Dear Reader,
Today is a layover resupply day. We opened the big box we’d packaged and had mailed to us via General Delivery, and spread its contents around our room.
We’d made a milestone: our first mailbox pickup.
My brother Rick showed up with the REI purchases we’d ordered over the phone while camped at Spoil Bank 2 earlier this week. I was excited to get my new sleeping bag liner, and John his Hydroskin paddling shorts.
We went back to Carrabelle Junction for today’s Blue Plate Special of French Dip and then Rick took off with some unused and thus unwanted gear to return to our truck back at our Dad’s. It was so helpful that he was passing through this way.
Then it was just a ten-minute walk to the grocery store for eggs, butter, cheese, veggies and fruit.
That’s John in front of IGA, feeling a bit physically handicapped. There’ll be a bit more soaking in a hot bathtub tonight!
As we head up The Crooked River tomorrow and then out along The Forgotten Coast and into The Big Bend over the next two weeks we will be leaving resupply points, restaurants, hotels and bathtubs behind.
We’ll be carrying food for twelve days on this upcoming stretch, whereas up until now we’ve carried just five days worth of food at a time. Our boats will be heavy and full.
So tonight we went out for Mullet, a Shrimp Poboy and beer.
We’re tired. Despite our three layover days this past week. In this same week though we broke through our 14.5 nautical mile per day paddling threshold. We did a 16.5 nm day, followed by an 18.5 nm day. And had some really difficult, and at times even scary, paddling conditions. Add to that the near-freezing low temperatures at night which left us shivering in our sleeping bags.
And here in Carrabelle, for the first time since the start of our trip, we aren’t staying along the water. Our hotel is just two blocks inland. But I can actually feel its absence and I miss the proximity of water.
Tomorrow we’ll be sea kayaking up a river into Tate’s Hell State Forest. Interesting name, huh? Miss Pink and Baby Blue, are you ready?
We’re alive.
We’re healthy.
We’re adventurers.
Goodnight!
Cheers, Susana
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