What have we done…

Sitting here on Kauai, enjoying this weird combination of rain and “vog,” has given me, Jen, a chance to think about what we’ve done. We still have more to do, but Morgan Hoesterey and Jenny Kalmbach paddled 72 miles the other day. Non-stop. Solo.

They paddled through a sunset and a sunrise and the pitch black of a full moon covered by clouds. They had monster swells rise out of the darkness. Their only light was from the escort boat, but they had to paddle in the choking exhaust to really “enjoy” the glow. From the boat all we could see were their glow sticks: Morgan was green, Jenny red, and Jeff yellow. They would disappear into the darkness between swells.

Through the dark we could hear the clatter of paddle on board, splash, and a worried “Are you ok?” The blessed “Yeah, I’m fine” let us breathe again until they disappeared again.

They paddled by feel. Leaving in the afternoon and paddling through the night, they never saw Kauai until an hour or so before they arrived, when the sun came up.

They are my heros. What they went through out there is a story I’m humbled to tell. But so honored to as well. The stories have only just begun. Chris Aguilar, Shannon Switzer, and Gregg Hoesterey spent 72 miles on a boat going 4-5 knots through swell that had us zigging more than we were zagging looking through viewfinders to capture the scene.

Anders Jonsson, Morgan’s husband, never abandoned his watch, purposefully making himself uncomfortable so that he wouldn’t fall asleep. And he never did. Ryan Lopossa orchestrated Jenny’s support on a boat whose fly bridge, from the relative stability of ours, appeared to touch the water as it rolled side to side in the swells. They are my heros too.

Thanks to all of you for your support, and stay with us as the Destination 3° story unfolds!