Paddle Day 17: Made it to Florida!

Two reporters and Art and Theresa at arrival

Last minute route change added six miles, but made the day much easier.  Like coming home staying with the Schusters!

The tides are not cooperating: I don't want to paddle at night

Demonstrating the Greenland paddle to the press

Plans change with the tides and the wind, and great people help me out.

Paddle Day 16: High High Tides and Deep Deep Conversation

Fort Frederica with soggy cannons 

Wet and windy day with strong currents.  Record high tide flooding they say.

Paddle Day 15: Going with the flow is great. Against it not so much.

Spanish moss of dead tree

Moment of terror in Darien.  Moment of terror on the Hampton River.  Yikes!

Paddle Day 14: Long day in the marshes, followed by southern hospitality

Sunrise on the marsh (credit Bill Watson)

After an amazing sunrise, I spent a long day on the water, zigzagging along little creeks.  Then exceptional southern hospitality at church and home.

Paddle Day 13: Disaster Averted, Crab Balls and Jelly Balls

Shrimp boats and paddling a skiff

Touch and go to avert disaster, then clear sailing to coastal culture.

Paddle Day 12: Windy Trip to an Island Paradise

Up close and personal

After four days not paddling, it was good to get back on the water, but the wind beat me up, and I landed tired and hurting.  Meeting my hosts who took me by boat to their island paradise revived me!

Adventures of Patito Amistoso: Chapter Seven

See with Sandy!

Dear Children in Guatemala and around the world,

It's been a while since I have written, because we had a little halt in the expedition while Deb recovered from her neck injury.  Now we are back on the water, and I had a great day yesterday.  I guess I should also tell you about the celebration in Guatemala last spring as well.

Rotary Hospitality: We are all connected.

Happy Rotarians: Bill Jahn, Karena and Tom Macek, Deb, Karen Jahn and Tonnie Marwitz

I spent four days being hosted by great Rotarians, and found so many connections, and even people I already knew.  It's a small world.  Wonderful discussions about Safe Passage, garbage and the economics of poverty.

7790 PDG Deb Walters to be Honored at the United Nations

Dr. Deb Walters

Rotary International President K.R.Ravindran announced that six Rotarians from around the world have been selected as Global Women of Action.

Foiled again! Small Craft Advisories

Deb on dock in Hilton Head - back when there were no small craft advisories!

Feeling good after four days of paddling.  Glad to have one day of rest.  But now have two days of Small Craft Advisories and cannot paddle!

Paddle Day 11: Flying down the river, but floating cars, dressers and sofas???

Talking with Patito in my pocket

Fast day going with the current - until the last two miles going against the peak current.  Scary tales from sailors who navigated the flooded rivers in Charleston.

Paddle Day 10: Relaxing through the Salt Marshes

Getting salt from spartina

Great day of relaxed paddling.  Then fun time with friends.

Paddle Day 9: Reached Georgia!

Taking a short cut by lining the kayak in the Savannah River

Hard day going against the wind the whole time, and against the tides half the time.  But great to see old paddling friends in Savannah!

Paddle Day 8: Rotary, Interview, Beat up by the Wind, and Magic on Daufuski

The Island Packet Photographer on the dock

What a day!  Breakfast Rotary meeting, followed by conference call, then a media interview and  onto the water and paddling into the wind.  Finally reached Daufuski to a huge reception, a chance to give an impromptu talk about Safe Passage, and then a wonderful evening with inspiring conversation.

Paddle Day 7: Currents, Thunderstorms and Big Crossing

Yellow headless kayaking monster

Two hours of just floating with the currents, ten minutes of terror, one hour hard work crossing Port Royal Sound, and another hour of easy paddling.

Paddle Day 6: Finally back on the water

Sunrise on a happy face

So happy to be back on the water, even for a very short day.

Flooding, seafood bonanza and Guatemala landslide

Throwing back a female blue crab

So happy to have made it safe and sound to Beaufort, SC, thanks to so many generous people.

Still pinned down in Charleston: 24.23 inches rain in 24 hours

Rain pummels Charleston (and me)

As my routes over the next few days require going upstream up sections of the rivers that drain South Carolina, this storm will prevent me from paddling until the rivers go down.  Flooded roads mean I can't get a ride for me and my kayak.  Pinned down in Charleston, South Carolina.  Hearing about mudslides in Guatemala.  

Trapped in bad weather in Charleston, South Carolina

Atmospheric River pumping tropical rain right to Charleston, South Carolina

National weather reporters are calling Charleston, South Carolina the worst place in the US weather wise with a once in a lifetime weather event.  National Weather Service calling it a 1/200 or even a 1/500 year event with over 16 inches of rain.  An "atmospheric river" is pumping tropical water up from Hurricane Joaquin.  There are flood warnings on the rivers and rip tide warnings on the coast.  It would be a very dangerous time to be kayaking, especially as I would be paddling these flooded rivers.

While glad I'm not on the water, I'm not feeling real comfy staying here in Charleston on one of the creeks.  It is a small tidal creek, so hopefully the rain based flooding will not be too bad.   The tides today are predicted to be one of the ten highest tides ever recorded.  I'll feel better after high tide at 1:00 p.m.  Isolated tornados are also being predicted.  Although this is rare, there were tornadoes here on James Island earlier this week.

If there is an evacuation notice I will have to beg a ride with neighbors, as there is no vehicle where I am staying.  I'll keep you posted.

Gratitude list:

1. Watching the heavens pour from inside a dry house
2. Time to reflect on the purpose of this expedition
3. Messages of support from Maine to Florida
4. Time to create the biography, the photos and the presentations for the award to be announced October 20th
5. Sleeping with the lovely sound of rain on a hot tin roof.

UPDATE:  CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) -- All traffic to Charleston, Folly Beach and Edisto Beach are shut down and Dorchester County set a curfew from 6 p.m. to 7 a.m. in response to widespread flooding across the Lowcountry.

President Obama declared a state of emergency in South Carolina.  The list of road closures is long, including the roads to get me by road to Edisto Island tomorrow as planned.

Walked to the grocery store to get food for today, but many refrigerated shelves and cases are empty because of frequent power outages.

So glad to be safe and dry.

Deb and Ellie

Date: Saturday, October 3, 2015

Location: James Island, Charleston, South Carolina

Host: Ellie Maas Davis

Hurricane Skip and Stories of Generosity

Photo from Charleston Post and Courier

The hurricane prediction has gotten better for this area, but the heavy rains and thunderstorms were still enough for me to do a "weather skip."  So no paddling for a few days, just stories of generosity.