2022—Carry On Tour

“A New Day, A New Way”

June 11-17, 2022

$343,572 was the total raised including Sylvester’s .50 : 1 match.

This year’s funds will be directed to further research by Sylvester in cancer epigenetics

“If they don’t have fun, they won’t come back” - OB

Fun?  Clearly, an understatement when considering the ongoings and what have yous of the 2022 Carry On Tour.  Simply put… the best tour in modern Castaway history!

June 11, 2022 - Saturday

Once again, the Castaways looked to kick off another tour.  Before they could set paddle to water, the Castaways needed access to Castaway Beach.  With some planning and a phone call, the Miami-Dade Parks and Recreation Department provided the team a key to the main gate.  This may be a sign of their commitment to the Castaway mission, or the park ranger realized the path of least resistance would be handing over the key rather than escaping the warmth of his bed at some ungodly hour.  The team assembled at Castaway Beach at 6:00 am.

With the paddlers loading gear and organizing vital essentials for the 7-day trek, Steve Frigo “the Vaca Cut Fairy” provided the growing crowd with his usual jovial commentary coupled with the Castaway soundtrack by way of the Castaway Spotify playlist.  Tracks from the likes of Jimmy Buffet, Zac Brown, and Bob Marley set the tone not just for this particular morning but for the rest of the week.

Unlike the previous year, the morning festivities went without a weather hiccup.  As the sun rose, the sky emerged with a brilliant blue with few clouds.  While family, friends, and other fellow Castaways crowded the beach, they filled their bellies with pastelitoes and other assorted breakfast pastries.  The mood at the beach was light and festive setting the tone for an amazing week on the water.

The Vaca Cut Fairy gathered the crowd around the sponsor banners and handed the microphone to Captain Pino.  Pino welcomed the crowd and outlined the historic success of the 2022 tour:  over $215,000 raised and over 1,400 donors.  An incredible testament to the love and support so many within the South Florida community as well as across the country (dare I say internationally as well?) have for what the Castaways Against Cancer represent.  Through a commitment to honor, fight, and celebrate (most importantly), the individuals associated with the Castaways (paddlers, cyclists, landlubbers, family, friends, and any other hanger-oner) demonstrate their enthusiasm and commitment by sharing their time, talent, and laughter.  We cannot thank them enough!

Once Pino was done addressing the crowd, he handed the microphone over to Andy the cyclist.  Andy led the beach in a beautiful prayer which highlighted the beauty found in the proverbial mud.  There’s much to discern from such imagery, and Andy did a phenomenal job of highlighting such beauty.  In particular, he highlighted that without the mud there would be no lotus: In order to grow and gain wisdom, we must have the mud - the obstacles of life and its suffering.  Without the mud, the lotus would not realize its potential.  Andy’s prayer highlighted the importance of the Castaway fight, why there is a need to honor those who have fought, but most importantly why none of this is valuable if we do not celebrate the journey.  This message was highlighted by Jorge Bustamente of the cyclists when he stated that this ridiculous stunt (cycling 170 miles and kayaking for 7 days) is a choice we have the luxury to make.  The cyclists' and paddlers’ journey isn’t difficult; who they honor along the way THEY have the difficult path through the mud.  

Before Patrick “Tire Iron” Linfors addressed the crowd, Columbus alumni Carlos Franjul and Sebastian Goggi addressed the crowd.  They didn’t say too much beyond “I’m not a good public speaker…yet!”, but they did present Steve “Viceroy” OB with a congressional record acknowledging OB’s efforts with the Castaways these past 23 years.  Amazing to think that the names OB and Castaways Against Cancer will be spoken on the Congressional floor without judicial proceedings or indictments looming.  If only those overseeing the congressional proceedings knew; they clearly haven’t read Bob’s book!

There were many words shared.  Many thank yous. Dr. Namrata Chadnok provided insight on how the Castaways’ money has helped fund her research and the importance of the work conducted at Sylvester.

Following the various addresses, the time came for pictures…lots of pictures.frigo

With the pictures finalized, the crowd of supporters gathered around the boats while the paddlers grabbed their paddles and formed a tunnel leading from the beach to the bay preparing for the ceremonial first stroke.  Kari “Red Bull” Linfors walked with her mother Diane Linfors (let it be known that in order to save bandwidth I’ll keep these comments about Diane brief…she is the epitome of a Castaway and more importantly what we all should try to strive to be like) through the tunnel and into the water.  Patrick provided his aunt with some final instructions, and Diane took care of the rest as she marked the start of the Carry On Tour with a brisk and strong stroke of the paddle.

