Ahoy Mate,
Looking for
information, I started a road trip…I was blessed with so much information and
made many new friends…let me explain
I got
contacted by 3 women in GA- they had read that I was having a hard time finding
people to paddle with there…all paddlers…they work with battered women and it’s
important that people not know who they are, so they request no pics…navigation
of swampy water is a skill they wanted me to have…also they have an odd current
formation and was shown how to make it through it…I was using a borrowed kayak-
it was neon green and purple…the water and air took a slight chill on
In South
Carolina, 2 undercover policeman and their wives took me out to play in the
surf…waves capped in white…I really enjoy them…I cannot explain the release as
you pass thru the wave or the energy build up from riding it…I was made to
capsize/ roll the kayak…paddled across an inlet…whenever I get across an inlet
it is a thing- I always want to yell ‘OO RA’…lol…it rained off and on…I saw 2
notch (she is a manatee that I first met in Crystal River, FL)...she likes to
tap on my boat…I noticed a change in animals and vegetation…back on the road
were several safe rest areas to nap in
The yellow
flowers by the zillions along the roads tell you Welcome to North Carolina…here
I stopped to speak at a battered women’s group…some still carried bruises, this
was hard to see...as a group we paddled…we learned to move as a group- sounds
far easier than it is…when your body has been broken by another person, the
mind develops BIG trust issues…this is with all person or persons that we
encounter…I will pray for these women…the road is long, but worth the trip…the
rest areas here are beautiful and quite safe
Virginia…well,
it was interesting…I was going to stop to see a friend who was dying…by the
time I got there- he had died, he was my hero…I went to Sandbridge to vent, I
knew where there used to be a secluded…it was still there sort of…I started to
scream at the world, when a voice asked ‘does that really help?’…I told him I
would rather be in a kayak…I was told ‘follow me’…I was taken to the back on a
military base and handed a pfd with a paddle…it was a GREAT practice spot…the
anger in me was safely released…we talked about what my plan was- he felt I
could complete it with no problem…that night I got a hotel…this was the area
that I took the most beatings- the room at the ‘Sleep Inn’ was beautiful, but
sleep was still hard to come by…
The morning
brought me through Maryland…can you say WICKED EXPENSIVE…tolls here are
exceedingly high…federal dept of transportation needs to look into this…the
tunnel is dirty…if it was an everyday thing I would invest in one of those
white face masks…I was excited to see a facebook friend who had offered to
paddle with me…it was raining and he said the water was churned up…we got to
the put in and the water was murky- I saw a few tidal pools and though the
young man would have went, I felt it best that we wait for a better day…
While I was
in South Carolina, Walt got a call from the great state of Delaware…this was a
battered woman who is still running…she is fabulous with a yak…I feel very
privileged that she took time and put herself at risk for me…she felt there
were many things I should know, she had a notebook and went over every detail
and then took me to the water…this is the second place I felt a temperature
shift in the water…crossing the inlet was scary at first, but once I got out
there I was feeling better
New Jersey
is and ever will be New Jersey…here I met a book club who wanted to paddle with
me…we paddled by ‘Lucy’ the elephant…I would have cool pics of this, but had
not checked to see my battery was dead…they have a rocky kind of flat coast…the
ladies and I had a good time…though none of them had heard of a shelter
anywhere near them…a couple wanted to see about putting together a New Jersey
version of ‘The Vagina Monologues’…
New York
made me think of seeing downtown Cairo on the TV…A paddler who wants me to be
safe, but does not want his name in public took me out to Fire Island and has
offered to paddle this leg with me next year…did someone drop ice in the
water…I tried on my dry suit, never thought about the 150 pounds I lost- now I
look like a little girl lost in mommy’s dry suit…lol…I guess it is time for a
new one…the air was crisp
Connecticut
was dreary grey both up and back…if you pull off the highway you meet the
warmest people…the rest areas are nice…here I was brought to a ‘chart house’…a
retired Navy chief is working on putting together a package for me…he went over
the map key he would use and explained how and where he wanted me to carry them
and why…he would meet me next year at Mystic Seaport and paddle with me for a
day
Rhode Island
is a place I have played since I was a kid…I knew in MA was a bed with sleep,
