F L O R I D A !!!!

“I’m in FLORIDA!! Woohooooo!!”  I shouted out loud with no one to hear but the birds.  I was rowing solo and had just passed Red buoy #32, the Florida state line.   I couldn’t stop smiling for the next few minutes as I thought through all the events that had got me to that point.  I didn’t need to pinch myself to know this was actually real, the pains of rowing solo for a couple days made the point clear.  It was almost exactly a year ago that Jon and I bought the boat and started planning for this trip, but could never have imagined then what it would be like out here.

Monday morning I worked at Habitat filling holes with putty and painting over them.  I was back at James’ house working with 3 other happy volunteers.   As usual on site, we all enjoyed talking the day away as we worked.  I was most impressed by Dan who just graduated from highschool and was taking time off to volunteer and as I type this should be in Bolivia by now working at an orphanage.  Kelly came by to pick me up, took me for my last (land) lunch and took me to my boat.  She and two Habitat volunteers came to the docks to see me off.  I set off at 1:30 with a gentle following wind and currents in my favor.  Perfect conditions to get used to rowing solo for the first time.  I was actually looking forward to some time out on the water alone as long as the conditions were fair.  First challenge would be to cross St. Andrews sound, which some claim to be one of the roughest on the east coast… Lucky for me the winds were favorable and I timed the currents just right so I got there at slack tide and the currents switched in my favor just as I was crossing over the middle of the sound (the channel is east of the island and in the ocean at that point).  A few choppy waves were all I had to deal with and I was my way south of the inlet.  With the recent set back of the clocks, I didn’t have much time before it would get dark.  The wind had increase from the North a little and I wanted to find somewhere sheltered to anchor for the night.  Nothing great was around so after 13.6mi and it getting hard to see, I pulled off the channel outside of a bend and anchored out.  It wasn’t an ideal location so close to the ICW but it would do, usually no one is out boating at night right?  I turned on the anchor light, ate some canned food, and went to sleep.  Next thing I remember is a dream of being in rough water blending with reality as the boat violently rocked side to side!  I looked out the window and saw the stern of a tug which had just passed throwing off a big wake.  Checked my position at anchor and was now pointing the opposite direction as when I went to sleep, just as should be, the tide was now flowing out.  Go back to bed, I still have a few more hours for the tide to turn and the sun to come up.

Day 2 solo:
Wake up and get ready for anything.  Don’t wanna have to leave my seat, with no one to man the oars, until I stop.  Map, marine radio, GPS, extra batteries, 6 refilled water bottles, hat, sunglasses, camera, a few power bars and two pre-made PBJ sandwiches all on the deck at my side.  The wind was still from the North and the current was in my favor!  Made great time for the first hour but started to slow as slack tide approached and I got closer to the next inlet.  It got choppy for awhile and as the waterway turned, the wind was blowing across my port side.  As I continued on the currents began to increase in my favor sucking me towards the florida boarder with speeds increasing to 5mph!  That recent full moon was creating extra high tides and therefore faster currents.  It was here that I entered Florida just as I was crossing the sound approaching Fernandina Beach.  Well as fast as the current was carrying me towards that inlet, thats how much it wanted me to keep going out as I tried to make my way south.  Now the opposing currents and following wind were in a fight and stirring up some white caps.  My GPS battery died, but I couldn’t take my hands off the oar long enough to switch them out.  I was glad to have the wind on my side through this fight, but without a tide switch for another 5hrs I decided it was pointless to keep going.   I pulled into the Fernandina Harbor Marina where I was warmly welcomed a place to stay for the night.  It was only 12:00 and didn’t want to stop for the day so soon, but I had gone 17mi already so I figured I would take the chance to rest.

I walked the shop lined streets, browsing in and out.  I found a library where I could sit and write and the day quickly turned to night.  Back at the boat, I met Walt who had seen me rowing in the waves earlier.  He was very interested in my trip so I asked if he wanted to join me for a few days.  He was interested, but needed to check with his boss and get back to me in the morning.  I walked to the Marina Seafood Restaurant for dinner and enjoyed the food as much as the friendly staff.

Weds morning started with a real shower and boat oats.  Walt wasn’t able to make it so it was time to prepare for another solo row.  With the tides with me and another day of steady 10+mph N. winds I started out fast with the incoming tide.  Then came the approaching Nassau sound which I got to just as the tides switched.  Fought the currents until I made it half way to St. Johns river which began pulling me along at high speeds.  As I crossed over the strong currents of St. Johns, my gps battery died again!  Why does it keep quitting at such crucial points??  Without the GPS to tell me my speed, I felt like I was standing still as I tried to push my way against the currents on the south end of the inlet.  If i stopped rowing for even a few strokes to take a sip of water I would move backwards!!   How long was this going to last, it should be approaching slack tide by now right? If I can just go 7 more miles ontop of the 23 I already did I could make it to the Jacksonville beach marina….. 3 more hrs till total darkness… I can make it!  After a disheartening first 30min of the fight I could tell i only moved a few hundred yards- i couldn’t have been moving faster than 1/2 mph.  i was tempted to just throw anchor there, but knew by the time I could get to the anchor I would probably drift into the bank or run aground.  I decided the only way out of this was to go into sprint mode for awhile.  “Power 10″ after “Power 10″ i could tell I was gaining a little speed.  Once I made it around a bend the water widened out the current slowed and I could rest long enough to change batteries.  That helped, now I knew I was moving almost 2mph.  This kept up for a while as I kept praying for the current to change.  Just as I thought it might be slowing down i approached a bridge where the narrowing river caused the current to rip full force against me again – time for another all out sprint, thankfully only for about a hundred feet through and then on the other side it slowed down again.  By this time the sun was closing in on the horizon so I picked up the pace and was able to cruise into the marina right at last light.  I was greeted by two friendly sailors, Linda and Vince, who invited me on their boat (that Vince had built himself) for some chili.  They were both retired teachers from Canada and were able to offer advise on some of the waterways ahead.  After a pleasant visit, exhausted from the 30mi day, I went to bed.

I was ready for a day off, but with more strong 10-15 mph N. winds predicted I knew I needed to take advantage.   Got on the oars around 7:30am and carried the current for awhile.  There wasn’t another inlet until St. Augustine (30mi away) so in the middle of the day the currents weren’t too strong in either direction.  As I got closer to St. Aug the currents began to flow out and help me out the rest of the day.  The wind did pick up strength as the day went on and helped me out as long as I was going due South.  Sometime the waterway takes sharp bends and when 15mph winds are cutting across you its no fun. Good thing I can drop the centerboard down to keep from drifting off course too much.  The day literally flew by and I cruised into Camachee Cove Yacht Harbor (just north of St. Augustine) by around 3:30!  28mi just like that!  Man its nice to have the wind and currents with you!  Everyone at Camachee was super friendly and said I could stay as long as I liked!  And guess who they had me dock next too? Dan and Bethany, the crazy kayakers!  I had caught back up to them!  They weren’t around so I went to dinner myself at the adjacent Kingfish Grill and called it a night.

View of St. Aug from atop the fort

Friday morning Dan and Bethany were on the docks by 8am and ready to paddle as they had already been here for a couple days.  I thought it would be fun to row along side of them but really wanted to take some time off to see the city, work with Habitat, and rest up since I was a couple days ahead of schedule now.  Their friends who dropped them off gave me a ride into the city a couple miles away.  I spent the whole day being a hardcore tourist, checking out all the great things of St. Augustine!  There is a lot of history being the oldest city in N. America.  Its a beautiful town with much Spanish influences.  The narrow shop lined streets and interesting architecture everywhere, all set along the bay on a warm sunny day made for a great setting.  I checked out museums, colleges, forts, wineries, churches, shops and a small Greek Orthodox shrine just of St. George st. At that shrine I met Gina who had recently got back from a stay at a monastery in Greece.  We talked for a while and said maybe we would run into each other later at the art walk downtown.  I went to an Organ recital at the Basilica (and oldest parish in n. America) and then started walking around the art galleries.  I heard Gina shout my name from the tourist train on the street and jumped aboard as it started to roll away.  The train looped through the city and stopped at all the art galleries.  We talked and walked through the art galleries, enjoying the art as well as the free wine and crackers that were available along with the tunes of live music.  Despite there being nearly a generation in age between us, her childlike excitement for life eliminated the gap and we had a fun evening!  She even gave me a ride back to my boat on her moped

Saturday started with a cab ride to the local Habitat site.  Now is when I wish I hadn’t got rid of my bike.  I thought I had worked on most aspects of home building by now, but it was time to do something new.  Today was sod laying day.  Working along side 10 others, we really cranked through a lot of pallets of sod at a couple of different homes.

laying down the sod

We had fun while we worked and I got a chance to talk with Mike and Sharlyne Biggs.  They were from Cincinnati and OSU fans as indicated by Sharlyne’s shirt.   Mike gave me a ride back to my boat after all the work was done, and he said they would pick me up and take me to church that night too.  I wanted to go Sat night becuase I was hoping the weather would be good to row Sun morning.  We went to church at the Basilica and then walked the streets a little.  They were both shocked as a greeted a couple of the artists I had met the night before -  how is it that I’ve been here a day and know more people on the streets then them   Well when we went out to eat pizza they showed they were locals when they ran into their neighbors who sat down and ate with us.  It was another enjoyable evening of laughter and good company!

