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Today was fuand draising day at Colonial Shooting Academy. I was told by Skyler it was going to be a low traffic day. He was right. One donation for the hours we spent.

I want to thank my girlfriend, sister, and her friend for helping me.

Went home and had to help Beverly get ready to go to airport. My sister and her husband returned home from Richmond in time to get Beverly to the airport.

That is when Beverly’s travels turned into airlines nightmare. She didn’t get out of Norfolk on time due to weather here and up the coast. When she got to Newark the airlines gave her first class to Boston but the counter people wouldn’t let her board. So she had to spend the night in a cold airport in shorts and short sleeve top.

Well we went to 5.11 Tactical in high spirits. It was sunny and hot. There was good car traffic in plaza.

My girlfriend and I started setting up while I sent my sister for shade and chairs.

One of my sisters coworkers showed up to find out more about trip and Mission22. Along with 3 former high school friends.

We got 1 donation from a young lady from 5.11 Tactical.

Beacon paper will have my story the Sunday after next. He will send me link to post.

Got a visit from a alumni from high school Dee Hamlet. It was good to talk to her.

Sanded down fiberglass some real thin areas were still tacky.

Had to go buy larger squeege for final layer of resin. Will put that on tonight when it gets cooler and hopefully less humid.

Will be across parking lot from west marine saturday will look at what they have for pigment or gel coat colors.

Picking up Beverly at 2 PM from airport. Will be happy to see her and spend time with her.

I need the kayak looking good to draw in crowd to talk about Mission

We went to War at Home Memorial in Norfolk, Va. It reinforces my commitment to finish my mission to raise funds and awareness against veteran suicide.

Going to Mission BBQ to set up fund raiser. Trying to get to Memorial in Norfolk.

Talked with news desk of channel 13 this morning.

Mission BBQ might disappoint me waiting to hear.

5.11 Tactical is thrilled to have us join their event Saturday.

Trying to find other places to hold events. Great Outdoor outfitters and REI may be 2 other possibilities. Waiting to hear tomorrow.

Removed keel tape what was left. Cut fiberglass cloth into 4″ wide strips. Put strips on keel. Will sand tomorrow and maybe put last 2 strips on to protect more bottom. Then sand and put on final resin.

There are 2 cracks in back drywell that need addressed.

Woke up to back ache I guess I pushed to hard yesterday. Had breakfast, went to office to square away registration since I came in so late.

Went to camp store to get milk and razors.

Broke camp now to wait for sister and husband to pick me up.

Got up early, had cheeder grits for breakfast. broke camp and launched.

Had to walk past a few Assateague horses on way to bay.

Hadn’t slept well back was already sore so it was a 3 aspirin morning.

Had to do a number of stops to calm back down as it was also effecting my legs. the 2

I made Chincoteague island made reservations at KOA who gives veteran discounts. Now to get me and yak there.

Took out at Capt. Bob’s ramp then started 4 mile walk to camp. I would like to thank J&B cold cuts for the food. Greatly appreciated.

KOA Chincoteague has raised beds for tents and it has a light so you can see. Made set up really easy. Smart idea.

Met Don and Nicole today. Don is an army vet and has a friend and former comrade doing a 22 day race to Alaska for various veteram charities. Top of the list is Mission22. So Don came over to ask me about it as i had the banner up.

I called my sister and her husband and they informed me they were going to Annapolis to spend fathers day with their daughter Allison. They said they were coming home the eastern shore Monday and could pick me up at toll booth.

I checked my chart and its 75 nm i have to cover in 1.5 days. So tomorrow is early departure and 10 hrs to travel 60 nm. Then the 15 nm can be covered in 3 hrs the next morning.

I will then be back in my hometown for a number of days.

Left beach at Deleware Seashore thanks to Bill and Karen. Also thanks to them for letting me set up on their site and feeding me.

Found out that Ocean City, MD has one of the dumbest rules that i have heard of, according to the female lifeguard, you can’t paddle any closer than 100 yards of shore while the lifeguards are on duty. This is for safety, but you can go out and paddle in the boat lane where they don’t respect you nor care about your safety.

I made it into the inlet where i met the rednexk yatch club. actual families on a pobtoon boat. We had a lot of great laughs especially about turtle heads. The hilarity was trying to get a picture of this turtle’s head. As soon as you were ready to hit the button it would submerge.

After exploring options for camp site I found one at Assoteague State park. The race was on. Ocean City inlet to Rt661 bridge to ranger station by 10 pm. Made bridge and street by 9:41pm. The woman running registrations saw me walking and took pity on me and turned around to open the office for me.

Camp set up by 1:21 am and sleep.

Made breakfast, oatmeal and hot chocolate. However, it wasn’t enough so a trip to campstore for 2 bottles of chocolate milk. Now i can break camp pack the yak and go.

While portaging yak to beach i met a couple with 2 great danes. We talked about the Mission they were really interested.

Talked with the owner of Quest kayak shop about the waters i was heading into. Good to have intel. I got a picture of me and the kid working there.

I then had a father and son help me get the yak through the soft sand to the hard sand. A woman stopped to take my picture with the yak to talk about it at school.

I launched into very shallow water, it was hard manuevering to the point. There i met some turbulent water 3-4 feet high crashing over bow. I paddled hard to get past it then as i round the point i see a rip going from beach out a few miles. Really?!

I headed for the beach to portage around it but got sucked into it. Hard vigorous paddling to get out of the t and to the beach. While portaging i spotted 4 dolphins close to shore.

1st attempt at surf launch ended with me sideways. 2nd attempt without skirt ended with me outside breakers in an unstable yak with a half a cockpit full of water. Bailing like crazy.

I paddled all the way to the inlet before pulling in and landing. Had to get guy standing there to pull me in a little so i could get out. Steep beaches aee bad for surf landings as it wants to slide you back into surf.

Luckily there is a campground on both sides of inlet. While i was making reservations Karen aoroached me and said i could set up my tent on their site. She introduced me to Bill and then made me dinner.

Set up tent and sleeping gear and went to bed.