Amazing Feats of SUP

The SUP The Coast guys are almost at the end of their journey, paddling from Key West, FL to Portland, ME.

"The eastern coast of the United States is long. In a car bus or train it takes several days even weeks to travel from Key West Florida to Portland Maine.

Our journey has taken approximately 85 paddling days to reach Marion Massachusetts.

I can’t help but think how the natives and ancients travelled the coastlines of our Earth. Whether for trade or survival these men and women would leave the shore and travel long distances (on simple craft) to meet other tribes and trade goods.

We also have met many” tribes” along the way. We have traded stories in return for a place to stay and a wonderful home cooked meal. People have greeted us the same way I imagine villagers would greet travellers from lands far away. First with a little wonder in their eye. Then after a customary handshake, Bang! Friends for life.

Our travels began for two reasons: The Wounded Warriors and SUP Cleanup. Only now after 1800 miles do I clearly see that this is just the beginning of journeys to come. It would be nice if what this trip represents fixed all that is wrong with our coastline and our war hero’s. I’m afraid they both need more help.

This current journey is close to completion."

More here at SUP The Coast blog.


...and Bart de Zwart just completed what is believed to be the first nonstop solo stand up paddle across the entire Hawaiian island chain...from the Big Island of Hawaii to Kauai.

"Bart de Zwart expected to be in more pain after paddling 300 miles from the Big Island to Kauai.

"I'm not even sore," he said Monday morning from his Kauai hotel room, where he slept in a bed after arriving to Kalapaki Beach the night before onboard a stand-up paddleboard.

The 41-year-old Maui man spent five days alone at sea attempting what he believes to be the first-ever solo crossing from the Big Island to Kauai on a standup paddleboard. He was headed to a Kauai clinic Monday to have swollen, infected blisters on his feet checked out. Aside from the blisters and losing about six pounds, he said he felt fine."

Read the rest here.

Uwharrie!

After many years of driving by the place, I finally got an opportunity to mountain bike at the Uwharrie National Forest, located in south central NC. I dropped the kids off with their cousins who live nearby, then Rob and I hit the trails for a couple of hours and knocked off 14.5 miles of combo single track and fire roads. The Charlotte/Lake Norman area mountain bike trails have better technical single track, but the Uwharrie trails have longer and better climbs and downhill runs and a great mix of single track and fire roads. Got a serious cardio workout today.

I took the camera but didn't take any pics since we were having too much fun to stop and snap any. We thought we were fast, but not nearly as fast as these guys...check out these awesome mountain bike movie trailers...I love the overhead cable shot angles in these films.

3 Minute Gaps Official Trailer from Clay Porter on Vimeo.