2021 - June 14 - Day 3 (with more from Day 2)

Updates from Yesterday.

I got some video from the drivers seat when it was windy yesterday (Sunday, June 13th)  but before it got really windy. This is what it’s like…

The photos below are also from yesterday. I camped in the stealthy spot in the photo on Harkers Island.  I was adopted by two very kind National Park staff who gave me food and coffee. They asked if I could get a special use permit to camp there but alas, we were given the bureaucratic runaround— I’m a pro, I know when I’m getting it. Anyway I found a stealth spot and all was well enough.  I woke to find the Fishhugger stranded by low tide and had to portage it through some nasty muck to start the day.

Now onto Monday, June 14th -  Day 3 of the 2021 Fishhugger Tour. 

I wish I had taken more photos and video. It was a long hard day. But first the cool stuff. I saw a big old sea turtle. He was huge and had barnacles on his shell. I also saw lots of the wild horses the live on the Shacklefford Banks (photo below).

It started with a bit of a slog to break camp and hump my gear back to the boat. To discover what that the boat was bound in by low tide and had to be portaged through some nasty muck to get going. I be all filthy now.

Then there were those most dangerous creatures on the water— humans in power boats. There were so many boats out today. Hundreds, maybe thousands. I should have taken video. It was nuts and on a Monday.

I decided to deviate from my planned route to avoid boats and google maps betrayed me. It showed water where there was none. See photo and map shot below. Had to backtrack and. Wasted over an hour and lots of energy.

Then there were the boats and the wind and currents. All agin’ me. It was not a fun day. I fell short of my intended destination by several miles..

Will either take a short day tomorrow or try to add miles to my paddle plans..