August 26th 2016
Millsboro, DE
As soon as I had hit the submit button on my blog last night, I got a Private Message on Facebook for a guy named Stephen Black. Stephen was a friend of a friend whom I knew through the internet in a motorcycle group I belonged to. Bryon and I had been friends just since June 2016. Stephen’s message said that he had a condo up in North Wildwood, NJ and it was empty. I called Stephen and within minutes he was on his way to pick me up. I’d been saved from sleeping on the dock at that very last minute. Social Media, when used properly, is a very powerful tool that can truly help people in a positive light, but as with anything, people sometimes abuse the gifts they are offered.
As Stephen pulled into the McDonald’s to pick me up, a VW Vanagon pulled in at the same time. I still love and miss my VW Bus so I ran over to them and introduced myself. It was an elderly couple from Quebec and despite our language barrier, we were able to talk VW Bus lingo. I wished them well on their return journey and then jumped in Stephen’s truck to head to my home for the night.
After a peaceful and relaxing sleep in a real bed, I awaited Stephen’s return to drop me back off at the Yacht Club. He also let me know that he had reached out to a newspaper reported in town that was a friend of his and she wanted to meet me to do a story. We arranged to meet her at the marina and Stephen picked me up just after 10am. I met with the reporter and then I launched.
Like yesterday and so many days before, I’d be going against the tide again, but today’s wind was only blowing at 5 knots with an occasional gust to 10 knots. I also had less than 5 miles to paddle before reaching Cape May, the end of New Jersey. Meanwhile, some four hours north of me, Arlene was departing Yorktown, NY in her car and would be meeting me later this afternoon at SUP Cape May, a Paddle Board rental shop on Mill Creek where we’d be hauling Lex-T-Sea out for a break.
The paddle was leisurely compared to the day before and I had to laugh when a fisherman I was paddling bye commented that I was brave paddling against the current; if he’d only known what I had paddled through to date. Life is relative to your prior experiences. As I approached my last bridge in New Jersey, I turned on my VHF radio to listen to the large fishing boats talk to the Bridge Tender and each other. I enjoy listening to their chatter. I passed under the bridge, turned to Starboard and I was officially in Cape May.
Arlene was still a few hours away; I had paddled against the tide at a nice 3 knot pace today and arrived well ahead of schedule. I took the opportunity to tour the bay and look for my friends I had met up in Atlantic City on Relentless, the large Sport Fishing boat with the tallest Fly Bridge I’d ever seen. I paddled over to each marina and took a peek around, but they were nowhere in sight. There was a good chance they were out in the ocean fishing already today as I think it was the last day of the derby. I asked some locals for a suggestion on where to get some inexpensive lunch and was given a nice tip. Head to the Lobster House and then take a short walk up to the main drag where I’d find Tony’s Pizza, so that’s what I did, but not before paddling the backwaters and looking at the homes.
After lunch, I checked in with Arlene and she was getting close. It was time for me to head to SUP Cape May and start unloading Lex-T-Sea. We had to catch the 5 o’clock Cape May Ferry over to Lewes, DE where I’d be meeting up with my Uncle Stan whom I had not seen since I was about 18 or 19 years old. I just about had Lex-T-Sea unloaded when Arlene pulled into the parking lot. I gave her a big hug and kiss and then we got busy throwing my wet gear into the back of her car. We strapped Lex-T-Sea to the top and threw the ferry address into the Navigation. ETA 1.5 hours, WHAT?! We’d never make that. It was 4pm., something is wrong here so I put it into my phone; 2.5 hours it told me. I looked at the map, there is no way that is that far away? I told Arlene to start driving and I’d be the navigator tracking us on the map. We pulled into the ferry terminal at 4:43 pm. We made it!
We arrived at my Uncle Stan’s house where he and his partner Joe gave us a warm welcome. It was a reunion that I had been putting off far too long. Stan and Joe had invited me down many times in the past as I would pass through looking at boats, but I never was able to make it work in my trip. Today’s reunion almost didn’t happen either when I discovered that they were not on my route. At the last minute, I decided that there are some things in life that need to happen regardless of plans and routes. Arriving here, I knew it was the right decision.
I washed up to look semi presentable, and then we headed out to dinner. Afterwards we headed back to their house and I got to listen to stories about my Dad and his family from his younger brother. It’s funny how you can know someone your entire life and listening to someone else tell you about them gives you a very different perspective. We talked till after midnight before all turning in.
Day 56 Done