The weather was supposed to be rough for sunday, 15-20+ mph E. winds with gusts even higher! With more East winds and rain coming the next couple days.  Also weighing in on my decision was the offer from the Biggs who said that if I stay I could come to their house for a cookout and celebration of their daughter’s 20th B-day that night.  I spent the day doing laundry, journaling , emailing, writing cards, making some phone calls and finally dusting off my guitar and plucking a few cords.  The Biggs’s son Shawn came to pick me up at 6 in his raised, black, topless, 5spd wrangler – one of my dream cars!  At the house I met the B-day girl Angela and her bf Chad and we all enjoyed the salmon that Mike grilled as well as the delicious cake that he baked!  Thanks guys for all of your hospitality over the weekend!

By Sun night the tropical storm in the gulf had turned into Hurricane status and was predicting to send more rain and wind.  Guess its time to hunker down for a few days.  Monday I thought I’d stay in shape by walking into town and all around.  First stop of the day was at the Fountain of Youth.  Now I have a good explanation for why I look so young the next time someone asks my age.  The bouncers at bars should appreciate that excuse when they’re questioning the validity of my ID.  For lunch I got a burrito from the taco shop and talked with the same guys I met there on sat.  They were motivated by my trip and want to do one of their own – which they will as they soon head off to India for a few months.  Its interesting to cross paths with so many people going in so many directions!  Speaking of crossing paths, as I walked to a barber shop to get my hair cut I randomly spotted Shawn driving in his hard to miss Jeep.  He didn’t see me but he’ll probably find it amusing if he reads this blog.  Hi Shawn.  The sky started looking dark so i thought it would be wise to start hoofing it back the two miles to the boat before I got wet.

Tuesday was pretty uneventful.  I borrowed the “curtesy car” from the marina and drove to breakfast and the grocery store for some supplies.  Back at the marina I hung out in the boaters lounge doing another load of laundry, blogging, and playing guitar.  Just hung out and relaxed the rest of the day as the nasty weather blew over.

Weds morning there were 15-20mph south winds, but they were calling for it to switch to the NW by around 3pm.  I decided to get everything ready to go, and around 1:30 I couldn’t wait anymore and headed out into the wind.  I had to fight the current and wind for the first 30min until I finally pushed passed the St. Aug inlet and then the currents helped carry me in.  After 10.5 mi I called it a night and set anchor with the winds blowing 15-20mph.

As I’m sure this Blog is dragging on, I will finish the last few days in abbreviated fashion:

Thurs: Rowed 23mi getting me to Flageler Beach wear there was a marina on the map. The marina was closed and roped off but as it was dark and nowhere else good to go I tied up.  Gary came over and said I wasn’t allowed to stay, but after calling the owner I was allowed to stay for the night. Gary drove me into town so I could buy some pizza.  Thanks for everything Gary.

Fri: Planned on rowing 20mi to Daytona Beach, but since the wind and currents were with me I decided to keep going and set anchor after a 32 mi day!

Anchored out for the night

Sat: Only had 4mi to go until New Smyrna Beach, the last town with a church for awhile.  Wanting to get to mass for the weekend I stopped at the City Marina.  Grabbed an overdue shower and am now finishing typing while I’m waiting for my GPS maps to download.

Wow, ok thats it for now.  Gonna get some more good miles in myself this week before my cousins cousin, Nate, joins up with me for his Thanksgiving break.

-Tom

Mom as First Mate

They say never judge a man until you walk a mile in his shoes or in this case, row 110 miles in his boat.

After living vicariously through Tom’s adventures over the past 4 months to now spending 6 days with him is so hard for me to put into words.  If I had to pick just one it would be “awesome” but I couldn’t do that so here I go.  You can’t say I didn’t warn you

For those of you who have been following along on Tom’s blog know that his trip has been filled with many

miracles. Well these 6 days were no exception. The first 2 occurred before we even left the docks.

Grandma (loretta) and I left Cleveland on Sat Oct 17 at 6:30 am. Tom was hoping that we would arrive in Summerton by 5:00pm to attend mass. He thought this would make our anticipated Sunday departure time of 8:00am (to catch the tides)in Charleston easier to accomplish. He was wise because to do this we needed to leave Summerton at 6:30am to make the 1hour drive, get supplies on board and row out into the waterways. Mapquest gives an estimated 11 1/2 hrs for the trip, without stops, so we didn’t think it too likely to make Sat. mass. However, as always, God is so good. With the help of Tom finding a closer church(St Jude) and our GPS we made it to mass with 3 min. to spare! Nothing short of a miracle since I have a hard enough time getting to church on time when it is only 10 min. away:)

After mass we spent Saturday evening catching up with Tom, Seth, Patty, Joseph, Sherry and Dwight (Seth parents) over a delicious spaghetti dinner at the Stewarts. It was great to see how much Joseph and Patty(7 1/2 months pregnant) have grown and so much fun to hear Joseph talk. It was also nice to see first hand the handy work that Tom was able to do at Patty and Seth’s house. The porch and patio railings turned out great!

Sunday morning started out great with everyone up and out the door by 7:00am ( not bad for Kotula time):)

We made it to the Charlston Yacht club by 8:00am and were anxious to get rowing. However, as we started to load supplies onto the boat Tom noticed that the cable to the center board was broken. This was not totally crucial to taking off but Tom knew that it could present a problem if we were in shallow water.

This is where the second miracle takes place! It just so happened that this yacht club had a hoist. However, it didn’t have straps to wrap around the boat to hoist it out of the water nor the tools to make the repair. To make a rather long story short,  Tom remembered that he had some extra rope on the boat that could sustain the weight of the boat (1500lbs). Seth was able to drive us to a boat supply store to purchase the tool (a swager) to make the repair. With the help of some very kind people at the club, especially Gary, who operated the crain (for the first time), we were able to successfully lift the boat out of the water while Tom safely make the repair. Thank you Gary and thank you God!

By this time it was 3:00pm and Loretta ,who is afraid of being in the water,whispered to me “it’s the Hour of Mercy, everthing will be O.K.”  Before saying our “goodbyes”  we had a delicious Moe’s burrito and then more than anxious to at least get a few miles under our belt, we were off!  My only preparation for this trip was 1/2 hour a night on Tom’s rowing machine for the past 2 weeks. Hardly adequate and not at all like being out in the cold with the wind and the waves against you.  Thankfully, Tom is a patient and great teacher.  At first it was hard to stay focused just on rowing with so much to see all around.  Everything from the beautiful sun and sky to the numerous birds, boats and houses.  I tried to watch Tom and keep with his rhythm but was so easily distracted.  We agreed that I should  have brought blinders to help me stay focused Having watched Tom row in college I wanted to be able to glide gracefully with him in one synchronized movement.  However, I quickly learned that this would take a bit of practice.  Tom would frequently remind me to watch my timing and my sliding since I would have the tendency to slide too far forward thus making my leg drive less effective.  I think Tom summed it well when he said it was a very “heady” sport.  So much more goes into it than one would expect. I guess like most sports done well they look easy but upon trying it yourself it is far from that.

We dropped the anchor at 7:00pm after rowing only 9 miles in 4 long and hard hours. Tom said he was too tired to cook and I said I was too tired to eat.  We settled for eating the chips and salsa that came with our burrito.  The weather in S.C. had been unseasonably cold (60’s during the day and 40’s at night).  Exhausted I climbed into my sleeping bag wearing 3 layers of clothing (thanks Patty for the extra clothes especially the scarf and down vest) and slept a very sound and quite comfortable 11 hours.

Monday morning we awoke at 6:15 to 48degrees and heavy dew throughout the cabin.  That was a new experience for me. Dew outside ”yes” inside ”no”.  Oh well, a few wipes with a towel and all was well.  I had my first experience eating Tom’s boat oats which I must say were quite delicious.  However, the fact that we didn’t eat much of a dinner the night before might have helped:) It was so peaceful being out in the middle of nowhere and looking all around and seeing only water and marsh land.  The sun was coming up and the currents were with us so we were off by 7:20am.

Again, anxious to be a good help to Tom I tried very hard to stay in sync with him.  It was definitely easier than

yesterday.  I found I could carry on a conversation and row:) It was so nice to be able to catch up with Tom on

a much deeper and more personal level than time had permitted during the past months.  I so enjoy and appreciate the fact that Tom and I can dialog about life’s deeper meaning and purpose.  Besides Toms love of rowing and desire to do volunteer work, another reason for making this trip was that he felt he needed time to sort things out and as he put it “center himself”.  I know he was hoping to do this through extra prayer and reading time.  I had asked how that was going and he said he has had a lot of time to pray but little time to read.  I can see what he meant.  Once you get into the rhythm of rowing you really can focus on other things like all the beauty around you and what an awsome God we serve.  I also found the rhythm to be conducive to short prayers.  When I would slide forward I would say “Jesus” and on the pull back stroke “Mercy”.  Thus giving me time to individually think of specific people and situations that were in need of God’s Mercy.  However, there were also the times that we would chant din…ner, din…er or show….er, show..er just to keep us going:)

After rowing 28 miles with difficult winds and uncooperative currents we dropped anchor at 6:15pm.  Tom said he was too tired (understandably so) to cook.  We shared a can of spaghetti o’s, tuna, beets and some crackers while watching a beautiful sunset. I once again called it a day at 7:30pm, crawled into the sleeping bag with the same 3 layers of cloths and slept another sound 10 1/2 hours.

