Marla and I got back late last night after picking up Jonah from Dauphin Island in the Gulf of Mexico south of Mobile. We arrived on Friday just in time to see the guys come barreling across Mobile Bay with their sail up, the tailwind shoving them through the waves and past the puzzled looks and turned heads from boats leaving the bay. They skidded onto the sand at East End beach just past Fort Gaines, hopped into the surf, and their journey was complete. The Saulters joined us cheering and congratulating the boys, hugging them each and trying to capture this enormous moment with cameras.
I suspect most of the parents, like me, have been insufferable lately. At the slightest opportunity when someone asks a casual question about the trip I launch into details, stats, and glowing reports of their success. I've checked the Spot updates endlessly, tracking their constant progress to completion of this dream. We were confident in these men before the trip started, but also aware of how easily weather, sickness, navigation issues, or a dozen other challenges could derail plans at any time. Job, Luke, and Jonah were blessed and fortunate. They were also well prepared. They handled challenges calmly and made wise decisions. They engaged easily with supportive family and friends as well as strangers they met along the way. They took care of each other with love.
We are immensely thankful for all the support and love these guys had from family, friends, and strangers. The countless hours of planning and support from the Dooleys and Saulters gave the team a huge head start. Trip advice from John Guider, paddling gear and technique from Phil Meyer, support from Fisherdale Marina, amazing river kindness from Stefan and the Foremans, and the list goes on.
Sunday, June 30, 2019
Thursday, June 27, 2019
Thursday, June 20, 2019
The crew managed a terrific day today: 30.4 miles at 2.7 mph! The wind was at their back some of the time and the sail helped. They've made it to Demopolis and the official end of the TN - Tombigbee Waterway. Tomorrow they'll paddle on the Black Warrior river and then the Tombigbee river, headed for Mobile! They walked into Demopolis tonight to catch dinner at a bistro; can't wait to hear about that.
Monday, June 17, 2019
About 25 miles later, the boys are solidly in Alabama and done with Mississippi! They are camping just upstream of the Tom Bevill dam, ready to lock through first thing tomorrow morning. We're hoping thunderstorms veer around them - there's not much in the way of permanent shelter to be found in Pirates Marina Cover where they've holed up for the night.
Sunday, June 16, 2019
Almost done with Mississippi! Hopefully tomorrow the boys will cross into Alabama.
This weekend Marla, Parker, and Dan joined John and Megan for a resupply run. While there we helped the guys mount a mast John Dooley built from PVC pipe so they can hoist their tarp as a sail when the wind is behind them. Job, Luke, and Jonah were thrilled at the possibility of some assistance from the weather for a change.
JD Saulters, Luke's brother, had been paddling for a couple days as the fourth man in the boat. His shift over, Jonah's brother Parker jumped in and paddled to the lock at Smithville. He spent the night in camp with the guys while Dan and Marla found a bed and breakfast. The next day after locking through Parker bid they guys farewell and the Alberts returned home.
Sunday morning the guys had a nasty surprise when a houseboat came speeding by too close, swamping the boat with its waves. They had to work the craft to shore and completely empty and bail it. Fortunately their food and electronics remained dry and the guys handled the situation calmly and efficiently.
Updated trip summary:
This weekend Marla, Parker, and Dan joined John and Megan for a resupply run. While there we helped the guys mount a mast John Dooley built from PVC pipe so they can hoist their tarp as a sail when the wind is behind them. Job, Luke, and Jonah were thrilled at the possibility of some assistance from the weather for a change.
JD Saulters, Luke's brother, had been paddling for a couple days as the fourth man in the boat. His shift over, Jonah's brother Parker jumped in and paddled to the lock at Smithville. He spent the night in camp with the guys while Dan and Marla found a bed and breakfast. The next day after locking through Parker bid they guys farewell and the Alberts returned home.
Sunday morning the guys had a nasty surprise when a houseboat came speeding by too close, swamping the boat with its waves. They had to work the craft to shore and completely empty and bail it. Fortunately their food and electronics remained dry and the guys handled the situation calmly and efficiently.
