Thankful I did not Paddle on Wednesday and Tales of the Alligator River

It was the right decision not to paddle across Albermarle Sound in the high winds on Wednesday.

Thanksgiving Loop through North Carolina

We share what we are thankful for before the turkey

Friends drove long distances to share their Thanksgiving holidays with me.

Paddle Day 68: Warm Rain, Horses, Sand Dunes and Giving Thanks

Spot of sun on a stormy day

Quick paddle in the morning in warm rain with lots of animals, so I can arrive for lunch at a Rotary Club.

Paddle Day 67: Flat Bay, Lots of Wildfowl, a Bar and a Party

Ralph joined me for part of the paddle

Great day on and off the water, with lots of laughter, including a joke on me.

Paddle Day 66: Duck Hunting, Rubber Duckie and Tundra Swan

A wonderful gift: a new sticker

A very calm day for the birds, with the constant sounds of the gun shots from the duck hunters, a touching gift of a rubber duck sticker, and a sighting of a tundra swan.

Paddle Day 65: Fast Ride to NC, Close to the 900 mile mark, and Pungo fun

Debbie helping Deb get started for the day

On another cold day, the wind and current pushed me quickly from Virginia to North Carolina and close to passing the 900 mile mark!

Paddle Day 64: Record Cold Snap, Paddling with Dead Cat who Snatched my Record & Safe Passage Host

Kayak at the West Landing Marina

It was great having a paddling companion during this cold snap!

Paddle Day 63: Start of the ICW, Close Encounter with LPG Tanker, Fierce Winds, & Best Tale of Water Ahead

Way too close to an LPG tanker!

I am exhausted after today's tough and exciting paddle.

Paddle Day 62: Big Ships, Navy Police and the End of the Chesapeake Bay!

Navy Police herding kayakers out into the shipping channel.  Yikes!

Finished up Chesapeake Bay by crossing Hampton Roads, joined by four local kayaking experts, and herded by the Navy Police out into the path of large ships in the shipping lanes.

Sharing Safe Passage stories leads to amazing generosity

John and Andy donate their report card money

I've had three days of telling the Safe Passage story, and the response has been overwhelming.

Paddle Day 61: Fighter Jets, Live Bombs and Kayak Sinking

George is blazing!

It was an exciting day with military activities, and then heading to shore with a sinking kayak!

Paddle Day 60: Crossing bay and river, and an amazing welcome in Yorktown

Getting into my amazing SnapDragon sprayskirt

James joined me at the start of the day, George joined me at the end, along with Peggy and friends on the historic boat, Yorktown.

Paddle Day 59: Pleasant paddle over land; Found the Va version of Troy, Me

Deb leaving Gwynn Island

First day of really enjoying the paddling in a long time.  And then arrived in a rural town so similar to my hometown in Maine!

Solutions for Generational Poverty: Guatemala and Virgina

Teacher and student at Safe Passage

There is so much that is similar about the Safe Passage approach to generational poverty and an approach I saw in Virginia.

Paddle Day 58: Frost, Kayaking Women and Boat Building

Frost at dawn

Early on a frosty morn...

Paddle Day 57: Weather Worsens Enroute, Rescued by Rotarians

Weather catches Deb

The 15 knot winds increased during the day to the edge of what I could handle, but I had a great evening with Rotarians and Kathy and Ted.

Paddle Day 56: Tough Crossing the Potomac, Arriving in Virginia to Meet High School Friends

Starting the long crossing

Anxiety about a long crossing and rounding a rough point, but I arrived in a new state and had a great time with high school friends.

Paddle Day 55: Oyster Farms, Migrating Owls and Navy Towers Blocking Communications

Paddling past some of the Navy towers 

Nice paddle, and then a fascinating evening: experiencing the Navy blocking of all RF communications and then catching migrating owls!

Adventures of Patito Amistoso: Chapter Five

Dear students at Safe Passage and children from around the world,

Playing in a puddle with a sun loving duckie.

It has been fun meeting lots of little duckies as Deb and I paddle along the coast.