Tuesday proved to be an easier day in that we rowed 10 miles from 8am to 12noon.  Very calm waters, lots of dolfins, cranes, herring and beautiful vegetation.  Another good time for quiet reflection and prayer.  We then dropped ancor to eat lunch. I was hoping this was when Tom would cook us some spaghetti but the no-see-um bugs had another idea.  We put the canopy up to protect us from the sun and then went into the cabin to escape the bugs and eat our

PBJ sandwiches ( our daily lunch). While waiting there for the currents to change a tour boat pulled along side

of us inquireing of our mission.  Stan and Charlie were the captains of the ” Dixie  Lady” and owners of the

Coosaw River Yacht Club.  After hearing Tom’s story they graciously invited us to a delicious home cooked

meal and free dockage.  What a special treat after the last two nights dinner.  An interesting side note is that

for those of you who have seen “Forrest Gump”  this is where the scene in the movie was filmed  when he jumped off the scrimp boat.  Thanks everyone for making us feel so welcome and at home.

We started out Wed at 7am.  Another beautiful sunrise and slightly warmer temperatures ( low 50’s ).  We needed to arrive in Beufort by 12noon to meet our cousin Merrill (Kotula) for lunch.  Rowing 12 miles in 5 hours sounds easy until the currents and the wind decide to go against you.  We kept talking about the movie Ben-Hur with Charlton Heston and his famous line ” row well and live”. I kept thinking… row well Cindy if you want to eat:) It took all the effort we could muster but we did make it!  Thanks Merrill for treating us to a delicious sea food lunch.  Good luck to you and Mark on your renovation projects and we look forward to seeing you at the Kotula reunion next summer.

We left Beaufort at 2pm and rowed another 16 miles to Hilton Head.  This was another hard row but again all the beautiful birds and vegetation made it much more tolerable. There was one particularly difficult part with very rough waters but God sent a bunch of pelican swooping up and down, and in and out of the water in search of food to keep us entertained and motivated.  We arrived at Skull Creek Marina in beautiful Hilton Head at 6pm.  The owners again welcomed us and provided us with free dockage and showers.  What a blessing.  We had rowed 28 miles and had a taste for another cooked meal. I think Merrill spoiled us with lunch:)  We decided to walk to a restaurant 1 1/2 miles away. We feasted on another delicious sea food dinner of Salmon for me and shrimp for Tom. We said the Rosary on our walk back to the boat and were ready for another good nights rest.

After Tom studied the charts he decided we didn’t need to leave until about 12noon on Thursday.  This gave us

time to rent a cab to downtown Hilton Head. We had a delicious breakfast at “skillets”, walked the beach, and bought a few souvenirs before returning to the boat  for our departure to Daufuskie Island.  Having read Pat Conroy’s book the “Water is Wide” I was very excited to stop there.  It was another hard 12 miles of rowing, arriving at 4:30pm.  Once again we were warmly welcomed to free dockage and a warm shower.  It was too late to rent a golf cart to tour the island but Mike at the  ”Crab House” gave us a good history lesson.  Thanks everyone for making us feel so welcome.

Friday, the last day of our journey.  Once again it was a short row(12 miles) but the hardest of all. The first couple miles weren’t bad but the last few we had to take off the tarp in very rough waters then fight 18mph gusts of wind.  I think God arranged this so I wouldn’t mind getting off the boat.  Prior to this point I had found the trip to be physically tiring but extremely enjoyable and told Tom I hated to leave. Well, we  did arrive in Savanna at 1:00pm quite tired but most grateful for this experience of a lifetime.  I can’t thank you enough Tom for allowing me to be a small part of this journey. Experiencing it first hand gives me a deeper appreciation of God’s creation and your giftedness.  All I had to do was row where you were constantly reading maps, checking charts, the GPS, weather, wind direction, currents, water depth and arranging for dockage.  You remind me so much of your dad…so capable and knowledgeable in so many areas and because of your abilities I never once felt afraid.  I am grateful that you do acknowledge God for your many talents and are using them  for His greater glory and honor.

I too want to thank God that I was physically able to make this journey and keep up with Tom. I did take numerous short breaks but over all I could keep up. Of course not with the strength of a 26 year old male!  I also want to thank everyone who was praying for me during this time and for Tom and all his First Mates.  I know that is what has helped to make this trip so blessed!

-Cindy Kotula

Charleston and beyond

Hello hello!  Did you ever think you’d here from me again!?  There is so much to update you on so I better jump right into it.

Overview since last Blog:
Oct 4th – 6th Seth and I rowed from Georgetown to Charleston (Seth’s Blog coming soon…)
6th -17th I stayed at my sister’s house in Summerton (1hr inland from Charleston) (My blog below)
18th-23rd My mom rowed with me from Charleston to Thunderbolt, GA (Her blog coming soon)
25th-30th Denny rowed with me from Thunderbolt to Jekyll Island. (His blog also coming soon)

Charleston:

After a quick 2.5 days on the water with my brother-in-law, Seth, we made it to the “Holy City” of Charleston.  It was great having a local South Carolinian aboard to tell me all about the history of the area and the local wildlife.   We had some very wet weather the one day, which I’m sure Seth will tell you about how much fun that was in his blog.  For only being on board a short time, I definitely got my money’s worth out of him with the 60 mi’s we covered!

Seth and Tom

When we arrived at the Charleston City marina, the news was there to waiting to film us.  Seth’s dad Dwight Stewart knew someone who worked for the marina and was able to arrange to let me leave the boat there for the next 12 days while I stayed with Patty and Seth.  Dwight also picked us up at the docks, took us out to eat and drove us back to Summerton. Thanks for everything Dwight!

Summerton:
It was great to see my nephew Joe again as it seemed like he had already grown since I last saw him a few days earlier. This 18month old is on his feet running and talking like none other! During my stay my sister wanted me to help build some containment systems to enable them to relax on the front porch and back yard without worrying about him escaping.  I thought an invisible fence would be the easiest solution – but not wanting to make Joe start crying uncle at such an early stage in his life (there will be plenty more time for that) – we decided the more humane thing to do would be build a porch railing and back fence.
Speaking of Humane – my first job once I got there was to work at the animal shelter with John putting up some beams for an overhanging roof for the dog washing area.  Besides helping out at the animal shelter, John is also the construction manager for Habitat for Humanity.  He was waiting for supplies to come in for the Habitat sight, so I decided to help him at the shelter for the afternoon.
Staying diversified, on thursday I did a little paint scaping at the old scout house in town.  Seth’s brother Drew works for WIS out of Columbia and stopped by to interview me there and on the Habitat site.  Check out the great piece he by clicking here.

Friday: Seth was nice enough to let me use his truck like it was mine for the whole time I was in town.  I took advantage of this and used it to drive back into Charleston to meet up with a couple who were stopping through town on their own adventure.  Dan and Bethany Cox, both younger than I have been married for 1.5 yrs and spent most of that time together kayaking! They started in Maine and plan on ending in…. you guessed it, Key West!  They had seen my website on a mutual friend of ours facebook, and contacted me a couple weeks ago.  I was excited to meet up with them and learn how they were able to keep all of their supplies on two kayaks, when I thought I was tight for space in my huge boat.  I met them at a friends house they where staying at and we instantly connected on so many levels with what we have all been going though on our trips.  We spent hours there and then at dinner downtown sharing stories about both trip and life in general.  It was refreshing to see a young couple out doing exciting things together and being married – disproving many peoples theory that I have to get my adventures in now before I “settle down and get married”.   They are currently paving the way ahead of me into Fl, but I hope to catch back up to them again soon!  Check out their website dbkayak.com!

Nailing the floor down

Saturday morning started off with the tradition of breakfast at the Summerton Diner with Granbob, Dwight, Steven and Stewart, Patty, Seth, Joe and Ben.  Pancakes are great and you can’t find and sweeter tea in the south.  From there I booked it to Habitat where a large group of us worked on putting the floor decking down.  With everyones help the work went fast and we finished by noon.

Sunday morning after church the Stewart family went to Miss Sherry and Dwight’s house for a southern style brunch  yum!! A lazy afternoon led into the Sunday night Martin(Sherry’s family) tradition of going to Granbob and Dorry’s house.  I think its great how so many of the extended family live in the area and get together most Sundays!  I have been privileged enough to go to a few of these on past visits and enjoy how every treats me like I’m just another one of the family.  Wish I lived closer so I could see yall more often!

Playing with Joe on a boat

Monday was presidents day so Patty and Seth had off of work, and we all got a good jump start to building their porch rail and back fence.  We went to the gym that night were I actually got on an erg! Uhh, how horrible to row in place after having been on a boat!  I thought for sure I was going to be able to pull some record splits times on the thing after all that practice….. how disappointing to see that I wasn’t much faster than when I had left!!  I guess it makes sense because the good split times from college are sprint pieces, where as I have been training for ultra long endurance and not sudden bursts of power.  I also joined Patty for an hour long Yoga class which did a good job stretching out some very tight muscles.

Speeding though the highlights of the rest of the week: Went to the boat to do some work, including removing the bikes.  Yes they are now gone- I haven’t been needing them as much as the first part of the trip (thanks to many helpful people driving) and wanted to try and lighten the load and reduce wind drag as much as possible.
Met with Scotts Branch highschool football team where Seth helps coach and talked to them about my trip.
Went to Dwights Rotary Club for breakfast and was the guest speaker for the morning.
Worked more on “Habitat for Patty and Seth”
Played with Joe everyday
Went to workout and Yoga again.
Went to the homecoming parade through town as well as the football game – Scotts Branch won!!

