I am partnering with NRDC to paddle my outrigger canoe 1200 miles around Florida and west to New Orleans. My goal is to build support for a Healthy Oceans Act and steps to protect our oceans from global warming and ocean acidification. For those who do not know, I paddle to inform and for those who don't care, I paddle to inspire. I am documenting my journey on this blog during the month-long paddle.You can read more about the paddle, see photos, and take action here. You can also check out my personal website with information about this and other adventures here.

Yesterday I paddled from Dekle Beach to the St. Marks River, officially putting me on the westward heading I'll be keeping for the rest of the paddle. The wind, blowing hard out of the southwest, whistles in my ears, and along with the rows of grasses, made for a chewy paddle. Getting out early will be crucial for the rest of this paddle which I'm guessing will keep me heading directly into the wind.

Paddling north to the Aucilla River, an unpleasant smell made me nearly retch. I was nearing the Fenholloway River. The odor was overpowering, and the water seems to leave me with an ever so slight burning sensation. Crab pots dotted the perimeter of the shallow to deep areas. The smell was strongest below and above the mouth of this sorely abuses river, but the odor was still noticeable, although faintly, up to the Aucilla River, probably due to the strong SW winds.

It was so foul. When Joy told me that I would smell it, I thought I'd be too far out to notice. I was out by the little islands slightly north and west of the mouth, and it was overpowering. I couldn't believe that there were folks further out fishing. I couldn't believe that I saw crab pots! No way in hell would I eat anything from that water. It totally and completely sucked to be paddling through there.  

Getting splashed by that foul water put me in a bit of a rage. How dare an individual corporation completely destroy a resource. I can't pollute; why can Proctor and Gamble's Buckeye cellulose pump pollute? How dare they mess up the water and the resources so badly. Shame on them, and shame on the state and federal government-the people's government-for allowing one big individual to mess up a resource. What excuse does one have to totally destroy a resource? That river is an abomination, and there is simply no excuse.

I know in the end, a company will claim it's too expensive to put in pollution controls, it'll cost the consumer money. But the question should be, at what cost to our health if there are none.

That river is a disgrace, and Buckeye should be ashamed, the Florida legislature should be ashamed, and the federal government should be ashamed.