I am a grandmother paddling alone over 2,500 miles from Maine to Guatemala. Along the way I will be:
- telling the story of the children who live in the Guatemala City garbage dump community
- honoring their entrepreneurial mothers
- talking about the success of the Safe Passage model school and
- raising funds for additional grades for the school.

Wednesday, July 23, 2014

Paddle Day 9: Leaving Maine!

Leaving York Harbor
After all of my anticipation of a tough paddle into Portsmouth...

it was practically a cake walk.  Leaving York Harbor took a little extra time, as I was asked to speak to the sailing class at the Agamenticus Yacht Club.  I love the questions children ask, like "How do you pee?"

I only stayed one night with my great hosts in Cape Neddick, because I wanted to get into Portsmouth before the cold front moves through.  And of course I was still recalling the huge surf and wrecked boats of the last time I paddled this section of coast.   Here's the reality of paddling today up the mighty Piscataqua River...
Terrifying conditions on the Piscataqua!
Granted, it was a little more effort crossing the river with the current against me, but with the right ferry angle I used the current to zip across, and move from Maine to New Hampshire.  One state down, 13 to go, and then a couple more countries and I'll be done.

There was a group of Rotarians with flags and bouncing children to welcome me to New Castle Island.
Welcome committee on New Castle Island

Paddle Day: 9                                                    Date: July 22, 2014
Start: York, ME                                                 End: Portsmouth, NH
Distance: 8.42 miles                                           Total distance: 89.44
Max speed: 6.2 mph                                           Moving ave.: 2.9 mph
Kayak storage: Portsmouth Rotary Club            Hosts: Seacoast and Portsmouth Rotary Clubs

2 comments:

  1. Greetings from Costa Rica Deb…! Keep up that enthusiasm…you are inspiring millions of people around the globe.
    Best regards, Esteban Ericksen.

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  2. Deb, I'm so enjoying reading your entries. Thinking of you every day now that you've embarked on The Journey! I love the photos...visuals make your kayaking days come alive for us followers...and I look forward to your daily trials & tribulations, weather conditions, etc. Thank you for taking the time to update this blog...Kathy :o)

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