Saturday started with breakfest at the dinner and another good day at Habitat for Humanity.  We were able to get up all of the exterior walls by 3pm!  Mom and Grandma were driving down today and the timing worked out great for us to meet in Sumter for 5pm mass.  It was great to see both of them for the first time in 4months!  Sherry cooked us a great pasta dinner and the night quickly faded as we packed up for an early row sunday.

Sunday at 7am we bundled up for the below average cold weather (40’s) and all drove to the boat.  Mom was actually going to join me for a week on the high seas!  Pulling into the parking lot, to my surprise, the tide was so high that it was flooding some of the parking spaces.  This can’t be right, I thought we would be getting there at low tide!! I was hoping to catch the incoming current to carry us up stream and against the 10-15mph head wind.  Deciding to still head out, we quickly loaded the boat.  Just before casting off the lines I noticed that the centerboard cable was loose….. not good!  Not sure what happend, but somehow the swage that I had used to attach the cable to the centerboard had come off!  The board was presumably still attached to the pin that it pivots on, but without the cable I can’t control the height and it is stuck in the down position.  The connection is underwater,  besides diving, the only way to fix it is to pull the boat out of the water.  We did a quick run to West Marine and I bought the swager and swages that I would need to fix it.  There was a hoist at the Charleston Yacht Club, but unfortunately no members around to give me permission to use it.  After a while of waiting some members came around, but they didn’t have a harness to attach to it.  They all jumped in and started calling all the members that they could think of, but they were all either out sailing or not picking up their phone.  They got me in touch with someone who would be able to help me out monday, but I really didn’t want to waste a whole day.  Persistent, I asked Gary if he would be willing to help me use the lift if I made my own harness out of an anchor line.  He graciously agreed and we got the boat up and with the boat dangling overhead, mom got under with me to hold the centerboard while I put a couple swages back on.  Patty and the crew picked us up some Moe’s burritos for lunch and by 3pm (now the lowtide that we wanted) Mom and I set out into the cold winds.  This was just the start to a week of adventure!

Mom bundled up for the chilly row

I’ll talk about how great my mom was soon, but for now this is where my story with Mom leaves off.  She will be giving her own account of  our trip to Thunderbolt Ga (Savannah area) here soon.

We made it to thunderbolt by friday and Gram, Patty and Joe picked us up, we made a quick stop through downtown Savannah and head back to Summerton.  Saturday morning i’m sure you can guess where we went to breakfast.  Dinner was at the Halloween festival in town where I ate Catfish Stew and Shrimp and Grits – can’t get more southern than that without frying something!  Denny, my rowing team mate from CSU, drove in that night to pick me up and then drive back to the boat to be ready for an early start on sunday morning!

Denny will be telling you all the tales from our trip, so I’m gonna quickly jump ahead to tell you that we made it to Jekyll Island in record time! After spending a day on the island, Kelly Garbo, a fellow Lake County native, picked us up and is hosting us until I leave tomorrow.  Kelly drove Denny back to his car on friday night, and I am now without a first mate until hopefully someone else joins me.  I worked at the restore Sat organizing stuff and helping to unload donations.  Today we went to church, breakfast, and I have been getting ready to set out on my own for the first time tomorrow at 2pm after working with Habitat in the morning.  I think I’m ready to go on my own, the tides and winds should be ideal for a solo row.  I’ll soon be crossing into Fl where the path straightens out and the tides are significantly less- praying for smooth rowing!

-Tom

Boat Oats! (song)

While Steve was on board with me we kept making up random lyrics to songs on the radio.  Lola kept coming on for some reason and everything we said turned into that tune.

Since Steve has been off the boat he has been missing “boat oats” and wrote this song:

Boat Oats (To the tune of Lola by The Kinks)

I got my first taste when I was twenty five.
Where it is real hot and it feels like a big nice warm coat.
C-O-A-T warm coat.
He got in the cabin and poured me a bowl
I asked him the name and in a serious voice he said Boat Oats
B-O-A-T Boat Oats. Bo-Bo-Bo-Bo Boat Oats

Well I’m not the worlds most hungriest guy,
But when I had a bite I felt like Popeye.
Oh my Boat Oats Bo-Bo-Bo-Bo Boat Oats
Well I’m not that short and I’m not that big
But a bowl of this stuff will make you do a jig.
Oh my Boat Oats Bo-Bo-Bo-Bo Boat Oats, Bo-Bo-Bo-Bo Boat Oats

Well we drank water and rowed all day
Sang songs to pass the time away.
We moved down the coast with amazing speed.
The one hundred foot yachts would have to heed.
We pushed through 40 miles in a day.
When I look in retrospect well I gotta value my Boat oats.
Bo-Bo-Bo-Bo Boat Oats, Bo-Bo-Bo-Bo Boat Oats
Boat Oats Bo-Bo-Bo-Bo Boat Oats, Bo-Bo-Bo-Bo Boat Oats

Quaker Oatmeal
Add some granola
Then protein powder
Got to love M&Ms
Now add cold water and stir gently.

Well that’s the way that you got to make it.
And that’s the way the recipe shall stay for my Boat Oats.
Bo-Bo-Bo-Bo Boat Oats

Written by Steve Glowacki

Boat Oats (To the tune of Lola by The Kinks)

I got my first taste when I was twenty five.

Where it is real hot and it feels like a big nice warm coat.

C-O-A-T warm coat.

He got in the cabin and poured me a bowl

I asked him the name and in a serious voice he said Boat Oats

B-O-A-T Boat Oats. Bo-Bo-Bo-Bo Boat Oats

Well I’m not the worlds most hungriest guy,

But when I had a bite I felt like Popeye.

Oh my Boat Oats Bo-Bo-Bo-Bo Boat Oats

Well I’m not that short and I’m not that big

But a bowl of this stuff will make you do a jig.

Oh my Boat Oats Bo-Bo-Bo-Bo Boat Oats, Bo-Bo-Bo-Bo Boat Oats

Well we drank water and rowed all day

Sang songs to pass the time away.

We moved down the coast with amazing speed.

The one hundred foot yachts would have to heed.

We pushed through 40 miles in a day.

When I look in retrospect well I gotta value my Boat oats.

Bo-Bo-Bo-Bo Boat Oats, Bo-Bo-Bo-Bo Boat Oats

Boat Oats Bo-Bo-Bo-Bo Boat Oats, Bo-Bo-Bo-Bo Boat Oats

Quaker Oatmeal

Add some granola

Then protein powder

Got to love M&Ms

Now add cold water and stir gently.

Well that’s the way that you got to make it.

And that’s the way the recipe shall stay for my Boat Oats.

Bo-Bo-Bo-Bo Boat Oats

To the Bridge!

“To the Bridge!”

I couldn’t take it anymore. I had to break the silence. “Tom, how far have we gone now?”

“Let me see. About twenty-eight miles. We have only five miles left to the bridge and then it’s only a few miles more to the dock.” We rowed on for a few more minutes. After we rounded a bend in the river, he shouted, “There’s the bridge!”

I looked over my left shoulder (since we sit facing the rear of the boat, I had to look backwards to see where we were going) and I didn’t see anything. Nothing over my right shoulder either. “I don’t see anything.” There must have been a grudge in my voice. Were we making any progress at all? Of course we were, but it was hard to stay positive and upbeat—let alone keep rowing!

A few minutes later I looked over my shoulder again, and this time I saw the bridge. I’m not sure what happened in my mind when I saw the bridge. It must have been a grace from God, or just personal pride that turned into raw will power. Whatever the case, the bridge looked like it was close enough that I could make it there without taking my usual breaks, and I set my mind to do just that. “Now I see the bridge! And it looks close!”

“Looks can be deceiving, though. We’ve still got a ways to go to get there.”

Tom’s voice of experience was not what I wanted to hear just then. I had just set my mind on making it to the bridge and I didn’t want to change it. I realized that this was the definitive moment where I would be strongly tested. Did I have it in me to go the extra mile(s)? I didn’t know, but I knew that to stop now would be to give in to my weak, comfort-seeking selfishness, and I wasn’t about to let that part of me have the last say in this historic journey. I responded to Tom, “Please don’t tell me that it’s far away.  I need something to help me keep going.  I’m going to believe that it’s close.  I see the bridge and I want to make it there without stopping, no matter what.  To the bridge!”

“Alright! Now that’s what I like to hear!” Tom sounded excited. That was an added encouragement. I didn’t want to let him down now that I set the goal.

I buckled down into the rhythm of the oars, now pulling harder on each stroke.  It was amazing to see how my body responded to that.  It was already very tired, but this new mental resolve seemed to awaken it and my strength returned.  The waterway had opened out into a wide channel with no trees to block the wind, so we were at its mercy.  It never gave us a break from then on.  The water was slightly choppy, and I would distract my mind from the discomfort by watching the waves go by.  The boat sits only a few feet above the water, so it felt almost like I could reach out and touch one of the waves.  The occasional boat that whizzed by was no longer a distraction for me because the widened channel left plenty of room for its wake to die before reaching us.  If the waves became more choppy I would simply un-glaze my eyes and look around to see if there was a boat that had passed us recently.

My legs started to remind me that I was rowing harder than usual.  I tried to distract myself from the burning sensation by focusing on the timing of each stroke.  My mental coach kicked in again.  “Timing is everything. Don’t engage the abs or the arms until the legs have returned to home position. Right. Listen for the ‘thud’ when the oars change direction. Leg pressure first. All the way back …… Good. Next time leave the lower back muscles limp until the legs fully extend. …… Yes, like that. Much better.”

