Dreaming

My body was at work today, but my head sure wasn't.  I've just returned from a wonderful weekend of kayaking, camping, and sailing down in Hobucken on Goose Creek Island.  You'll have to wait on pictures and trip report, including pictures of me with my new PFD on, and sitting in my newest kayak :)   And I've still got EC stories to tell.

But this post is about an idea that's been circling in my head all day.  I retire from work Dec 1, 2012, only 20 months from now (yup, I'm counting down).  So of course I need a big plan. 

And now I have it.  I'll just do the March 2013 Everglades Challenge (EC) in my Kruger Dreamcatcher (it's been a bit lonely these days).  I'll just take a short rest, get a ride further south from Key Largo to Key West, then get on the Intracoastal Waterway (ICW) and paddle my way back home.  There's the Florida Saltwater Paddling Trail and now the new Georgia Coast Saltwater Paddling Trail I've had my eyes on.  Of course I'll have to paddle all the way to Norfolk Virginia to milepost 0.0 (bet Steve would be there to meet me there when I'm done).

I've actually already paddled the Florida ICW during the 2006 Ultimate Florida Challenge (UFC), but quite a bit of that was in the dark, and my focus was only on paddling forward and getting that 1200 miles done.  I'll see some of it again next March when Alan and I team up for the 2012 UFC, but we'll be sailing it in Class 5 (multi hull) and he's determined that we're going outside. 

This new trip idea, will be slow, smell the roses, enjoy the journey, a vacation.  It's really starting to sound like a great way to start my retirement.  And I've got a bit of time to do the research and look forward to it.  It may only be today's dream but lucky for me, I like to make my dreams come true.