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.Another start at dawn, but this time with wind and ripping currents.  

Dawn at Hampton River

Took the more sheltered route on the Frederica River, rather than using the ICW.  Noticed the water was high.

High water

Had a harder time navigating when I couldn't find the channel markers.  This marker was above water yesterday.

Soggy cannons at Fort Frederica

Passed the national monument where General Oglethorp first set up his folks, the first British settlers of Georgia.  I expect the ground was a little higher back then.

Mindi sent me a text and photo saying that Bird Island, where I had stayed a few nights ago, was under two feet of water today.  The water was over the steps and right up to deck.

Mindi's Bird Island

Fortunately the current was with me almost all day.  There were whirlpools where the current was strongest.  Fun today, but I worry about paddling away from here.

Luis Haza from Coastal Symphony of Georgia

Had a fantastic lunch with Luis Haza, grammy winning violinist, conductor and humanitarian.  Our conversation about Guatemala was the best I've had on the entire expedition.  Luis is a deep thinker who knows Guatemala, and Latin America, well.  He was a child prodigy violinist in Cuba.  Even more amazing that that was that he stood up for democracy after Castro took over.  At one point when Castro's heavies interrupted his concert to arrest and kill those who spoke up for democracy, he stopped playing.  When they ordered, "Play boy!", he had the courage and audacity to play "The Star Bangled Banner."  Fortunately he was able to get out of Cuba, but not before his father was killed by Raul Castro.  Luis has remained a humanitarian for democracy.  His theory about how language effects a country was so thought provoking.  The English (and German) languages lead to logical thinking.  He talked about how no famous mathematician has ever come from a Spanish speaking country, because Spanish language leads to emotional thought.  But great artists and literature abound in Spanish speaking cultures.  His ideas about the link between language and culture resonated with me.  His ready knowledge of statistics and conditions in Guatemala, meant the conversation zoomed along.  He "git it" about what we are doing at Safe Passage.  Luis Haza inspired me to continue to do even more for the people of Guatemala.

Gratitude List:

1. Sharing ideas with Luis Haza and Troy Hull
2. Going with the flow
3. Sleeping in a bed instead of camping on a flooded island
4. Being warm and dry in my paddling jacket
5. The beauty of Saint Simons Island

Date: October 27, 2015                                                   Restart Paddle Day: 16
Start location: Saint Simon N, Georgia                             Launch time: 7:45 am
End location:  Saint Simon                                               Land time: 11:35 am
Average speed: 3.7 mph                                                  Max Speed: 7.1 mph
Miles: 15
Total expedition miles with kayak: 1839                         Motor-portage miles: 363
Kayak Storage:  Morningstar Golden Isles Marina
Host: Troy Hull