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Talked with my daughter, brother, son and girlfriend last night.

I have concerns about kayaking the coast of Florida with their polluted waters.

I am staying put for 2 days then my brother is coming up from Florida to pick me up for a few days so I can think and discuss my options for the future of this trip.

Still don’t have my radio yet.

My brother is coming up to pick me up and I have an interview with local reporter in the morning.

With all these veteran organizations out there where do you put your money?

Charity watch.org is one place you can go and filter veterans. This organization will tell you how much of your dollar goes to the veteran.

Now here is the realization. Because we all pay taxes and a big part goes to the defense budget you have financed the war(s) these people fighting in. You are in an odd way placing these people in harms way and having them see the horrors of war.

The bad news we do not spend nearly enough on healing them when they come home. We deem them as broken and in our disposable society we want to cast them aside out of side out of mind.

Shame on all of us, yes “all” of us for letting this happen.

You see when we turn our backs on a veteran we have turned our backs on the family and the community. But we only see the veteran not the big picture.

When they return home they will never be the same person that left. But, we expect them not to change. How could they not when they have seen someone they are having a conversation with one second being in numerous parts the next. You cannot fathom what this does for a person and their are no words to describe the emotions of going through it.

So because they have changed their old friends don’t want to hang out with you, your family can’t understand your moods and eventually wants nothing to do with you, your hometown may honor you when you got home but noone has a job for you. The governments answer is to medicate you into a zombie which you hate and so they get to feeling everyone would be better off if I wasn’t here.

While this is not the right answer because it doesn’t solve the root cause of the issue it has only changed it for everyone. They feel confused as to why, they feel quilty that they didn’t try harder or do more to help. They wonder what more they could have done to have stopped it and their is the grief and the trauma for the children. Suicide is never the right answer.

So you see as Individuals and as a family or a part of the community we all have a role in helping these veterans transition back into civilian into civilian life.

If you served your country, no matter how short or long you served no matter what capacity you served you are a veteran.

Anyone with a DD214 can prove they served. There are some combat vets that think differently but that is their issue.

There is a bond among veterans that cannot be explained not broken. We also understand that even though we were discharged noone has ever released us from our oath nor is there an expiration date. There is noone that will fight harder for peace than a veteran because know the cost of it and we respect those that paid the high price and ultimate price for it.

So, why did I leave my children, girlfriend, friends, and the comfort of home to kayak thousands of miles alone risking my safety at times. One reason and one reason only. Vets are in trouble, they are taking their lives at 20 per day. This is a number that is unacceptable to us veterans. It’s an insult to all veterans that it is that high. So in these times vets will answer the call to help the best they can. My answer is by kayaking and telling everyone I meet along the way.

I wish I could have raised much more money than I have. I wish everyone following this blog that hasn’t would donate $25 at least.

My mantra for this trip is one man, one mission, to save thousands.

I don’t know how well I am doing. I know of a few people that I have.

So if you see a veteran with a shirt with the veteran organization on it, not only thank him/her for their service but also thank them for helping their fellow veterans.

If you are a true veteran you will do what you can to help other veterans.

Still no radio got to leave. Found another hotel 9 miles south in Georgetown.

Had to get courtesy van to pick me up and take me to other place to check out and get ride back. The driver offered to take time off work to transport me with his pickup but they wouldn’t let him. Thank you sir for the offer.

While heading for the fron gate I ran into a gentleman and his dog. He offered his pickup so I accepted.

He drove me to the hotel where we off loaded the yak so he could leave.

I am settled in to the Baymont in Georgetown. Still waiting to hear if i am getting my radio.

Called my brother in Florida about picking me up for a few days so i can sort things out. We will talk more tonight.

I am concerned about the water quality off Floridas coast. While I have a number of people wanting to see me complete this trip i am not sure risking my health is worth it.

While being a vet has me 100% behind the veterans I am trying to help I am not feeling much support or respect from the organization I represent. Therefore, I have to weigh out the risk of my health against the benefit of completing this trip. I am well trained in risk/benefit from 20 yrs of underwater recovery.

I know my family and gf supports what I am doing. I am sure the combat veterans who are getting treatment support my efforts. The people following this blog want to see me succeed. But in the end I have to make a decision on how far I continue and when I quit.

Comments welcome.

Day 6 in Myrtle Beach could things get worse.

Left my radio in Grady’s truck. Grady gave it to a buddy to drop off at campground. Radio is Mia right now.

All sites are booked which means I had to pack up and vacate site.

I can hang around the park in hopes my radio shows up. I have a 10 mile haul with the kayak to get to hotel I booked. Oh! and of course it’s raining again.

The staff except for Don, Regina and one ranger are good people. I wouldn’t give 2 cents for the rest of the staff here. Not sure if they are untrained, stupid or don’t care. Trying to get an answer out of them is like pulling teeth. Their answers are gruff short and not full answer. The tone is condensending. Hey! if you hate the job that bad quit.

I am going my radio shows soon so I can leave.

I couldn’t wait anymore so I left. On the way out I was asked by a family with a pickup if I needed help. Thank you karma! Thank you Micha and Kristen ( I hope I got that right). They drove me to the place I was staying only to discover we had to back track 6 miles to check in then drive me back. They are great people for going through all that for a stranger.

Settled in to a really nice apartment.

Well it rained again about 5:30 am for an hour or so. I am starting to check myself for mold hahaha. The bugs and I are on a first name basis now as the are using the space between the tent and the fly as refuge.

Grady is suppose to pick me up so I can ride around with him as he works. Haven’t heard from him yet and it’s near 10 am

I am launching tomorrow as the weather and seas should be good.

Had to leave the KOA not that there was a problem with them I couldn’t stand hearing the tour helicopters fly along the beach anymore. Even though I would tell myself what they were my ptsd would tell me search and recovery which increased my depression and anxiety.

The state campground 17 miles down the coast was a trip. The state has a new reservation system that was down most of the day yesterday so Grady dropped me off and I sat there for hours waiting for it to come up. Finally came up about 4 pm and I got a site for 2 days. The site is nearly flooded from all the rain. The only high ground was the path in and a hill big enough for the yak, tent, and picnic table. The fire ring is about underwater.

And of course it rained even more.

c-tug is great product I think one of the best on the market for expedition kayaking. However, while it is rated for 250 lbs static, it doesn’t fair too well 160 lbs dynamic. On average I portage 2-4 miles each way from landing to campground or hotel.

I am on my third c-tug this trip. I replaced just the wheels and bushing this time instead of whole dollie.

The axles didn’t last long as they were worn creating wheel wobble. Friction generates heat which melts the plastic on the axles. Note: bushings should be replaced frequently to avoid this.

The tip on the axle on the one side broke off taking the slide lock with it. 2 fender washers and a 1/4″ self tapping lag screw fixed it for now.

The outer bushing on the other side completely disappeared. A 3/4″ PVC coupling and a piece of water bottle plus a little shaving of the axle did the trick.

I will let you know how long these last.

Well the marine report was sse 20-25 gusting to 30 mph 4-6 foot seas.

Tstorms 100% rain this morning less in the afternoon.

Tomorrow we will see what it brings. The radar looks like a clear coast from south of here to Charleston which might take me 5 days to reach.

Another day at the KOA in the rain.