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Day 177 (saved from the storm)

5/31/2010

7 Comments

 
Daily stats
Start: 4:45 AM - Manasaquan, NJ
Finish: 12:00 Noon - Sandy Hook, NJ
Time: 7:15
Daily dist: 27 miles
Total dist: 3500+ miles
Companions: None
Weather: Beautiful 80 deg, sunny skies, SW tail wind 5-10 mph
Notes: My last full day on the Atlantic leg of the trip.
Picture
Me with Kurt, Kris, and Kirsten
Picture
Me with Ron who pulled me in from the rain.
Throughout this trip I’ve benefited from the kindness and generosity of hundreds of people such that I can only hope to enjoy a full lifetime of paying it all forward to others.  Today, my last full day on the Atlantic leg of my journey, I once again was dealt a fortunate hand of pure luck by way of four great people that made my night much more enjoyable than it would have been. 

Over the last couple of weeks I’ve been setting up a visit with Ron Rauffer and his kids Kris, Kurt, and Kirsten in Atlantic Heights one of the last towns before crossing over to New York.  It is a long story (that I will more fully explain later) but because of tides, weather, and other logistics I had decided to not stay with the family.  Instead, they were going to come out to the end of Sandy Hook to visit me where I was going to camp (a little illegally) in order to get a jump on the crossing to NYC tomorrow.   That was until a series of large thunderstorms lined up to the west and started a stately march toward the coast. 

At five in the evening, after a long day of baking in the blazing hot sun, I heard thunder and crawled out from under the sun shade I’d built to see the tall thunder clouds on their way in. I secured everything in the Ikkuma and pulled it way up onto the dunes then walked two miles around the point to get to some sort of shelter to avoid the brunt of the storm.  My plan was to wait it out then go back and set up camp in what I hoped was the calm after the storm.  At that same time Ron and the kids were on their way out to visit me.  However, before they came, Ron called and asked what they could bring me from Burger King and ask if I wouldn’t still take them up on their offer to stay with them considering the weather.  I wasn’t too thrilled with the prospect of leaving my boat unguarded (but at least well hidden) on the beach but they did manage to talk me into at least going into town to have dinner with them while the storm passed. 

The storm did pass but a quick check of the weather revealed a couple more storms as well as off and on showers in store for the rest of the night.  So, believing that no sane person would be playing around in the dunes, in the rain, and after park hours, it was decided that I’d spend the night on Ron’s comfy and cozy couch rather than in the rain alone on the sand dune.  Tomorrow right when it opens at 5:00 AM Ron is going to give me a ride back out to the park where I will hop in my kayak and hopefully catch a three hour window in the weather to cross the bay and finally arrive in New York City!  

Picture
The sun shelter I built on the beach.
7 Comments
Neil B
5/31/2010 09:46:06 pm

Start spreading the news, I’m leaving today.
I want to be a part of it...

Reply
sky
5/31/2010 10:57:06 pm

Hopefully broadcasting the location on a public website that you left your kayak unattended doesn't turn out to be a costly mistake.

Reply
Lyn Stachovak
6/1/2010 01:06:11 am

HAPPY NEW YORK!!!! So much to see and do and so little time. What a place to spend your 35th birthday! Just seeing the Statue of Liberty in the distance had to rank up there with one of the biggest thrills of your life.

Have fun, stay safe, but enjoy every minute of your stay . You're off the Atlantic and on to fresh water traveling from here on in. Lake Erie and the Detroit River qualify as "fresh water"? They say that Lake Erie is cleaned up so no one can walk on it or set it on fire anymore so maybe that's fresh, but the Detroit River? Hmmmm...

Neil??? Are you going to be joining Jake in New York or did I read your comment the wrong way? The two of you in New York? Watch out New York!

Anyway, it was good of you to call this morning when you reached New York. Keep calling to fill us in on everything you're seeing and doing. Especially on your birthday. Dad and I love you.

Mom

Reply
Thom
6/1/2010 01:24:00 am

Congratulations for making New York Jake. What a great achievement.

Reply
Neil B
6/1/2010 01:58:53 am

Carolyn,
Na, I'm not going, just thinking of that popular Sinatra tune.
I wish I could go, but I think Heather might kill me ;p

Reply
Larry
6/1/2010 03:32:35 am

Jake, congrats on making NYC. The trip up the Hudson should be beautiful, but get ready for bugs and humidity in upstate. Looks like you may be going too fast for us to catch you on the Erie Canal, but have a great time. I'll alert my friends up that way that you are coming and they may be able to help out as you get to Western NY.

Reply
Josh Tremblay link
6/1/2010 08:19:49 am

Jake,

I'm so elated for you. I could go outside and cartwheel all the way up the block. Way to go!

-Josh

Reply



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