Deb Walters, the kayaking grandmother is guest speaker
July 15th Meeting
Rick introduced Deb Walters, the kayaking grandmother from Troy and Rotarian from the Unity, Maine club. He had plucked her out of the water at Pine Point. She has just begun a 2,500 mile journey to Guatemala.
The 63 year-old began her journey Sunday at Portland’s East End Beach. Her first leg was only 1 ½ miles to South Portland. Yesterday, she had a rough trip to Kettle Cove. Veteran mariners stated that the water was the roughest they had ever seen off Portland Head.
She enjoys long distance kayaking and has 30 years’ experience. She does experience some arthritic pain in her shoulder. Her doctor has informed her that it is OK to work through the pain without causing any permanent damage.
Planning the trip seemed straight forward: just guide on the starboard side following the coast until she was informed that the Southern Mexican coast is controlled by the drug cartels who do not welcome strangers. Not being a risk-taker, she abandoned her plans until she learned about a sail boat that was going to be transferred from Key West to Belize where she will resume following the coast line to Guatemala.
Between her kayak, herself, clothing, and equipment the load totals 385 lbs. Consequently starting in Biddeford, she will be “slack packing” meaning that her stuff will be traveling on land.
The object of her well-publicized adventure is to raise money for Safe Passage based in Yarmouth. (http://www.safepassage.org/history)