Week Four

I woke up outside of Richard and Carolyn’s place. They came out and checked on me in the morning. I filled them in on my expedition and they refilled my water bags. The night was cold. I am grateful to have good gear. I took off into Wolf Bay and headed towards Florida. It was not long before I crossed the Alabama-Florida line. I was i water state number four. Once I got near land, I hugged the south coast. The wind was coming out of the east. It was making the day a slow go day. I was eyeing the Prerdido Key bridge. The wind had other ideas. I began to tire fighting it. I simply was not going anywhere. I decidided to head to a beach and call it. I would end up landing in the back yard of Glenn and Carol. I was in for a treat.
I pulled my kayak up and walked up their backyard. I med Glenn. I told him who I was and what I was doing. I asked if I could crash out somewhere in the back yard under some shelter as a storm was coming. He immediately offered me an inside and covered room to sleep for the night. I was extremely grateful. He had me come upstairs to meet his wife and daughter, Kim. I introduced myself and Glenn offered me a drink. Whiskey and Coke was my option. That sounded good to me. I filled them in on my expedition and some stories from previous adventures. Miss Carol asked me if I was hungry. The answer will always be “yes’ while I am paddling. She asked me if I had any allergies and if I liked fish. I was all game for whatever.
Carol and Glenn owners of Trigger’s Seafood Restaurant. They called in a dinner for me. Glenn went to get it. He cam back with one of the best meals I have ever had while traveling. I had a gumbo, a salad, and then two grouper filets covered with their Ono sauce. That had shrimp and scallops in a cream sauce. I was so happy. Grouper is a favorite fish of mine. They topped it off with a fried cheesecake with a rich pecan glaze covering it. It was a lot of calories, but it will be worked off over the course of this next year. The they offered me a guest room for the night. They could not have been more kind to this wandering spirit.
That night and the next day, the storms came in. I was talking with Kim about speaking at one of her boys schools. I knew it was a long shot, but any opportunity to inspire or start the fire within kids is a good thing. I hung around that day as we all ran around. I also found a Publix to get a key lime pie. I have a sweet tooth that really likes those. That evening, Kim’s husband and some other kids were in the house. I told them stories of my adventures while on the Pacific Ocean. That night, we all went out to meet even more people. I met Missy and her husband and some more kids. It is always nice meeting new people from different walks of life. We stayed up that night talking until Glenn and Carol were wiped out. The next morning, I chatted with Carol before she headed into work. Glenn helped me load up my gear and push me off. It was a pleasure meeting such amazing people.
I headed off towards Pensacola Bay. There was a rough crossing across a channel to get into the bay. The winds were to my side and in front of me. It would not make for an easy crossing. I hugged the Navy base until I decided to make a go. There was not much room for error. the tide was out going and that made it more challenging. I passed at where I though I would have enough room to safely land at Fort Pickens Park. The current and wind were stronger than I thought. I pushed it to not be pushed out to sea. I landed at Fort Pickens National Park. I met another traveling guy. He was on his bike riding around the country for the better part of a decade. He was a good, but interesting, guy. He was spreading the message of God around while he traveled. He made dinner that evening, chicken parmesan, and it was good. I set up camp at his location and passed out before the rain came. Once it was raining, I did wake up just to listen to the patters on my rain fly. I always enjoy a good storm.
The next day was a good day of paddling. I made some good miles and enjoyed the day. As the sun was beginning to dip, I made my way towards tot Santa Rosa Yacht Club. I have always meet good people at yacht clubs. They play on the water like I do and have a general understanding to the challenges we face. The dock master was cool and wanted to help, but he was afraid of making one of their 180 members upset, on a mid week night, in the off season. He had to get an opinion of an much older guy. He said I could camp on the a little ways down the coast. I was not excited, but I pushed on. I made it to a beach on the state park, I believe, and camped on the waters edge that night. I still appreciated sleeping under a million stars. The next morning, I pushed onwards towards Panama City. I paddled to the end of the day and landed in the back yard of Marty and Jay. Marty invited me in and made me a foot long bbq sub. I was enjoying dinner this night. She offered me a shower and just to hang out and talk for a bit. I took my shower and went back out to my ivy sack to sleep for the night. The next morning, Jay and Marty came out to check on me. Marty had brought me a cup of hot chocolate and offered to make me breakfast. I could not turn that down. I came in and had steak and cheese biscuits. She had made me two more bbq subs and some hard boiled eggs. She had also put together a great care package of treats to take with me. She was very kind. I ended up talking with Jay for a bit before I left. He ended up seeing me off from his dock.
I paddled next to Santa Rosa Island as I headed towards Destin. I met a teacher, Shelby, out paddling on this nice day. She was out enjoying the day too. I paddled late into the evening. I could not find a good landing point after the sun went down. I made it to Adventure Marine. I pulled my kayak up on a jet ski float and camped right next to it. I went to the bar there caller Hellen Back. It was a good place to recharge some electronics and have some nachos. I met some kids from Nashville and had a good talk with one that was 23 years old. He told me it was no accident that he met me there that night. I talked to him and offered advise for some things in his life. Those type of interactions are what I thrive on doing. I am able to offer guidance and help when needed. It is a good thing.
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Never. iss. A. Moment.