Monday, March 7, 2011

blue skies, wet clothes and surf covered inlets

Late morning call from Dawn, she had just entered also marked Gordon Pass south of Naples.  There was a lot of wind and at times it was difficult to understand what she was saying.  But I think I got most of it.

After making a surf landing late last night she camped out at Lovers Key for four hours last night, three hours resting and maybe only one hour sleeping.  Once she was in her sleeping bag she shivered uncontrollably.  Back out on the water after 5 a.m.



The paddling and sailing must be easier with the NE wind, but that the same time it has left the inlets covered in surf.  Otherwise it is a beautiful day, blue skies but a little cool with the wind.

Three days into the race she has chafing everywhere.  Plus her clothes are wet.  Dawn said she gets up in the morning and puts on her wet clothes, then a jacket on that to try and stay warm.  But she sounded happy and very enthusiastic.  And she wanted to know how Dawn Patrol was doing (very well, it seems).

And Dawn remembered she had forgotten to tell me a story from yesterday.  At Matlacha Pass on the east side of Pine Island she paddled over a manatee.  She was cruising along when there was an explosion of water and the stern of the kayak lifted into the air.  Dawn and manatee both came out of the event just fine.

Her plans are to paddle/sail until around midnight, hoping to reach White Horse Key.  That's a good spot to start tomorrow morning to get her registration for the Everglades trail.

I was surprised to hear Dawn say she was still paddling solo.  From the challenge map I thought she had connected with Kristen.  But no, Dawn said she had not seen her at all.  The map showed, at one point, they were just a couple of hundred yards apart, with Kristen in the lead.  Maybe the will connect in the Everglades.


Quick update from Dawn Patrol.  They appear to be eight miles or so from the checkpoint at Flamingo.


steve

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