Blast! Blast! Blast!

 

Ahoy,

I have been paddling around St. Joseph Sound…Fred has been out to see me and we have had fun…he likes to tap the boat…2 Notch has been staying on the gulf side of the islands for some reason…she has been having fun with the boat too…her fin slap is always when I least expect it…it has been good practice around other boats, islands and bridges…I enjoy stopping on some of the outer keys…getting in and out on my own- I am good at this, just do not expect me to be graceful- at all…lol…I can almost hear the dolphins’ laugh…

In the last week, I have been launching from Hudson Beach…the wind has been high which makes it a really- feel your muscles burn- kind of paddle…The Blue Horizon has brought me safely to shore each time and I am thankful for her…she has been an awesome ride…due to northern weather being far harsher than ours I feel it proper to paddle in all weather, one can never be too prepared…it is not the paddling I enjoy the most though- it is blasted painful

So badly do I want to run and get a quart of fudgy chubby hubby ice cream, that would be yummy…I know people think I am a little crazy as I talk to myself in the store while I shop…as I look at many treats, I must say No…I find that it is best to avoid the cookie and candy isle…lol

Speaking of pain…I am now up to 20 minute, 5 mile reps on the Welso…I never look at a scale, but I have now gone from a 2X to a LG…also a far cry from the 2 minutes I started at…lol…my legs can bloody well feel it

 

I need help in each state…if you have time please volunteer…if you know of someone who has time, please ask them for me…I am working on bumper stickers, T-shirts and flyers…if all you can do is post a flyer at your local public bulletin board I would be ever so thankful…if you are interested in the bumper stickers or T-shirt let me know…I have to start pre-paying for what I can and getting ready to bank for what we need…Taylor has been ill, so I am looking for someone who would not mind video editing until he returns…anyone???

Well, next week my plan is Crystal River…as always, I will keep you posted

 

Your Captain,

 D

 

Working for a Good Cause

Ahoy Mate,

Today, I will start by telling you what a nice job Taylor Ashley did with the video for the Sun Ray Paddle…he used the voice from a speaking engagement I had at a church (Atonement Lutheran Church)…it was a happy surprise when he called to tell me it was done…

It is sit here at the 11 month mark I am feeling confident…a woman looked at me this week and asked why I would feel insecure…I started this being quite fat and smoking like a chimney…my goal was to raise money and awareness for Domestic Violence…I had to push myself…giving up cigarettes was far from easy, but needed to be done if I was to reach my goal…at times I would like to have just one more- though I am not willing to do it and give up what I have worked for…the menu is a killer and must be done…the better shape I am in the easier it will be…it has been a blessing to have such wonderful friends and a husband who has worked with me…support and discipline is how I have come so far…now I am proud of the body I work on daily- I could not even picture smoking again…lol

Just recently I went to the volunteer lunch for the shelter…it was a wonderful event…I was happy that Debby (the woman who drives me) won a basket…she was so happy she glowed…I also attended the East Pasco Networking Group and got to listen to Dr. Mitchell speak…really had a nice time…We have also teamed up with Go Fund Me in hopes of raising donations...

We could really use some volunteers…we will be meeting publically at Atonement Lutheran Church on SR54 in Wesley Chapel…the first and third Thursday at 7pm and the fourth Thursday at 1pm…every month from now until the launch…if you live in another state- you can still help…we are a 501 (c)(3) and a State of Florida approved charity, so I can sign off on volunteer hours…Because we are dealing  with 13 States and over 8 countries, a volunteer can learn- logistics, communication, budgeting, computer editing of letters, photo editing, how to be a videographer, work on a website - all while helping the community...Some may even join me during work out in the water and they would learn- about boating
safety, water tribitity, animals, currents, weather- again all while helping the community…

New on the website is our mailing list…please take time to sign up…be the first one to get the latest paddle news…we love our fans and like to keep you in the loop:)

That Will Be All,

Captain D

 

One Year and Counting

 

All Hands on Deck,

 

 

I would like to start with the Sun Ray Paddle…we left Hudson at 6 a.m. and it was still quite dark…it was misty and the water was choppy…Samantha Ashley joined me…as we made our way down the coast we watched black clouds pass us to dump water onshore…as the sun broke the horizon and it gave the clouds a halo and the water was crystal clear…we had 2 different pods of dolphins come out to play with us…Sam was excited to see the horseshoe crabs…I saw a HUGE sea turtle…many different birds and fish were out and about…the houses so far off shore were so cool…we pulled up on Durney Key- this was funny…as we checked out shells, the birds checked us out…poor Sam had never been on a big paddle and her arms were VERY hurt, so I got her to the boat ramp next to the original ‘Hooters’…we totaled 8 miles…I am very proud of her- she showed up and did her best, I could not ask for more…We raised $10 for Sunrise of Pasco and $10 for Parks and Rec- Something is always better than nothing…Photos are posted and we both carried a mounted camera, so we will soon have video- Taylor is working on it now…I will let you know when it is posted…