— “My backside hurts again.  The muscles are so sore!” I was having a mental dialog with the coach.

— “OK, hang in there. Just lean to one side for a few strokes, then lean back to the other for the next few.  See? That’s better.”

The only way to keep going was to keep my mind off of the pain.  Not that I was actually experiencing ‘pain’, but that I had to force myself to pull the oars on every single stroke since my muscles were intensely tired.  I had a few typical distractions.  First, there was this fascinating knot holding the canvas roof onto its supporting pole.  Something about the way the knot was tied had enough peculiarity to grab my attention over and over.  Or perhaps it was just the only thing substantial enough to focus my eyes on when I wanted to look up to distract my mind from looking right, left, forward, backward, or down.

Unfortunately, the strain of each stroke and the mental attention required to maintain continual synchronization with Tom prevented my mind from really getting lost in a significantly distracting thought. Every time I tried to absorb myself in one of my programming projects, I inevitably messed up the timing of the stroke. Trying to pray proved difficult as well.  So I was left with a shallow pool of thoughts and forced to flit my eyes around to various interesting things like this knot to keep my attention away from the pain.  There was also the distraction of looking at Tom’s back.  I’ve always been envious of my cousin’s olive skin and well-toned muscles, so I would think about how nice it would be to have tanned skin like his.  Then one quick glance in the boat’s rear-view mirror painfully reminded me that I had an impossibly long way to go towards that goal.  Oh well.  It was also an interesting diversion to watch the muscles in his back as he pulled on the oars.  He really is a machine.  Whenever I felt particularly tired I would remember that he had been pulling on his set of oars just as intensely as I but for a much longer period of time.  That was usually enough to help me ignore my pain.

The most effective distraction was focusing on the timing of the oars.  Thump, thump, s-cu-cu-cu-cu, … Thump, thump, s-cu-cu-cu-cu, … Thump, thump, s-cu-cu-cu-cu, … Thump … ad nauseam.  The two ‘thumps’ are when the oars change direction, which are followed by an extended clicking sound as we push the seat back with our legs.  As the legs are nearing full extension, the lower back muscles kick in to continue the pulling motion, and only once the body is fully extended do the arms do their share of the pulling.  Tom as the captain of the ship is the pace setter, and the job of the guest rower is simply to match his pace and rhythm.  It is surprisingly difficult, even after multiple back-to-back hours of practice, to perfectly match timing while also maintaining the recommended body posture and muscle sequence. It also doesn’t help if one’s muscles are tired and therefore prone to sloppiness. So I found myself constantly ‘waking up’ to an accidental splash caused by one of my poorly timed strokes, and the ensuing re-focusing that my mind had to do was a welcome distraction.

Of course, there was also the option to look at the banks of the waterway and check if there was anything new to see since the last time I looked.  I did that again, but this time was just like the previous glances: nothing new.  I wondered how long it had been since the last time I looked over there. Probably not more than a minute, but it felt like forever. The same tall grasses that seemed to sprawl into the distance forever, the same conspicuous lack of trees, the same mysterious periodic gates with ‘private’ signs on them opening to winding canals through the tall grass.

Then I looked behind me.  I saw the bridge, but to my surprise, it appeared more or less the same size as the last time I looked, indicating that we were a lot farther away from it than I originally believed.  Ouch!  I thought for sure that given the new energy I was putting into the rowing and the amount of time I thought had passed, that we would have been at least halfway there already.

I realized that I was not going to be able to keep up my vigorous pace all the way there, so I lightened up a little bit.  I was still pulling my own, but just with a more sustainable force.  My muscles were grateful for that, but continued to pout about the ongoing torture to which I was subjecting them.  Unless I had some way of substantially distracting myself from their wailing, I was not going to be able to make it to the bridge.

An idea had been slowly forming in my mind, and now it presented itself clearly.  Why not try to pray the Chaplet of Divine Mercy out loud with Tom, which I had forgotten to say during the three o’clock hour?  It was difficult to pray by myself, but with him it might work.  I tossed out the idea to him and he quickly agreed.

As I began to lead, I was surprised at how little air I had available for speaking.  It was like trying to converse with someone while running—your lungs are plenty busy pumping air into the bloodstream and don’t appreciate having to fight with your voice box for resources.  But it was worth it.  Anything capable of distracting my mind was very worthwhile.  I remember not quite having enough air to finish my part of the prayer, “For the sake of His sorrowful Passion,” and my voice would cut off halfway through the last word.  The prayers became an audible expression of what my body was feeling, “Have mercy on us!”

As we continued, my muscles burned more, and screamed out, “stop!”.  But I grit my teeth and shouted my invocation, which drowned them out.  The louder my muscles complained, the louder I prayed, gasping for air while Tom responded.  Perhaps for the first time in my life, I could truly sympathize with Jesus as we thought about His Passion.  I thought about Him climbing Calvary, every single step of which must have burned with an intensity far greater than anything I was experiencing.  I identified with His will to continue.  As He climbed that hill, I wonder if he was saying “To the Top!” as a mental war-cry.  I certainly was continuing my mental war-cry.  “To the Bridge!”

We were nearing the end of the Chaplet now.  I looked over my shoulder to see how much progress we had made.  This time the bridge appeared larger; maybe we were halfway there now.  I had never pushed myself this hard before, and I had no intention of stopping.  I was still breathing and sitting upright, my joints were still moving and my muscles were still responding, so I figured I was doing alright.

The Chaplet had proved to be a tremendously helpful distraction, and I didn’t want it to stop.  After praying the three final “Holy God, Holy Mighty One…” invocations, I just continued repeating them.  I don’t know how many times we said them.  I knew it was way too many and it was probably annoying Tom that I kept repeating them, but I knew that it was necessary for my endurance.  Then all of the sudden he took over and started chanting the same prayers.  That was pure genius!  We both knew the chant version of the Chaplet and we both knew that it takes much longer to chant than to pray it.  We had found a new variation of our rowing battle cry.  After he chanted the final invocation about five times, I started leading us in the chant version of the whole prayer, from the beginning again.

So there we were, the wind beating against us, the choppy waves lapping against the boat, two young men battling against their tiredness, singing as loud as possible to drown out the pain.  A few times I thought how comical it would be to hear us singing off-key, or rather, panting out the words.  But I didn’t care what we looked like, sounded like, or smelled like.  I just cared about one thing.  “To the Bridge!”

I kept looking back over my shoulder to check our proximity to the bridge.  It was finally beginning to grow taller and taller each time I looked back.  We were close!  We had finished the chanted Chaplet and started singing other random songs.  Finally we stopped singing altogether and by just sheer willpower combined with the excitement of being so close to the destination, we pulled out the final strokes.  I distinctly remember reaching the shadow of the bridge before the bridge itself, and how immensely happy I was to have made it that far.  Just a few more strokes and we would be on the other side.

I let out some sort of weird howl of excitement when we passed the bridge.  I promptly pulled in my oars to go stretch while Tom continued rowing.  Tom is an animal.  He took a tiny break and then just kept on going while I did my stretches and slowly and deliberately drank about half of my jug of water.  I sat on the water cooler in the cabin with my head sticking out facing forward and just drank in the beauty of the orange glowing sun above the Georgetown skyline.  A sailboat slowly cruising along the other side of the channel added the perfect touch to the scene.  I looked back at the bridge we had passed. Only then did I realize how gigantic it was, which helped me understand why it appeared so close when I first saw it.

Although I had set my mind on the bridge as the destination, we still had a few more miles to go afterwards.  As one of my biggest surprises that day, when I returned to the oars I found that I had more strength in my muscles and was able to help Tom reach the Georgetown public dock.  But when we finally tied off, my exhausted body sprawled itself out right on the dock.  Mission accomplished!

Rewind – The First Day

I started the week with a 3 am arrival after 11 hours of driving! Providentially the next day the tide didn’t turn until 11 am so we had some sleeping in time. The first day rowing was really a wake-up call. I knew Tom was an animal, but only after actually doing what he’s been doing can you appreciate just how much of an animal he is (in a good way!). I don’t remember much from the first day—they say the brain forgets pain. All I remember is thinking that I wanted to pull my weight and I didn’t want to complain no matter how bad I felt. But now that it’s over, I can complain as much as I want! In some previous blog posts, the boat was coined the Love Boat; after day one of rowing, I mentally coined it the Torture Boat. The problem is not so much the shock that the body experiences switching from 6 years of 8 hours in an office chair to two back-to-back days of 8+ hours of intense workout. The problem is that after you’ve done that, you also face the added difficulties of (almost) nowhere to stand straight up on the boat just when you feel like your frame is screaming for a vertical posture. No toilet when your body would like a simple peaceful environment to relieve itself. No freedom to just casually take a few steps back and forth when you’re on deck. No headroom to sit straight up when in the cabin. Really stretching your legs involves crawling up above the cabin, laying on your back with feet straight up, pulling your legs toward you, then maneuvering your feet so they avoid hitting the canvas that’s still impeding even this stretch.

Probably part of the problem is that I only rowed for two days. Tom told me that it took him about two weeks to really get into the groove of the environment and begin to appreciate this way of life looking past the annoyances.

