longer…so I cannot go buy one…it will need to be made…please call me (813)907-6279…I need help adjusting her rudder pegs…her stern bulkhead needs shured up, I am getting both done to be safe…OMG…though I do not own this boat- the Sunshine Paddle Event does, I am her Captain, it is my responsibility to keep her safe

This morning I am off to Anclote State Park…a new place to launch from, I will get pics…since it is opposite to Dunedin, I wonder if Fred will find me…I like him but, always keep in mind he is a wild animal with a lot of teeth;)...May the wind be at your back and your paddle glide on water...may you enjoy all life has to offer you…if you want to paddle with or have a paddle you think I could join, give me a call (813)907-6279 …if you would like to donate please e-mail or call (813)907-6279 or go to the site- fund raising tab and use the pay pal button…thank you for any and all help;)

Be Blessed,

D