Updated trip summary:
Wed 05/29/2019; distance: 29.3; moving time: 10 hrs 2 min; speed: 2.9 mph
Thu 05/30/2019; distance: 29.7; moving time: 11 hrs 48 min; speed: 2.5 mph
Fri 05/31/2019; distance: 27.7; moving time: 11 hrs 38 min; speed: 2.4 mph
Sat 06/01/2019; distance: 23.5; moving time: 12 hrs 34 min; speed: 1.9 mph
Sun 06/02/2019; distance: 21.5; moving time: 10 hrs 39 min; speed: 2.0 mph
Mon 06/03/2019; distance: 23.1; moving time: 10 hrs 53 min; speed: 2.1 mph
Tue 06/04/2019; distance: 27.6; moving time: 13 hrs 2 min; speed: 2.1 mph
Wed 06/05/2019; distance: 19.1; moving time: 10 hrs 53 min; speed: 1.8 mph
Thu 06/06/2019; distance: 31.9; moving time: 16 hrs 6 min; speed: 2.0 mph
Fri 06/07/2019; distance: 9.3; moving time: 6 hrs 18 min; speed: 1.5 mph
Sat 06/08/2019; distance: 18.8; moving time: 11 hrs 55 min; speed: 1.6 mph
Sun 06/09/2019; distance: 19.3; moving time: 9 hrs 59 min; speed: 1.9 mph
Mon 06/10/2019; distance: 9.0; moving time: 7 hrs 43 min; speed: 1.2 mph
Tue 06/11/2019; distance: 0.1; moving time: 1 hrs 21 min; speed: 0.1 mph
Wed 06/12/2019; distance: 26.7; moving time: 10 hrs 5 min; speed: 2.6 mph
Thu 06/13/2019; distance: 31.0; moving time: 13 hrs 42 min; speed: 2.3 mph
Fri 06/14/2019; distance: 23.7; moving time: 12 hrs 13 min; speed: 1.9 mph
Sat 06/15/2019; distance: 21.2; moving time: 11 hrs 27 min; speed: 1.8 mph
Sun 06/16/2019; distance: 23.8; moving time: 12 hrs 3 min; speed: 2.0 mph
Friday, June 14, 2019
The boys had a great day yesterday, paddling 31 miles down the Tennessee - Tombigbee waterway n beautiful weather. JD Saulters has jumped in as the fourth man in the boat for a couple days and is helping keep a strong pace. They are about halfway, with around 350 miles behind them and about 360 or so remaining. And no more upstream miles!
Monday, June 10, 2019
They did it - they've reached Pickwick Dam! All ~190 miles of upstream paddling are done!
The boys are settled into a room at Pickwick Inn to recharge with a "zero day" of rest and recovery. They'll enjoy air conditioning and real beds for the first time in close to two weeks. Time to catch their breaths and get mentally ready for phase three of the adventure: the TN - Tombigbee.
Yesterday Marla, Michael, and Dan met the boys near Savannah, TN via motorboat. We took turns paddling with them to help push through the current and wind. Michael was the first guest paddler and made an immediate impact on their pace. By the end of the day we'd covered around 15 miles with them, including a couple stretches of gusty tailwinds that allowed us to raise the tarp as a sail! We also helped with the Diesel Bomber's first water rescue - we towed in a small fishing boat that had lost its prop.
Updated trip summary:
The boys are settled into a room at Pickwick Inn to recharge with a "zero day" of rest and recovery. They'll enjoy air conditioning and real beds for the first time in close to two weeks. Time to catch their breaths and get mentally ready for phase three of the adventure: the TN - Tombigbee.
Yesterday Marla, Michael, and Dan met the boys near Savannah, TN via motorboat. We took turns paddling with them to help push through the current and wind. Michael was the first guest paddler and made an immediate impact on their pace. By the end of the day we'd covered around 15 miles with them, including a couple stretches of gusty tailwinds that allowed us to raise the tarp as a sail! We also helped with the Diesel Bomber's first water rescue - we towed in a small fishing boat that had lost its prop.
Updated trip summary:
Wed 05/29/2019; distance: 29.3; moving time: 10 hrs 2 min; speed: 2.9 mph
Thu 05/30/2019; distance: 29.7; moving time: 11 hrs 48 min; speed: 2.5 mph
Fri 05/31/2019; distance: 27.7; moving time: 11 hrs 38 min; speed: 2.4 mph
Sat 06/01/2019; distance: 23.5; moving time: 12 hrs 34 min; speed: 1.9 mph
Sun 06/02/2019; distance: 21.5; moving time: 10 hrs 39 min; speed: 2.0 mph
Mon 06/03/2019; distance: 23.1; moving time: 10 hrs 53 min; speed: 2.1 mph
Tue 06/04/2019; distance: 27.6; moving time: 13 hrs 2 min; speed: 2.1 mph
Wed 06/05/2019; distance: 19.1; moving time: 10 hrs 53 min; speed: 1.8 mph
Thu 06/06/2019; distance: 31.9; moving time: 16 hrs 6 min; speed: 2.0 mph
Fri 06/07/2019; distance: 9.3; moving time: 6 hrs 18 min; speed: 1.5 mph
Sat 06/08/2019; distance: 18.8; moving time: 11 hrs 55 min; speed: 1.6 mph
Sun 06/09/2019; distance: 19.3; moving time: 9 hrs 59 min; speed: 1.9 mph
Mon 06/10/2019; distance: 9.0; moving time: 7 hrs 43 min; speed: 1.2 mph
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