Paddle Day 54: Wet, Windy, Wild Waves; and Almost Accidental Rescue

Wet waves leaving Flag Harbor

The plan was to start before dawn, with calmer winds and paddle two days of distance to get ahead of the storm.

Paddle Day 53: Moving ahead of the Storm

Chris helping Deb depart, as she fires up the Delorme inReach Explorer

A big blow is coming, so it's time to make time before it gets here.

Paddle Day 52: Lovely Loons and Leaves

Deb landing at Breezy Point

Lovely grey day.  Hearing the occasional loon, reminded me of Maine.

Paddle Day 51: Kayakers, Shallows and Lost Gloves

Leaving Annapolis with three photographers on the dock

It felt so good to finally get back on the water!

Annapolis

Deb and Joey Schott at the Eastport Yacht Club

Having a good time in Annapolis as I wait out the days and days of small craft advisories.

Paddle Day 50: High Winds Lead to Change of Plans and Plenty of Paddling Women

Rock Hall women spring a surprise welcome!

Started out before dawn to paddle with the tide from Chesterton to Eastern Neck.

Paddle Day 49: Frost, New Paddling Friends and Maryland!

New friend, Laura, paddles out to meet me!

There was frost on the ground before sunrise, as Carlene drove me to my kayak at Beterton Beach.

Burr... 

Heath, Portage and Yet Another Small Craft Advisory!

Looks like summer still at Reboboth Beach

Busy day dealing with medical issues and portaging the kayak.

Paddle Day 48: Melancholy Day, River not Bay, and New State!

Leaving Money Island with help from Megan and the Money Island Marina

Paddling on a cool, overcast day - a melancholy day.

Adventures of Patito Amistoso: Chapter Five

Dear Children at Safe Passage and everywhere around the world,

Me telling my new friends about my adventures as we play on the kayak.

It has been an exciting few weeks since New York City and then visiting Deb's grandchildren.

Paddle Day 47: Warmer, Windy and Barren

Delaware Bay or The Arctic?  Hard to tell.

It's almost like paddling in the Arctic.

Paddle Day 46: Wet, Cold, Rainy Marsh

Margo and Jill making their outrigger canoes fly!

Easy paddling with the current and a following breeze, but cold and wet.

Trying to sleep out my cold

Spent two days sleeping in Cape May, NJ.

Paddle Day 45: Paddling to sweat out my cold

Cold day but warm in my NRS neoprene!

Stan and his son, Ethan, got me to the dock in time to catch a favorable tide 90 minutes before it turned.

Yet another Small Craft Advisory Day - Activity packed rest day.

Paddle repair!

Having paddled the last two days in Small Craft Advisories, I found the wind to be quite tough.  So Wednesday I didn't paddle.  Today is a "rest day",  and it's jam-packed with activities!

Paddle Day 44: Beaten to a pulp by the winds and currents and arrive to media and super long distance paddling host

There were many times this day I was ready to give up.

Paddle Day 43: Poor Decision Cuts Journey Short

Deb and Mary (and Donna) Leaving Shipbottom

 The winds were strong out of the west, so I made the poor decision of following the west shore of Little Egg Harbor, rather than staying on the east and battling the waves all day.

Paddle Day 42: A Long Slog with a Happy Ending

Two SUPs met me and guided me into to my landing at Ship Bottom.

A long day's paddle: seven hours and 24.5 miles.

Superstorm Sandy and Seaside: An emotional experience

An emotional goodbye from my host Pam Maguire. (photo by Asbury Park Press)

It has been so moving to talk with the people along New Jersey's barrier islands about Superstorm Sandy.

Internal Journey: Why it feels like jumping off a cliff

Today, in the cold and the rain and with yet another small craft advisory, my husband dropped me off and drove back to Maine.  It was great being with him for the past week, visiting the grandchildren and being helped with portages past areas I'm not allowed to kayak. But it is so hard to leave the comfort of a dry, warm car, and especially a loving husband, to start kayaking again.  Heading off into the unknown, to paddle new waters with new challenges, feels like jumping off a cliff.  There is an uncomfortable feeling in the pit of my stomach.

Paddle Day 41: Good-bye Atlantic Ocean. Hello Inland Waterway.

Leaving the Shark River Inlet

The surf was too high to launch on the New Jersey shore.