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.

Sunday, November 30, 2014

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.

Tuesday, November 25, 2014

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.

Monday, November 24, 2014

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.

Saturday, November 22, 2014

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.

Friday, November 21, 2014

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!

Sunday, November 16, 2014

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.

Saturday, November 15, 2014

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.

Friday, November 14, 2014

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!




Friday, November 7, 2014

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!

Sunday, November 2, 2014

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.