Fishhugger 2020 Plans

Sorry for not posting for such a long time!

I have been on the verge of posting several times and then something happened that caused a fundamental change in circumstances.

First, a quick explanation for new folks (and others who might need a refresher):

My goal is to paddle the Intracoastal Waterway from Alexandria, VA to Key West by my 60^th birthday (April 7, 2027).  I take as much time as my job and domestic calendar will allow each year and continue my way South.  I started in Alexandria in 2016 and made it to Avon Village on Hatteras Island, NC in 2019.  I’m doing it because I love fishing and camping and kayaking and to raise awareness about plastic pollution – how pervasive it is and the damage it causes.  I’m also doing it because I have to believe that we can all have epic adventures no matter where we are in life.  I couldn't do any of this without the support of friends and family, especially my wonderful wife, Chris.

Officially, the Atlantic Intracoastal Waterway begins at Mile 0 in Norfolk, VA and ends at Mile 1,243 in Key West, FL.  But I started my journey in Alexandria, VA, adding an additional 200 miles, making my trip to Key West about 1500 miles. I’ve gone roughly 350 miles over the last four years so I have over 1100 miles to go and seven years to cover it if I am to reach my goal.

This year has made for some challenging planning between Covid-19 and other logistical challenges.  However, paddle we must and paddle we shall.  For now, my only concrete plan is to cover 35ish miles from Elizabeth City, NC to Kill Devil Hills, NC. I was forced to skip this section by hurricane Dorian last year.  And while there ain’t no rulebook that says I have to do every section, I’m going to do my best to cover all of the miles.

Approximate route from my Air BnB in Elizabeth City, North Carolina to Kill Devil Hills.  Google says 32 miles.

So, I’m planning to put in at Elizabeth City on Friday, June 19 and paddle for two days to Kill Devil Hills.

We also harbor some hope of doing more paddling in August from Avon – where I stopped in 2019 – to somewhere further South.  But plans for that are hazy at best now.  Flexibility is essential!

I hope to be posting some more while I paddle next week.

The Plastics Pipeline: A Surge of New Production Is on the Way

A world awash in plastic will soon see even more, as a host of new petrochemical plants — their ethane feedstock supplied by the fracking boom — come online. Major oil companies, facing the prospect of reduced demand for their fuels, are ramping up their plastics output.

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