Blog

I would like to thank Dewey and his company for the hotel room and a good night sleep and much needed shower.

I wish to thank Grady for setting me up at the Whiskey River for dinner last night. Great food and service.

I will be moving to the KOA when Dewey comes at 11 to pick me and the yak up.

I want to especially thank my girlfriend Beverly for being the loving caring and understanding woman she is. I love you Beverly.

Didn’t sleep well. Have you ever tried to sleep on a pile of oyster shells?

Even with a sleeping pad its uncomfortable.

Woke a number of times with fishing boats heading out. Finally got up and paddled.

Stopped at swing bridge marina for breakfast and charge phone.

Met Barbara there a very pleasant person to talk with.

Off to Barefoot Landing per Grandy to meet Dewey. Dewey picked me up at a boat ramp down the river and brought me to the hotel he paid for.

Grady set up a free dinner st Whiskey River with Andrea.

The bartender came over with an emotional thank you for what zi am doing. I found out he just lost a buddy.

I would have liked to stay longer but my pts was kicking up

Came back to hotel and made reservations at KOA

Got a ride back to boat ramp. Packed the yak halfway and it starts to rain. Moved everything to a dry spot under the bridge and wait for rain to stop.

Pack the other half and get ready to launch and a thunder storm shows up. So I help a few people get their boats out of the water.

I bring the yak down the ramp and pack the dollies and the skies change from blue to grey and lightening.

So for 2 hours I have to play, do I stay or do I go. Around 10:30 an I launched into blue skies, within an hour I was in rain and lightening. Hugged the shore and paddled on.

Stopped at Ocean Isle Fish Company for lunch. Nice thick burger and good wait staff…Hi Katie!

Made it just into SC by dark. Found a spot big enough to camp. The top of a pile of oyster shells isn’t ideal but I needed sleep.

Thanks to Marybeth and her neighbor the yak and I got a ride to the marina.

The water was calm the skies sunny and blue and off I set down the icw.

Just past the first bridge I met a gentleman in a fishing kayak. When I told him what I was doing he said he just read something about me. It made me feel good that the word is getting out and he even knew it was about ending veteran suicide.

Stopped at this watersports place to stretch and talk kayak and mission 22. What a great group of people. Randy and his crew at Carolina Watersports

I made it to Holden Beach and found a boat ramp. I helped a family take their boat out and we talked about Mission22 and my trip. He gave me a ride to the local Food Lion grocery store and back.

I noticed the time was getting late so I made a few calls to find a campground. Most of the places that call themselves campground are actually RV parks. I did find one that had tent sites so I made a reservation.

Here is where the fun begins. I am on the oceanside of the icw, the campground is on the inland side. The 130 bridge is what separates us. The bridge has no sidewalk or breakdown lane so I have no way to get over the bridge. Called campground to explain my dilemma. The owner came over in his pickup and we portaged the yak to the campground. Great to have good people when you need them.

Set up camp, talked to gf on the phone took a shower and proceeded to sweat like a water fountain.

What a day! Karma deals both good and bad. Maybe the bad so you can better appreciate the good.

Woke up late, skipped breakfast, packed yak, checked out and headed 3.5 miles to ferry.

Met Andrea from the diner and her dad Greg. Pictures taken and on my way.

Just pass the entrance to the aquarium Andrea and her dad came running up to help. While pulling the kayak the axle broke on one side.

Phone calls made Mom to the rescue. Drove us to house listening to Kiss, Mom is a rocker!

Trip to hardware, moms house to pick up tools and on to kayak.

Repaired axle with 2 fender washers and a self tapping lag.

Got on ferry no charge.

When I got off ferry I noticed the outside bushing on the other side was missing.

Southport has poor cell service.

Cut up water bottle and wrapped it around axle to make a new bushing.

Holding up so far…adapt and improvise.

Got to marina in time for large tstorm to threaten so find hotel and portage.

While stopping just before a gas station I meet MaryBeth who works for a kayak company in Southport. She wants to help so I get her number for a lift to water in morning.

Near the hotel her husband shows up with their extended van and we load the kayak in the van. Ride to hotel made arrangements to be picked up tomorrow.

Time for nice hot shower.

The marine forecast calls for 22 Knt sse wind 7 ft seas and rain possible tstorm.

Found deal at hotel I am at but will have to change rooms.

Found out there is a ferry from Ft. Fisher to Southport for $5. will take tomorrow.

Went back to Kure Beach Diner for dinner. More friendly wait staff tonight. Left to right are, Melissa, Andrea, Jamie. Dinner got paid for by a customer I met earlier on the pier.

Life is good!

Well what a night! Went to sleep about 11pm awoke at 12:30am to heavy rain, thunder, lightening and a bulge on the tent floor. My site was flooding. Within a few minutes I was floating on my sleeping pad and my dry boxes were afloat. I moved some things on to the pad with me.

Twice I had a small frog trying to climb the tent to higher ground.

Most of the water finally soaked into the ground but I still have a puddle at one end.

Made a reservation for motel in Kure beach. Will head there once some of the stuff I put in dryer finishes.

Chilling at hotel waiting for local reporter to show before going to dinner.c

If you are in Kure Beach and are hungry I suggest the Kure Beach Diner by the pier. Good food friendly service and be sure to say hi to Morgan!

Late start, breakfast, then load the yak and cast off at 11.

Rivers and ICW 2-3 foot chop 15-25 mph winds rough paddling.

Crossed the icw right into a restricted zone. Harbor Patrol were on my ass so I paddled out. They followed me and while in the channel fighting 4-6 ft chop he asked if I had an ID, friggin really? When I reached safe water I called him on the radio, apologized for not stopping gave my name and reason I am out there. They said the noticed the Mission22 and that was the reason they backed off.

I made it as far as Fort Fisher. Because I don’t have a DOD card I couldn’t camp here.

I talked to some others and one sponsored me and paid for the site.

Met a Viet Nam vet and we talked about the war, how we were treated, etc. I gave him a hand setting up his tent.

Hot shower laundry dinner.

Camping Sheppard pie

All freeze dried ingrediants

Beef

vegetable merely

garlic mashed potatoes

cook according to direction

in a bowl place potatoes then veggies then beef

mix well and eat.

heading south on icw in Wilmington any kayakers are welcome to join

Made it to Carolina State Park beach.

Party central. Ran into a group of young veterans, active duty, their wives girlfriends and friends. Dominos pizza and a good pasta salad.

Invited to sleep on Jermiahs boat. We transported yak on his jeep. Party moved from beach to his boat to neighbors very nice boat. I ended up in the guest cabin of the nice boat.

Upgrades are always good.