The siren song of adventure on the open sea...

 I first read about the Ultimate Florida Challenge in 2006, and informed my husband that I wanted to try it. Actually, I gushed fairly enthusiastically, but he's used to that. Growing up, my dad had a 24' Crestliner that we took out on the James River in Virginia and into the Gulf Stream just off of North Carolina's Outer Banks.  I enjoyed all manner of water-related activities as we moved around the country. Water calms my soul, while simultaneously reminding me not to take its restless nature for granted: a friend and impersonal teacher rolled into one.

I attended college in Colorado and married a mountain man who, cat-like, doesn't really like being wet. I could not be more land-locked. Did I mention we now have two children? Ah, yes. One is 2.5, the other is 6 months. Can you imagine how we spend our time now? When not completely occupied by these two wee ones, we're playing catch-up: Sleep. Showers. Grocery shopping. Cleaning/damage-control in the house. Not much exercise. Let's be frank: I am completely and utterly out of shape.

Still, when I think about a race that carries you 1200 miles in less than a month (21 days is the goal), all by sea and rivers, powered by your own arms and the wind, there really is no decision to make. (Oh, and there's that little issue of the 40 mile portage. You must be able to carry/drag your vessel that distance between rivers to complete the race.)

This is my opportunity to do something with my beloved water, a reason to return.  I just hadn't expected birthing two children would set me back as much as it has, both physically and time-wise.

I guess it's time to figure out what I need to do to get from here to there.