Here I am, in the very waters Aleksander Doba paddled that day, rather evening of May 31st, 2016 and off my port side are very large waves. Waves I am sure I do not have the skill to navigate, but more importantly, waves that are well off my route, yet I am getting closer to them and further from shore. Now I’m checking my track frequently and even though I have done a dramatic course correction and now I’m paddling almost 45 degrees to starboard off my route, just to make shore, I am getting nowhere.
Category: Kayak Trip
Canada to Key West Paddle – Day 34
My early start didn’t happen today. Oh, I was up early, but even with the car loaded, time just gets away from you and before we knew it, it was 9am and we were just leaving for Red Hook, Brooklyn.
Canada to Key West Paddle – Day 33
My last night in my old neighborhood.
It was a rather busy day. We scored some of that food I’d been looking for in the last place we looked (wink wink). The Daily Voice interviewed me today or rather tonight, just as I sat down to eat dinner. Then it was back to packing up my gear in the new dry bags.
Canada to Key West Paddle – Day 32
Today proved to be very busy. When I awoke, the plan for the day was to just attach four pad eyes onto the kayak for the Topkayaker.com Knee Straps that will help me stabilize the kayak in bigger water, and if I’m really good, roll it. Then we’d run to the Supermarket and pick up my food for the next thirty days. Get back, pack up and head out tomorrow morning for the re-launch. Well that was the plan anyway.
Canada to Key West Paddle – Day 31
I can’t believe tomorrow will be one month since I began this expedition. So much has changed. I’ve met so many great people and made so many new friends and yet, I’m just at the beginning of this long journey. It’s a helluva ride and I’m enjoying every moment, even if there are moments that are scaring the hell out of me (New York City Harbor, Sandy Hook Crossing, approaching hurricanes)
Canada to Key West Paddle – Day 30
Walking through the front door, I was immediately impressed. This little place was jam packed with high quality gear. From Paddle Boards and Kayaks, to accessories for both, camping, hiking and I am sure a whole lot more. There on the tiny little counter lay my items, held aside just like they said they would do.
Canada to Key West Paddle – Day 29
Today was tent replacement day. I needed to replace the Sierra Designs Lightning 2 / 2 Person Tent It was not designed well or for the climate anywhere in the US. Though the attached rain fly was a good idea, it was not really a full rain fly and its inability to be removed made the tent hot. When it was humid, the inability to get airflow made it damp and when it rained, only the front half was actually a rain fly so the back half was wet.
Canada to Key West Paddle – Day 28
I am hoping my next day in the water isn’t very exciting either. That is when I have to make that 7 mile ocean crossing, 14 miles in all and the tide, wind and weather must be all in my favor for that to happen. Screen Shot 2016-07-29 at 10.58.46 PM
Canada to Key West Paddle – Day 27
Laying down on the pier, I was able to reach my gear in the kayak that was heaving up and down in the waves. I removed the lashings and threw my gear up onto the pier bag by bag. I was just getting the last of it when I realized the few people on the Pier had grown to many people. I asked one of them what they were waiting for and one guy pointed to an inbound ferry. I got worried. The kayak was right between the Pier and the Barge.
Canada to Key West Paddle – Day 26
While the Verrrazano was within sight all day, it was around 1pm when I first saw the beautiful lady in the harbor. I’ve dreamed about kayaking around the Statue of Liberty for over two years and there she was. Today would be the day another dream is fulfilled.