On the evening of day one, we pulled into an old-fashioned marina where I had an on-the-spot lesson about guiding the boat to a dock. I began to see how accomplished Tom has become as a sailor. I tried to avoid looking too inexperienced while he tied off the boat. I also began to see just how generous people are and how Tom’s simple, friendly way with people leads them to spontaneously invite him to dinner and other things. A guy named Chris happened to be driving by on his moped when he saw us tying off and he started asking the usual questions. “What part of South Carolina are you guys coming from? What? You’re from Ohio? Like the state Ohio? What the*@*#! That’s amazing! So where’s the sail on that thing? What?! No sail?! *@!*#! How big is your motor? No motor? No way, man, you’re really rowing! @&#$*#!” That’s not a verbatim quote from Chris, that’s just a conglomeration of all the discussions I remember with different people along the way. Chris drove back to his buddy Arnie’s house to invite him to see us. Arnie—who is himself building a boat—came out to see us and then invited us to dinner. Missy, his girlfriend, had homemade spaghetti already on the stove. I must say that was an extremely welcome meal after a long hard day of rowing, PB&J, and powerbars. Chris sent us back to the boat with a bag of groceries that would be helpful later on. Thanks Missy, Arnie, and Chris! Their generosity was the first of a repeating pattern that I saw every day during our trip.

The Other Days

Umm…I ran out of writing time at this point. Sorry!  Tom’s blog gives more details about the rest of the week, so check it out if you haven’t already.

However, I wanted to wrap up by saying that I thoroughly enjoyed my week with Tom.  Ever since we were young, we have been good friends (and cousins) and have shared lots of enjoyable experiences.  This was no exception.

If any of you reading are contemplating joining Tom for part of the remainder of the journey, stop contemplating and just do it!  You will not regret it and you will have amazing stories to tell for the rest of your life.

Tom, I wish you the best of luck and Godspeed for the rest of your journey.  Thanks for making the week a blast.  Enjoy Christmas in Florida and whatever else God has in store for you after this trip!

-Bob Kocisko

Georgetown

I sit at the computer tonight after another long day – not at the oars but after the crazyness of life on land!  Its all good though – I’m staying at my sisters now and having lots of fun   Wishing I had a stenographer at my side for the last 12 days to keep up with everything that has gone on.  I’ll do my best to capture some of the highlights.

Monday(sept 28th):  Took care of some clerical work in the morning. Talked with a few of the members at the MBYC and even received a few good guide books.  Will and Kris invited me to there boat (it had a full living room and kitchen) for  sausage and extra cheesy mac n cheese dinner.  They are great cooks and I had to finish the food because they said they would just throw it to the fish if I didn’t.  Turns out Will and I have a lot in common – both from OH (he’s from Akron) both Slovak and Byzantine!  Thanks for the dinner guys!  I went to bed around 11:00 because I couldn’t wait up until Bob got there.

Tue: Bob arrived around 2:30am after driving all the way from Stuebenville, OH.  Bob is my cousin and a lay member of Apostolate for Family Consecration.  Low tide wasn’t until 11:30am so we had some time in the morning to go to church, breakfast, West marine (Cathy the manager donated a Reeds manual to us, thanks!) and get interviewed by Laura from the Brunswick Beacon – click here to read article.

We shoved off the docks at low tide knowing that the current would follow in our favor at some point(current change typically follows tide change by 1-2 hours)  The wind was not going to help us today – it wanted us to stay at MBYC as much as we would have loved to too.  Jinny and Bob took pictures as we departed and even drove along the banks for a ways wishing us the best of travels.  As the docks began to fade off in the distance, I was able to begin to reflect on all of the wonderful people I had met at this last stop.  Just when I was realizing that I didn’t see Bill and Kris on the docks that morning, there they came speeding towards us in their boat to say goodbye!  Bob seemed to pick up the technique fast and we were able to get into a good rhythm and make some decent time.  The mansions that line the canal kept our eyes busy for a while – but soon the glimmer of millions of dollars sitting on the shores wore off and we  began to enjoy the scenery as the shores became lined with trees and open fields.  Along the way we ran into a boat of some more Ohioans that seemed to have found their way down to SC.  It was great talking to them and even cooler to find out that a few days later they helped out with Habitat and even made the local news. Click here to see the news cast. ( The house in the back round is the one that I was painting at.)   Nearing the end of the row we came across Steve and Mike skiing.  They inquired about our trip and jokingly asked if we wanted to ski after our long day of rowing.  To their surprise I jumped on the offer and enjoyed flying along on the smooth waters! We came to Hague Marina and found ourselves a dock next to Jerry and his sailboat.  We also met Chris and Arnie who invited us back to their house for some spaghetti that Missy had just cooked!  They didn’t seem to mind as we shoved our faces full of seconds and thirds:)  It was a tiring day on the water for me and I know it was rough on Bob being his first time ever rowing.  He graciously accepted an offer from Jerry to take a shower on his boat.   I on the other hand have gotten used to days without showers- and besides I got all the sweat cleaned off when I went water skiing:)

Bob waking up at the Hague Marina

Weds:  Somehow I talked Bob into the idea of getting to Georgetown by nightfall and he actually went for it.  37miles is a long way to row – I guessed he figured Captain knows best.  Thanks to some local knowledge I learned that the tidal split line (or whatever you call the dividing line between two ocean inlets where the current flows out towards one inlet on one side and the other direction on the other side) was about 4 mi away at the Socastee Bridge.  It worked out  to leave at 8am and have the tide push us towards that area and then around slack tide get through and then have the current from the other side with us for the next 6hours.  This “split line”  can sometimes be a sharp change in current or other times it will just slowly blend together.  Unfortunately the locations are not published knowledge as far as I know (please tell me if it is!) and can only be guessed as “halfway” between inlets.  However water depths, channel widths and many other factors play into its actual location.  I guess most boaters with motors don’t really care about this too much but it can make all the difference to me and my turtle pace.  Anyways the timing went well but after the 8hours of decent current we still had a ways to get to Georgetown…..    I’ll let Bob tell you about the fun we had pushing through those last grueling miles.  All I have to say is that I’m VERY impressed that he was able to hang in there and go the distance with me!

I hope I didn't kill Bob!

Maybe it was the idea of getting another shower, or perhaps food besides peanut butter that drove him to push so hard.  Unfortunately(for everyone that had to smell me) there were no showers at the Public docks, but we were rewarded with dinner money donated by a new friend on the dock.  The funny part was that we were both almost too tired to order our food!  Bobs eyes had glazed over- a sign that his body was clearly not happy with what he had done to it today!  We mumbled off our orders and after eating my regular sized meal I was still hungry and had to order a second round.  After that I was stuffed but the thought of ice cream popped in our heads and we walked to gas station for a tub of ben and jerrys- yum!  As if we weren’t tired enough, the wind shifted and the wonderfull smells of the paper mill decided help knock us out.

Thurs: Justin, an Americorp member working with the Georgetown Habitat picked us up and drove us to morning mass and then to the work site.  Our Job for the day was to wind barrier the exterior walls and help put some windows in.  We met a lot of the regular volunteers and went to lunch at the local gas station for some “chicken bogue”!

Before

Bob and Tom installing window

We were invited to stay at the volunteer house with Justin and two Nicks, who are also both with Americorp.  The Georgetown Habitat ED Annette Perreault was very kind and took us out for dinner to the “big tuna”  We ate some great food and enjoyed talking with her about all of the local habitat projects.  Thanks for the great dinner and ice cream!

Friday they split me and Bob up.  I went to work on one house with Larry installing more windows, doors, and siding.  Bob went with Nick to another sight to do some painting.  While on site Jackie from the Coastal Observer came over and interviewed me and took a few pictures. You can view the pdf here (download to read).  For lunch Annette delivered a cooler filled with a monster home made sandwich and all sorts of sides – thanks!   Bob and I walked around Georgetown at night and found ourselves back at the Big Tuna

Notice wind barrier, windows, doors and some siding

Saturday we both went with Nick this time to paint the house.  The work went quick with a lot of volunteers showing up to help out.  We went back to the volunteer house for a late lunch and a nap.  We decided to go to Vigil mass since we knew we would have an early start the next morning and might not make it then.  We went out for dinner yet again, this time for Mexican!  Ended the night watching Indiana Jones and eating more IC

Sunday morning my sister, Patty, Seth and nephew Joe met up with us.  I kept Seth and Patty drove Bob back to his car. Thanks for coming out Bob and helping out with not only the rowing but all of the volunteering!

This is were my story ends for now.  As I mentioned before I am currently at Patty’s doing all sorts of grand things.  But in order for me to keep doing these great things tomorrow, I need sleep.  I know Bob is in the process of writting his own account of his time here and Seth said he will get on and speak of his time aboard as well.  So stay tuned!

Over and OUT!

Fast rowing = fast update

As days turn into over a week since I last updated everyone, I realize that I need to at least tell you I’m alive.   Ok, now that I got that over I’m going to bed….  well thats what I feel like doing after 10hrs straight on the oars with only a running lunch break today.

Real quick- just the facts now and then I promise more juicy details before the week is over:  Rowing with Bob last week went GREAT – we pushed through the 60mi in two days getting us to Georgetown by Wed!  Thurs, Fri, Sat we both volunteered with Habitat.  Sunday my brother-in-law Seth switched places with Bob and we rowed 27mi.  Today we pushed it 32 mi with rain most of the day.   We are staying at Will’s house just north of Charleston now.   Tomorrow morning we have a quick 7mi to row into Charleston and then I will be staying with Seth and my sister for 12 days to work with Habitat and wait for my next partner.