 

Today is one year until the Sunshine Paddle…on April 1 the menu went back into effect- no soda or chocolate or baked goods:(…I have also started using the welso bike…it actually helps stretch me when I cannot get to the water…I also have the SOT (Sit On Top) trainer at home- one of my friends built this for me…the excitement is building...

 

 

Insight that I need to share…this sport is awesome…Sam had not paddled much before this trip…watching her took me back to a 5 lake paddle with Marty from meetup.com (the group set up be Greg Pflug)…OMG…how cool Marty was with me…lol…he and the other paddlers took time to show me what to do and how to do…as Sam learned, I thought about how far I had come and how much I had learned- How great so many people have been… it was then I thought about how many nights I had gone to bed with burning arms and the fact that now, I had paddled 8 miles in open water for the Sun Ray Paddle and was not even winded or hurting…how far my body has come…confidence is high:)

Carry On,

Your Captain and Girly Pirate

 

Happy and Nervous

 

Good Day Mate,

Grab a Lifewater and follow me…I really do not have time to stop…my time in Boca was so awesome…I graduated!!!!! Rachel at Spanish River was ready for me, but the weather was not good at first (great place, I will go back to see her again)…when it calmed down a friend let me use their yak…I love the ocean…Embassy Suites was awesome- clean and great service…

I have to be ready for The Sun Ray Paddle on Saturday… I had many people request me to make a paddle this year…well Saturday is the Launch day and so far NO ONE has entered…I hold out hope, but am prepared to do it alone…I made the commitment…I will be taking video and posting it and pictures… if you know anyone who will be here, please let them know I would love the company and all information can be found at “Sun Ray Paddle 2013”…or maybe they would like to meet me at Anclote…we would love to see you there if you have time…

 

I now have a clean bill of health and have started the one year countdown…this time next year I will paddle the Atlantic coast…the work out and menu have begun…both are very strict…I have also added a power bike to my time in the water…the dogs are happy as they are getting more exercise…

 

 

 

Many asked why I do this…I believe that even at a person’s lowest moment, you can reach inside and take out strength you forgot you had…you can overcome obstacles…sometimes it is painful or not so pretty, but it can be done…a dream is only a dream until you take action- then it becomes real…you may fail…it’s okay to fail…get up…dust yourself up…reevaluate your plan and try again…that is the only way to cut a path to success…I was once battered- left for dead…at times I was lonely, depressed and people had to tell me things I did not always want to hear- this usually happened in the most public way possible…in the  last 20 years- I raised 2 beautiful daughters (1 has given me an amazing grandchild) and married a man who loves me (and even at his worst would NEVER harm me), have my parents near me again, obtained my Massage License, wrote and published 2 books (with more on the way), Graduated Suma Cum Laude with a Bachelors of Science in Natural Medicine, Thanks to Facebook I have my friends that had to be left behind back in my life…I have worked VERY hard for all I have and I am VERY THANKFUL…my life is not perfect, but it is good…you can do it too…every day is new and even if you messed up yesterday, you get to try again today…when you get stressed, be thankful you never had to be the castle urine collector…lol

I recently went for a paddle on the Dunedin Causeway and had such a good time...I got to see my buddy Fred...he seemed happy to see me...I had forgot to put sunblock on before I left and got quite burnt...it was such a spectacular day that I did not care...it is a beautiful place to paddle and there were many sailboats out that day...I hope you are blessed with such a beautiful day:)

 

Carry On,

Your Girly Pirate

 

Good Vibrations

 

 

Hail and Good Day to You,

 

So much to talk about…next Monday will complete a year of medical repair and I hope be the last doctor’s appointment…I have been tested and worked on from the ground up and am ready for this to be over…most of these medical issues were brought about by the beatings I endured- over 20 years since the last one and I still pay the price…it has taken everything I have to rebuild and repair my body in a natural format…yes, it is quite painful at times-I am worth it…I have been blessed to have the most awesome support system and my paddle:)

 

