I am partnering with NRDC to paddle my outrigger canoe 1200 miles around Florida and west to New Orleans. My goal is to build support for a Healthy Oceans Act and steps to protect our oceans from global warming and ocean acidification. For those who do not know, I paddle to inform and for those who don't care, I paddle to inspire. I am documenting my journey on this blog during the month-long paddle. You can read more about the paddle, see photos, and take action here.
I just finished perusing David Helvarg's, president of The Blue Frontier Campaign, Blue Notes E-news letter. It includes a lot of great articles including a wrap up of the very productive and exciting Blue Vision Summit. David recently published a new book about the Coast Guard. I love the Coasties! It always reassures me to see them on the water. They also have some great stories to tell. Come to think of it my Navy Seal buddies, including Chuck Mayberry who I just met in Key Largo, also have some pretty funny stories. It has been my experience that intensive physical activity mixed with the great outdoors will more often than not generate a good story. Speaking of stories and adventures, paddling into Sarasota from Pine Island, definitely counts as an adventure. It was totally made possible by the awesome teamwork and efforts of the NRDC folks; Erik Laaken--techno wizard working in Washington, DC, and Keren Murphy--temporary chase car driver who normally works in Washington, DC.
The wind provided a rough and bumpy ride as I paddled across the large body of water between Pine Island and Gasperilla. When I cleared the Charlotte Harbor I made my way onto the Gulf where a good stiff wind provided a following breeze. As I made my way up the coast toward Sarasota I was lucky to have a good wind. This all changed when I was about four miles past the Venice Inlet. Then the winds shifted to the Northwest which slowed progress. All in all this wasn't to bad since I was lucky enough to witness dolphins and sting rays leaping. I even got to see schooling fish making simultaneous leaps out of the water.
As I made my way into the Big Sarasota Inlet my progress really slowed. The tide rips out of the inlet like incredibly fast-much like it does at the Plum Gut on the Long Island Sound. This is a cruel thing at the end of a 60 mile paddle when sun is setting. Thank goodness for the amazing teamwork efforts of the support crew, they found the awesome safe harbor and wonderful folks at the Sarasota Sailing Squadron. The squadron is located next to a tall blinking radio tower which made navigating at night in strange water so much easier. Paddling at night is beautiful but it can be difficult. Last night's arrival in Sarasota could not have been done without the efforts of Keren and Erik! You guys rock!!
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