Sorry its so short, gotta sleep!  -Tom

Attention all crew

Hello – this is your Captain speaking.  Me and my crew would like to thank you for your attention as we go over some basic safety information.  Now that we are in alligator country, Steve here would like to demonstrate what to do if your boat is suddenly attacked by one of these vicious critters:

Steve practicing his knife skills in case of gator attacks

Ok, so we haven’t exactly been attacked yet, but we did see our first (of many we’ve been told) one this past week.  Besides gators, we’ve been seeing a good number of other interesting wildlife.  Dolphins have become an almost daily visit, among other birds, pelicans are becoming more prevalent, and fish are always jumping out of the water.  Since we emerged from the backwoods of NC, we have been lucky enough to meet some other nice creatures- humans!  As Steve so eloquently mentioned in the last blog, we were set up with some great accommodations in Oriental, then Emerald Isle, and as he hinted at we’ve made a few more great stops!

Leaving from Aunt Cathy and Uncle Carl’s beach house on friday we rowed with the current for awhile and then past an inlet and then had the current against us.  We rowed through Camp Lejeune

Entering Camp Lejeune

with plenty of military aircraft entertaining us overhead.  We pushed it the 24mi to the New River and with threatening storms rolling in we were allowed to tie up at the Swan Marina.  The showers were a welcome treat, and the dehydrated food we cooked was adequate.  After talking with a couple locals about the tides, and then making some personal phone calls, it was time to hit the bunks.

Sat was a short 14mi jump over to Surf City, the closest town with a church were I could get to mass.  Arriving at 10:30am left the whole day in front of us.  We ate some lunch, journal  and blogged, walked around town and the beach, ate some dinner, went to church and then finished the day off by splitting a half gallon of ice cream

Sunday’s course was for Wrightsville Beach to meet up with my cousin Carlton.  It was more of the same deal, trying to fight the currents in and out of the inlet.  Thankfully the wind with us for most of the day, and we’ve been learning the tricks to stay outside of the eddy lines close to the shore(always hoping not to run aground) when the current is opposing us .  Carlton arranged for a dock, picked us up and took us back to his house for showers and time to relax.  It was great catching up with him since its been almost 5 years since we had seen each other.  Carlton and his girlfriend Taylor cooked us a feast of a feast!  Porterhouse steaks, grilled veggies, mac-n-cheese and salad!!  Thanks for everything, including the cans of beenie weenies you sent us off with- cant wait to try them!

Monday was again another game of the tides.  Thankfully the timing worked out and we only had to push past a couple inlets and then had the currents with us for the most important parts: Snows cut and the Cape Fear river.  Making it to the river by lunch, we took a break at anchor for some food and rest.  Once we started moving again we really started moving!  With the help of the current one person could hold a steady 5mph!  As we got closer to the mouth of the river, the currents continued to increase and “Rose” hit a new top speed record- 9.8mph!  Wow, we were really ripping!  Then the ferries and barges started to pass by creating these monster swells! After a fast 27mi we cruised down and landed at the Southport Marina were  Brian awaited our arrival.  Brian is a member of the marina and a friend of Ray Martin, who was a parishioner of St. Joseph’s in Brecksville, Oh.  On Saturday Fr. Bruce Riebe had called to tell me that he knew someone in Southport that he could connect me with- thanks Father!  Ray welcomed us with open arms and let us stay in his spare house just a walk down the road from the marina.  We walked to a great little restaurant called Provisions that was right on the Waterway.  The fresh seafood was great, and we saw our first alligator along the side of the dock that night.

Ray and Brian met us for a country breakfast and a chance to talk about each others various adventures.  They were going net fishing that morning and told us about how one person has to wade through the water and always be on the lookout for them gators!  I decided to stay inside of our boat and not go for any swims that day.  We set out and rowed past some more HUGE homes.  Weather was gray and rainy and we had a few more inlets to tackle before getting to Holden Beach to meet Tammy Jo.  She had contacted me after seeing us on CBS and we had been planning out how we could meet up. We pulled up to Provisions (yes the same name as where we ate the night before- same food too, but different owners) and a crowed of people were waiting taking pictures and cheering us on!

Tom, Steve, Kent, Tammy Jo and Provisions manager

We were treated like celebrities with everyone there wanting to get a pictures with us and the boat.  The connections continued when we met Nancy and John and found out they were originally from Rocky Mount and know my Aunt Cathy and Uncle Carl!  After a quick shrimp burger we had to set out again to catch the tide before it turned.  Rowing 10 more miles got us to Ocean Isle fishing center were we tied up for the night.  Tammy Jo and Bruce drove over to pick us up, immediately handing us some pizza from Patronies.  We went back to Tammy Jo and her husband Kent’s house to shower and then we walked to their neighbors house to hang out on his deck for awhile.  We all got hungry and headed back to Patronies were we ate some more great food and talked with the owner about rowing down the Hudson river.  The trip hit home for him because he grew up along the Hudson living in Brooklyn.  After receiving some cool Patronies T-shirts, we headed back to their house to sleep.

Tammy Jo woke us “Boy’s” up with the smell of sausage, eggs, grits and sweet tea!  Thanks for breakfast and all of your kind hospitality!!  Weds was a big day for me, I was about to travel the most distance so far on this trip- over 600miles in one day!!  Never mind that it was only 12mi for us to row into SC were we were welcomed by Lynn at the Myrtle Beach Yacht Club.

Steve and Tom at MBYC

The big miles came in the fact that we needed to get Steve back to his car in Elizabeth City.  With the help of some good weather, mostly favorable current, and plenty of sweat, we had managed to row around 300mi in less than 2 weeks!  We made it to location were I can work with Habitat for Humanity while I wait for my cousin Bob to arrive on Monday night.  After over 3months of barely driving, it was time for a reality check- a small rental car and traffic!  Its a harsh fast world out there on the highways and I didn’t enjoy it as much as the tranquility of the water.  With a tough farewell to my longest rowing partner since Jon, I thanked Steve for all of his help and determination to push through the rowing pains and get me through the great state of NC!  It was great having him aboard and provided some great breeding grounds for more adventuresome ideas.  Don’t be surprised when you hear of more adventures that the two of us embark on   Steve is headed back home to do some job searching- if anyone out there knows someone that could use the help of a hard working Mathematician, please let me know.

I drove half of the way back to Myrtle Beach on Weds and pulled into a parking lot to sleep.  Turns out  that trying to sleep in a compact car makes my boat seem like a mansion!  Drove the rest of the way back Thursday to get to the local Habitat Restore.  I got right to work moving furniture, loading and unloading merchandise into peoples cars as well as the delivery truck.

Thursday back at the boat was the first time on this trip that I have had the chance to sleep on the boat alone.  Not that I haven’t loved all of the company so far, but it was nice to have the quite time to be by myself.  Part of the reason I wanted to do this trip was to get the chance to be away from everything and have really get to know myself.  Most of the trip so far has not included that to the extent I first imagined.  Yes, it has slowed life down and there have been many tranquil sections.  However most of the time the logistics of routing, planning, docking, provisioning and arranging for rowing partners has clouded that way of thinking.  As I continue on I hope to gain through osmosis some of the laid back culture of the south.  Over the next few weeks the pace will naturally slow down as I do more Habitat work while I wait for my next crew members to join me.  With that said I still have a deadline of Dec 25th to meet to get to Key West!

Daydreaming

With the rental returned, Mike picked me up friday and took me to the Restore to help with more moving, sorting, loading and unloading.  The Restore is around 30,ooo s/f  with almost every household item imaginable- yes, plenty of kitchen sinks   After the day was through and Mike drove me back, I had the chance to do some reading and then got sucked in to the wonderfull, yet awful world of the internet.  Whats for dinner? Nothing but the best Jiff and Smuckers PB&J’s!

Mike picked me up again on saturday morning, but this time he dropped me off at the construction site. (They usually only do construction volunteering on Wed and Sat).  It was painting time!  Working along side around 7 other kids in their 20’s (a change from the typically older work force) we got the whole house primed by noon!

Paint Crew

After work, I had the special treat of a friend from Parker, who works at the Greensboro NC facility, meet me for lunch and stop by to see my boat.  JP and his family were on their way back from vacation in Charleston and were nice enough to come out of their way to visit.  It was fun meeting his wife Palmer and their 3 adorable kids, and talking about their similar volunteering interests having both worked in the Peace Corp.

Back at the boat I had the evening to meet a few members of the MBYC including the commodor, George Corvin.  I decided that man can’t live on PB&J alone so I treated myself to the delicious food of the adjoining Officers Club.  Sometimes eating alone in a restaurant can be a drag, but sitting at the bar with Rick tending made for a pleasant evening.

This morning was a nice slow start- I decided to skip the 8am mass because it was raining, and slept in a little longer.  The rain thankfully stopped and I biked a few miles to make it to the 10am at Our Lady Star of the  Sea.  It was a huge church compared to the small mission ones I had been at the last few weeks.  Fr. gave a vivid homily that once again pertained exactly to my current thoughts.  He highlighted how we are all called to contribute to the Body of Christ in a manner that fits our talents.  Fitting advice as I continue to mold plans for my life….  After church I found my way to the beach as any water lover might do! I relaxed in the sand and sounds of the waves as I set aside all earthly cares.  The morning boat oats eventually wore off and I found myself eating pancakes and eggs before biking back to the boat.  I’m sure I’ve mentioned this before, but around most Yacht Clubs the people have made me feel very welcome.  The same is true to an even greater degree here at MBYC!  No one is a stranger and everyone wants to know more about my trip.  I just got done having the most pleasant conversations with Jinny and Bob Clarke about life and all of their wonderful travels as they have been cruising in a sailboat for over 25 years covering more than 100,000mi!  We must have talked for at least 3 hrs including conversation over dinner that they treated me too.  Thanks for dinner and for all of your advice on places to see and things to do!