Next week I will be making appearances in Boca Raton…Rachel at Spanish River has been so cool as to hook me up with a yak so I can keep in practice…I will also be stopping at Gumbo Limbo Nature Center…say it with me “SWEEEET”…

I will start a full workout schedule in April as we ready for the 2014 trip…The SunshinePaddle will tear up the coast on April 1, 2014…I am so ready for it and Debby is getting her car ready for the trip…so very excited…anyone who wants to work out or paddle with me please let me know…

The Sun RayPaddle is in the process of tying up a few loose ends for the final push…we are planning menus…we will park at Anclote and be driven to Hudson…the 14 mile paddle has many goodies in the entrance package…at the end of this Paddle will be an after party and BBQ…so cool…this will be so much fun, I can hardly wait…

 

 

Carry On,

Captain D

 

Sun Ray On The Way

 

Hail and Good Day,

So much cool stuff to talk about…I have been working with Pasco Parks and Rec to make a very special paddle…I have also hired a guy to BBQ at the end of the paddle…nothing better at the end of a long paddle…we have set up a parking and staging situation that is quite cool…I have been getting info from all over the county for entrance packages…

 

Going down the gulf coast of Pasco is special…much of the pristine beauty is still in place…many of the inhabited areas have small secrets and hideaways..we will paddle through 2 local dolphin pods and depending on water temp, there are 2 manatee families…storks, pelicans, egrets and eagles should be easily spotted and why one should bring a camera

This is a 14 mile paddle…please be sure to pack accordingly…this is Florida, sun protection is a must…make sure to have plenty of fluid with you…the closer it gets the more excited I am…an air horn and or whistle…hat and or a face wrap…paddle float is a good thing…do not forget your bilge pump…bring hand food as you will need to eat something every hour to keep up energy…first aid kit…deck compass comes in quite helpful- even if you have a GPS…spare paddles…rope…spray skirt is optional- I do not use one when I am in the gulf…knife…hand crank radio…trash container and toilet paper…pfd…sunglasses and a spare pair of sunglasses…binoculars…towel…drybag…mp3- good to have a spare for this too…change of clothes…camera…epirb/spot tracker-if you do not have one just stay close to a paddler who does…

 

I am now working with the State at getting The Sunshine Paddle registered from an even to a chairity…they have been having a hard time understanding that no one makes a paycheck…so we are currently going back and forth- just so much fun…Sunshine Paddle has a day in South Carolina Sponsored…so it begins…April 15 of 2014 is on the Calendar…The long Trip from St. Augustine, Florida to Wiscasset, Maine will be made…so much work to be done…

Well no time do I have to be tarrying…

 

The Girly Pirate

Ever So Busy

Ahoy Mate,

Since we are no longer ‘just an event’, I had to get with the IRS and the State of Florida to change our status…this took many phone calls and much paperwork, but I feel it is all working…I am an automatic 501c as I take in $5000 or less according to the IRS- they said I could file for a letter, but it would cost $400 to file the form and donations were deductable either way- I can live without the letter and they consider me a charitable sports team…with the state there was a ton of paperwork and a declaration of all donations and expenses (I posted a copy of this onsite)…all is done and sent in and in the next 2 weeks I should show up as being a registered…YEA!!!! I have a friend who has stayed on my butt about this- I hate office work, I am thankful for her motivation:)

 

To give more businesses a chance to get in on the entrance packages, I have attended several networking meetings- Pasco/ Hernando Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, East Pasco Networking group, etc...they all let me speak about The Sunshine Paddle and the upcomming events…I have met many interesting people and find it inspiring how many people are working to make a better community…it reminded me of the old town hall meetings- people talking business, eating- really great food, and speaking on ways to make the community shine…totally killer

 

I got Walter on the Weeki Wachee…he is still a newbie, but he tries as he knows how happy it makes me…the river is always a challenge in paddle blade control (unless you paddle like gma)…we were blessed with so many manatee- lots of new moms and calves…Walter enjoyed seeing the sheepshead fish…the was around 72f with an air temp of 50f…it was a really good run

 

Fort De Soto is one of the lovelier parks…there are many different places to launch from…a protected area for newbies to a paddle out to the Skyway Bridge…so much to see…like a child, I always have to stop and play with the very big guns and play in the bunkers of the fort…really there are so many different birds and aquatic animals, I could not do them justice…when you come, bring something to collect seashells in…this park has several beaches and each has its own flavor…really amazing place

 

Now is the time to make your plans for the Sun Ray Paddle…we are working to bring together a great paddle and would love for you to join us…Come paddle with me…

Your Girly Pirate