Paddling at Night

My solo 17 miler from BRP to Cove Road on Saturday reminded me how much I love to paddle in the dark. I was alone and had time to rummage through my thoughts and memories. As the sun set and the stars came out, I relived many of the beautiful night paddling moments of my 2018 Crossing:

Matt’s deep voice reverberated through my memory, “Don’t forget to look up!”

The way David looked me directly in the eyes and said he’d see me on the other side as I handed him my rings that I had forgotten to take off.

The surreal, palpable feeling of “T H I S is happening” as we prepared to leave the beach.

The sound of Dani’s excited voice as we walked into the water, boards in hand, leaving behind dry land and praying for safe passage.

The blood red underwater lights of Paul’s boat, the Bloody Gaff.

The moment I actually looked up and could hardly tear my gaze away from the expansive night sky.

The first of many times I slid into the deep, dark water to pee.

BP’s gentle coaching from the darkness, the voice of experience from his previous Crossing

That one time, Ryan and I laid down on our boards for the entire five minute break staring deep into the cosmos while floating over thousands of feet of water.

The twinkling lights in the distance indicating other boats escorting numerous other paddlers along the same course.

The sound of my teammates hollering “MAN DOWN” against throttle of the engine.

&& so many more precious moments in the dark that cling to to the depths of my psyche.

Paddling at night is a special, beautiful experience and I’m charged up to do it again! Ninety-something days left until we’re drifting across the Gulf Stream again, ninety-something days and 200 WARRIORS are going to step of the sand for Cystic Fibrosis— all of these lovely memories, all the new experiences, it’s all in the name of the Piper’s Angels Foundation.