It is funny that people will pick the huge chunks of skin I'm shedding from my sunburned scalp but they don't point out that I've got a huge peel of skin on the tip of my nose. Oh the hazards of the sun!

These past couple of days has been a whirlwind of activity. On Monday I did not paddle because Paul Johnson, president of Reef Relief and NRDC Florida person, had arranged for an impressive press conference at the steps of the Old Capitol and meeting with Governor Crist at his offices in the New Capitol. Both went well, except I provided Gov. Crist with a bit more about the outrigger philosophy than I'm sure he cared to know. Fortunately Paul adeptly jumped in and saved the governor from a lengthy desertation and told him exactly what he wanted to know- that the boat is 20 feet long and weighs less than 25 pounds unloaded, and that we were there to get his support (now as a potential senator) for our "Healthy Oceans" campaign in Washington.

Dr. Felicia Coleman, Director of the FSU Coastal and Marine Laboratory, arranged a place for my family and me to stay, so that is where I had my "base" for two days- one with the joyful company of my family, and the other alone the night before I paddled to Apalahicola, a truly unique town filled with many interesting characters.

Patti Chastain, the director, and George Floyd, the founder of the Apalachicola Maritime Museum, hosted a wonderful reception in the museum. When I entered the museum, Ken Kline and Gill Autry escorted me to my final destination, which proved slightly elusive until we arrived at the docks of N2deep, a dive shop here. There Stephen Bartlett, the proprietor of the shop, tied my boat so it wouldn't smack into anything.

Patti had organized a fantastic event at the maritime museum. Needless to say, the people and this scenic, ultra quaint town are definitely a reason to come back. Today I'm looking forward to a scenic paddle on the inside to Port St. Joe's. Let's hope the east wind prevails!