so I drove through like a scalded dog…as I went through downtown providence I
noted a huge new Mall and the state house was just where I left it…Mary,
Marilyn and I were to meet at the Stateline…they were shopping at Bob’s…I was
so happy to see them
Marilyn took
me home, fed me, tucked me in and let me sleep…Wilma (my truck) was giving me a
hard time and Marilyn’s husband, knowing I needed to get to Maine, offered to let me used his car…I was treated like gold and felt cherished...the funny part is the cat who had a crush on me...lol
At my age,
when you sneeze- nothing good happens…and all my clothes are in Wilma…and I am
in New Hampshire…you can buy all the booze you want, but try to find a pair of
shorts…they had liquor store exits on the highway…really, it surprised me too…I
paddled in the Piscataqua River…it was lovely and fragrant
Take a DEEP breath…you are now in
Maine…beautiful seems to be an understatement…as I was in a friend’s car, I was
pressed for time…I got to meet with a woman from the governor’s office and
women from a local shelter at the Wiscasset boat put in...Meg had brought an
Old Towne Kayak for me to paddle in...a few papers came out to get the scoop on the paddle…when a train interrupted the interview, I
was invited to ‘Le Garage’ by the owner and given a wonderful meal and
excellent service…women from all over the state will paddle with me next year...I am blessed…I
was given much good advice…the Governor in this state is very progressive on abuse
of women and children, has implemented a 0 tolerance policy…I have to admit, it
feels good to see someone stand up for their people…he went from homeless and
beaten in the streets of Lewiston to the Governor’s office…he did not get there
by being stupid and I am glad he is on our side:)
Upon arrival
in MA, I got to see the baby girly pirate get baptized…the old church had been
torn down…the new one did not have the same cozy feeling, but the baby was at
her best…she slept through the whole ceremony…lol…
My last night in town was a
lot of fun…we went to Norton House of Pizza…my parents joined us and we all had
fun…sometimes high school feels like yesterday in a good way:)
On the way
home, I was making good time until the sky opened up in Delaware and the rain
was so heavy it just laughed at my wipers…the rest area was clean and filled up
quickly- no one wanted out in that mess…I got a few hours of sleep…as soon as
the rain let up, I was on my way
As night
fell, I found myself on the North Carolina coast…a friend offered to meet me
for a moonlight paddle…to see so many critters was really cool…I was in a 14’
fishing yak…it had so many gizmos…this really made me feel like I was going to
capsize from being top heavy…lol
As I came
over the Florida line, I think Wilma got energy from out of thin air- she kept
up at 65 mph the whole way home…every single mile seemed to take forever…I
stopped in Lil Talbot area and my friends made me lunch…it was filling and a
nice break from the road…her kitchen overlooked the shore and we spoke of the
things kayakers speak of- paddles, animals, water and new kayaks…we got to
paddle for a few…I missed my husband and dogs, so I pressed on...I was so happy to see electric Mickey on I4 as I know it is only an hour till I am home:)…pulling up in
the front yard, I think I woke the neighbors with my horn blowing…my body is
cramped…I have the missing information and just made the coolest road
trip…people have been really amazing
At the end
of the day, I feel confident in the trip I am about to take…I am looking
forward to it…I am thankful to all of those who are making me better at my
craft and who have gone out of their way to help me out…this was not an easy
trip, but one well worth it…I have learned so much-it was so freaking cool…May
you each feel so blessed
The Girly
Pirate
I am
starting to work my float plan for the Sunshine Paddle in April of 2014 that
will go from Gamble Rodgers State Park on the east coast of Florida, up the
Atlantic, until I reach Wiscasset, Maine…I will post an approximate plan next
month…I am very excited about this…if you have any ideas, equipment or
thoughts- as long as they are constructive, I am willing to listen, try or talk
about it…I will need hotels along this paddle- can anyone find or maybe know of
cheap digs along the coast…I am thankful for any and all help
My first
paddle back, I was so happy…as the boat cuts the water the world around you
changes…it is a view that very few can see…I do not believe it is something you
can take for granted…as I paddled my way around, many of the animals came up to
say hi…after a little more than an hour, 2 notch the manatee showed up,
paddling beside her is like most people who go running with their friends…she
communicates very well even though she never uses words…she is on the way to
Crystal River…I told her I would be up to see her soon…