Looking ahead- more construction work with Habitat in Myrtle Beach until my cousin Bob arrives to help me row to  Georgetown, and then do more volunteering there together.

-Tom

P.S.  Stay tuned for some closing comments from Steve coming soon.

Mega Miles and Mega Accommodations

Hello all. This is temporary first mate Steve Glowacki relieving Tom of his typing duties for the past few days that I have been with him. I met up with Tom and his cousin, David, in Elizabeth City, NC Thursday night, Sept. 10th. It was the first time I had seen Tom’s boat and it was a sight to behold. We would only chat for a short while before going to sleep in our respective areas, boat or car.
In the morning we drove David to the airport to catch his flight out of town. Thank you David for helping Tom through the Dismal Swamp and making the trip to meet with him. Tom and I drove back and did a little grocery shopping, parked my car and headed out for my first day. It had been some time since I was in a boat rowing but it was a nice start with good weather. Cool air and the sun was not too harsh. For that first day together we did a 14 mile warm up to get us in position to make the crossing of the Ablemarle Sound. We slept in alligator country in the middle of a remote swamp area that was a nice anchoring spot that protected us from any conditions. We slept well except for the group of guys that arrived in the middle of the night on ATVs exclaiming how “neat” Tom’s vessel was. Needless to say, it sure is distinctive. The area we stayed in was interesting because it was nicely secluded but the ATV boys let us know how close to civilization we always are.
We woke up to the rising sun and got ready to cross a 15+ mile stretch of open water called the Albemarle Sound, a stretch of water we were warned about several times, and part of the reason Tom was so persistent about having someone with him during these crossings. It was choppy from the West be not as bad as Tom has seen in the past. We took down the canopy to keep us from being pushed into the open ocean by the wind. This left us in the sun but again the temperatures were mild and left us room to sit in the blazing sun. The stretch of water was very nice due to the lack of boats or even planes. It was nice to get away from civilization, even if just for a little while. Sitting up with the sun at high noon, I looked around and saw land only in one direction. The vast open space is something that words cannot describe and our attempts to capture it with photos was fruitless. We apologize for our lack of passing on the full experience. We would finish out crossing and catch tail winds to push us into the Alligator River and the Alligator River Marina around 2pm. 18 miles overall.
A shower and relaxing air conditioned TV room were  a welcome relief after the hot sun and relentless winds. Tom’s aunt Cathy and uncle Carl met up with us that evening to feed us and drive us to the local town of Columbia to attend a Spanish speaking mission church. Thank you very much for all your hospitality. It was very nice to have met you and I know Tom was glad that you two could come meet with us. We came back to the marina, sat around and ate and caught up with the public relations part of this journey. Sleep came quite nicely.
Sunday consisted of 34 miles of rowing in isolated areas. On the east side was 1 million acres of a Wildlife Preserve and to the west was undeveloped waterfront. It made for beautiful scenery. We ate lunch in the leeward side of the mainland and took a nice nap in the sun. Rejuvenated, we got back on the oars and  continued into the canal where we would anchor for the evening and get some sleep. Lots of miles but a very nice day away from any civilization. It could not have gotten any more secluded.
We woke Monday to a foggy morning. We held of pulling up the hook and waited for the fog to burn off a little bit. I got to rowing after a little while and Tom watch forward navigating for me. The waters were extremely calm and it was difficult to distingush where the shore stopped and the water began. The reflection on the water was perfect and was only disturbed by the puddles made by our oars and the Mega Yachts that passed early in the morning. Again, our day consisted of completing miles in desolate areas and the occasional body of water crossing. We crossed over the Pamlico River and made it into another canal to hopefully find rest by a dock. Little did we know the dock we found would be the worst spot possible. In that area, Hobucken, mosquitoes outnumbered grains of sand on the east coast two to one. It was the most miserable I have ever seen Tom. We spent all night killing hundreds of these vampire bugs to try and regain control of “Not for Sale”. We went to sleep to try and forget about the onslaught only to wake and find these buggers to be relentless. They were still outside our screen in masses the next morning.
We got on the move as fast as we could that morning and were rewarded with very calm waters, gentle currents and smooth winds. Tom and I spoke about life and our past and what we hoped for the future. As much as our ideals may be different, we have a lot in common. It was nice to catch up with an old friend in an environment that both of us enjoy so much. We paddled and talked to arrive in the “Sailing Capital of North Carolina”. Oriental welcomed us like nothing I have seen before. Later we would find out that locals Clair and Dick Greenwood were take phots of us when we were coming in for a spot to tie up for the night. They were very nice and loved the idea of rowing the ICW as they have boated it for many years now and call Oriental their home these days. They would leave us some food, good wishes and a poem for our journey. Thank you very much for your kindness and generosity.
We were also welcomed by local Jennifer Roe who was so generous to have offered us a shower and a place to sleep for the evening. She also drove us around to find a nice place to eat. Her beautifully renovated home and garage/guest house was a great change to the bunks on the boat. Tom said that Oriental was one of the nicest towns he has been to on the trip and that the people were extremely helpful and giving. I have to agree that this town is some place I could find myself visiting again or finding a home in. We slept great that night and got a little more sleep the next morning. Sorry Keith, didn’t mean to keep you.
Wednesday in Oriental, town “Local News” journalist Keith interviewed Tom and I and treated us to a local breakfast; that means grits and other favorites. We should be able to get a link to that article soon. Thank you again, Oriental, for all of your hospitality. We can see why you are the “Sailing Capital” with your great kindness. We left to row across placid waters and perfect currents. We hit Adams creek at the right time. The currents pushed us through at 6 mph with only one of us rowing! This was awesome. Easy miles finally. Tom took a lunch break and I rowed and vice versa. It was perfect. We made it down to the Bouge Sound with a little bit of current to fight under the bridge and giant ships to pass. We caught the incoming tide on the sound and cruised at 4-6 mph. We thought about it and realized we could get an extra day out of the tides. We would end up making it all the way to Aunt Cathy and Uncle Carl’s summer home in Emeral Isle. We just shaved off an entire day completing 41 miles! A new record for Tom. We were welcomed by the beautiful home and perfect dock to tie up for the next day. It was time to relax.
Tom and I got in right before it got dark and headed into the house to make dinner and have a glass of wine to celebrate our awesome day. We relaxed and thought about our next day. We woke up on our own and enjoyed a day of cleaning the boat, fixing the hatch, typing on the computer, contacting people, riding our bikes by the beach and getting some food in town. It was a very productive day. The night consisted of relaxing and getting ready for the next days row back on the water.
The days have been very nice and most of all long. We have completed a lot of miles through hard work and the desire to get away from the mosquitoes. But, along the way we have met some great people and seen some great things. About one more week with Tom is what I can afford him. With more planned stops and towns and homes to stay in from interested followers and family members, the next days are likely to offer some interesting topics of conversation. Stay tuned.

Intracoastal Waterway

I know its been awhile since I’ve given an update, but I have a good excuse….. we’ve been rowing like crazy!  Over the last 9 days of rowing we’ve done 235mi!  I’m going to do a quick update here of the 3 days of rowing with my cousin David and then Steve is going to come on soon to talk about the fun we’ve had since he joined me last thursday night.

Becky, Jackie, John, Jean, and Tom

Tuesday(8th)  morning Jean, Jackie and Becky drove me and David down to the boat in the pouring rain.  There was no waiting out the weather, we only had three days to get down to Elizabeth City, NC.  After saying our final fair wells to my cousins from Hampton, we set out into the rain and low cloud coverage with minimal visibility.  Once we got out into the Norfolk Harbor we had some good 2-3 foot waves cutting across our port side trying to keep us from leaving.  After dodging a few barges and admiring the multiple aircraft carriers that were at the navy docks we crossed the starting line of the Intracoastal Waterway.  Only 1244mi until Key West!!  We pushed through lunch eating PB&J’s in shifts in order to make the last lock into the Dismal Swamp Canal at 3:30 23mi away.  It was windy and rainy pretty much all day and it was a tough start back into this world of rowing for both David and I!  We tied up to a city wall just inside the Canal and found a Hardy’s for dinner.

David on the Dismal Swamp at the NC border

Milage marker at the Dismal Swamp Lock

Wednesday was perfect! Blue sunny skies, slight tail wind, beautiful scenery, and great company!  During the 18mi row, we swung on a rope swing, crossed over into North Carolina and caught up on each others lives.  We stayed at the visitor center in the middle of the canal for the night and made bean burritos for dinner.  We were invited on to Ed and Lucy’s new catamaran sailboat for a drink and pleasant conversation in the evening.

Thursday morning we headed out before 7am to make sure we made it to the 8:30am lock out of the canal.  We had steady wind that afternoon which helped us half the time- compared to the straight aways on the canal, the river to Elizabeth City winds back and forth making almost 180deg turns in and out of the wind.  We arrived in the city around 3am and were welcomed at the free public docks by the dockmaster and mayor.  We walked around and checked out the visitor center, the Albamare Museum, paid for a shower at the local gym and grabbed dinner at a place with a fitting name: Logan Ray’s Key West Grille.  Late thursday night my good friend Steve Glowacki drove in from Cincinnati to join me for the next 2 weeks.

Thanks for coming out to row with me David, I hope those 20 blisters you got are still reminding you of the fun we had!