Wildlife on the quiet waters

The sun did actually shine one day almost two weeks ago as I paddled by this family of Canada geese on the Pemaquid River.  I am so blessed to have so much water within a few miles of my home...Little Pond, Paradise (Muddy) Pond, Biscay Pond, Pemaquid Pond, McCurdy Pond, Webber Pond, and the Pemaquid River.  My kayak and I have been out and about on several of them over the last couple of weeks.  Not much company out there this time of year, particularly on the damp, cold days and the wildlife abounds...beaver, osprey, ducks, and loons, as well as the very common pairs of geese honking their displeasure at my approach near their nests or young families.  Hope to get out three or four times over the next few days and am hoping for the promised sun and warmer temps.

Having fun shopping

The weather remains gray and damp...what better day for shopping?  My project for the early morning was to order some business cards for PFH.  Got 500 from Vistaprint for around $12 including shipping, which hopefully will get them here before I leave.  The cards are a pretty blue and include the PFH logo.

And speaking of the logo, thanks go out to Timm Gormley and Bill and Mary Bausch for creating it for me.  Timm did the original artwork and the Bausches teamed up to turn it into a logo.  Just one example of the many, many folks who are making this trip happen.  One who comes to mind is the friendly man who generously allowed me to take my kayak out of nearby McCurdy Pond, right across his newly-reseeded boat ramp.  They speak of "trail angels" on the AT and I am sure I will meet many a trail angel this summer.

My other purchase this morning was a lightweight copy of Thoreau's The Maine Woods, which will go along with me this summer. 

Look for another short article in this week's Lincoln County News, with this photo captured by Bill Bausch last Saturday as I was portaging past my neighbors' sheep.  Notice the head net which is surely one of the more valuable additions to the equipment list here in Maine.  The empty kayak moves along quite easily on the paved roads and smooth gravel shoulders on the downhill trip to Biscay Pond, less than a mile from my house.  There's even a short paved side road where it rolls along beside me with just a hand on the bow.  Oh, for such easy portaging on all 25 miles this summer!

Paddle for Hope has a blog!

Welcome to Paddle for Hope's brand-new blog where you can follow the preparations for my adventure kayaking across Maine to raise $10,000 for the Maine Children's Cancer Program (MCCP) in Scarborough, Maine. 

This dream began to take shape last fall, when I knew that I wanted to do something big to fight children's cancer.  My goal is not only to raise money, but also awareness, and to send the message that we care to families battling cancer.  MCCP is an outpatient facility where an average of 200 children per year receive treatments such as chemotherapy, in a caring and close-to-home setting.  When those children need hospitalization, they go to the Barbara Bush Children's Hospital.  Both are part of the Maine Medical Center.

The money we raise will go to fund research, buy new equipment, and provide psychosocial services to children and families.  As part of the Children's Oncology Group, MCCP takes part in the same innovative clinical trials as many of the large research hospitals.  Since the 1950's, clinical trials have helped increase the cure rate for children with cancer from 10% to nearly 80% today!

If you check out the PFH webpage on the tab above, you will see the fundraising thermometer is climbing and now stands at $1,299.  It is only updated periodically, but includes donations by cash and check, as well as online donations. 

Enough background for now.  Here is a picture of me in my 12-foot Native Watercraft hybrid kayak, paddling on Pemaquid Pond about a week ago.  I'm out now on the roads and ponds, as well as walking and doing weight training.  There's lots more to tell you, some I hope you will become a faithful follower as I blog on!