Jan. 29

The Nor’easter that was predicted to last through today seemed to have fizzled when I looked out this morning. The forecast was for southeast winds that would favor us if we rowed north. So we went to the Port Orange Park that was the northernmost point we reached last year and put in as soon as we had finished a good breakfast. The wind was perfect; about 5-6 mph from the Southeast and the tide was in our favor. Our land speed was soon up to 5.8 and miles started flying by. We had been 12 miles before I stopped for a break. We saw two crews on the other side of the river about ½ mile away. They rowed for about 2-3 minutes in the same direction we were going but did not seem to catch up to us at all.  I have never been convinced that a high stroke really increases your speed over a well executed, long in the water, lower stroke.  They stopped as we went under a bridge and we never saw them again. 

Several other bridges went by and a long stretch was before us to get to the Ormond Beach Bridge. My pace was perfect and I almost slept as I pulled us toward that bridge that signaled the end of the wider Halifax River and the beginning of the narrower channel and canal that we had been coming south on two days ago.  The boat ramp we had projected getting out at there went by as several others did. 

A very large Power Boat came up on us slowly from behind making hardly any wake.  Several people on board were waving at us and Heather called to them as they passed that we were raising money for Habitat etc.  In a few minutes we saw the boat stop and turn around and a man was standing in the stern waving a five dollar bill and asking if we would take donations on the water!  We rowed over and while holding onto the boat’s stern several other contributions started coming from people in the cabin. We collected $35.00 and gave them our cards so they could see our website. This encounter was the first of its kind and gave us a really good feeling. 

I was feeling so good I decided to keep going and close the gap by rowing up to the Rte. 100 Bridge where we had taken out two days before when rowing down from St. Augustine. This would be another 25-mile day.  We pulled in at 3:15 p.m. feeling victorious but not exhausted. I felt like I could have done another five miles!  In the month I have been rowing my endurance and strength have increased back to a level where I almost consider myself “in shape”.  But I realize there is no end to how much better one can feel.  It is all relative to how one has felt before. I have been very careful to slowly “stretch the bubble”.  It has lots more room to stretch. It is not limited by me but by time.  Once again I feel that urge to just keep going I have felt at the end of the last two year’s journeys. I am not interested in setting records except as an indicator to myself that I have succeeded in regaining what I used to have by making a measurable gain. I hope that other men my age might see that it is possible to be healthy and get as much fun out of doing something athletic as I do.  I see too many that have simply stopped being active and have joined the waiting line for death. I think the word “retirement” has misled many. 

It worries me that I may sound arrogant.  That I am given the opportunity to do what I have been doing is a reward that I appreciate more than any other. It is my wealth, in a way, and I worry some might think I am flaunting it in the same way I feel the owners of the fakely mansions we have passed, or the 150 foot yachts have done.  I hope that those I know and love that are not blessed with good health as I am understand. I mean to set a healthy example of promise.  If you enjoy doing something physically active, get out of that line and find a way to do it and gradually stretch your bubble.