With a few final handshakes, hugs, and goodbyes, the paddlers entered their respective cockpits and shoved off toward Bear Cut.  As the kayaks made their way off the beach, Frigo queued the music but much of it was overpowered by the supporters’ cheers and the various air horns.

The stretch from Castaway Beach to Bear Cut was uneventful, but an unplanned stop at Bear Cut Sandbar was needed to fix rudder pedals (thankfully not a single rudder cable snapped this year) and seatbacks as the fleet was breaking in two new kayak pairs in the two tandems.  In the Green Machine, sat Patrick as the engine with the Viceroy in the front seat doing what he does best…TBD.  In the Yellow School Bus, sat Kari as the engine (a new tandem position for Red Bull) and Caleb Isenberg - this year’s rookie - in the front as the group’s unknown, but whatever the uncertainties may have been they were quickly resolved by week’s end.

This year’s fleet was noticeably smaller than previous years with only 9 boats but only 8 at any one time, and 11 paddlers with only 10 at any one time.  The full lineup for the trip included the aforementioned Patrick Linfors, Steve O’Brien, Kari Linfors, and Caleb Isenberg in the two tandems respectively. Suzy “Chiquita” Curry did not launch from Castaways’ Beach but met the team in Key Largo for Day 3.   Omar “Ponyboy” Beceiro paddled days 1, 2, and 7.  Greg “Rainman” Trainor who paddled days 1 through 5. Roger “The Saint” Dabdab, Jaime “Julie” Lemus, Paul “the Machine” Kumer, and Captain Eric “Vino” Pino.  Though small, the team built off previous years’ chemistry and the consensus clearly pointed to a team dynamic that led to a fantastic trip.

After a quick reprieve at Bear Cut Sandbar filled with gear adjustments, and “scratching the dirt”, the team made its way to el Farito at Bill Baggs Cape Florida State Park.  At the lighthouse, the team drank some water, snacked on the delicious sandwiches Mercy Sellek supplied, and of course re-applied sunscreen.  After a 10-minute break, the paddlers entered their boats and made their way toward Soldier Key.  Due to the non-scheduled but necessary stop at Bear Cut Sandbar, the team looked at the prospect of falling further behind schedule (currently 30 minutes off their mark), and with dark clouds looming overland concern of potential weather issues became a point of conversation.  Let the record show that OB is never again allowed nor encouraged to speak, discuss, or suggest matters concerning weather, illnesses or ailments of teammates, or horses leading local races by no more than 2 lengths.  Despite OB’s jinx abilities, the weather held while the sun baked the paddlers in their skirts (I should work on this phrasing) and torrential storms pounded the land to the paddler’s west.

Without issue, the team settled at Soldier Key.  The sounds of Bad Bunny, Farruko, and Dj Adoni greeted the unsuspecting paddlers.  But not to be outdone, the sights more than made up for the audio assault.  After some quick hydration and an additional Mercy sandwich (she clearly outdid herself this year providing the team with more food than they could eat), the paddlers left their reggaeton sanctuary and headed toward their next destination: Sands Cut.

For the first time in a long time, the stretch to Sands Cut was uneventful.  Lately, Day 1s have proven to be noteworthy, but for all the wrong reasons.  The Castaways have seen almost everything during Day 1s particularly the stretch from Soldier Key to Sands Cut.  Some of these occurrences have run the gambit from green lightning to the newly formed submarine division of the fleet.  While these “ridiculous stunts” provide great moments of levity at the bar - once we all make it safely to said bar - they do provide unwanted and unnecessary stress.  Unfortunately, due to the pleasant nature of this year’s Day 1, I have nothing more to report besides reflecting back on past calamities.  We move on to Elliott.

Wait, I need to amend the “uneventful” part regarding Sands Cut.  When the team left Sands Cut, Patrick knocked his phone off his deck joining the ranks of other Castaways - primarily Pino - who have sacrificed their iPhones to Aegir the Viking god of the sea.  

Dr. Carter Burrus and Carlos Luis met the team at Elliott to provide ice and Publix chicken tenders as well as a host of other additional items.  Once pleasantries were exchanged and a few pictures snapped, Burrus and Luis hopped on their boat and left Elliott.  Another boater who joined the Castaways at Elliott was Jaime’s friend, neighbor, and supporter Nick.  Nick did the team a solid by agreeing to haul the night’s trash and camping gear the next day.  Little gestures like hauling the team’s trash and/or camping gear go a long way in terms of easing the team’s worries and concerns: packing and kayaking our trash to Key Largo (all day on Day 2) is less than enjoyable.

The team set up their tents - some on the point while others set themselves up under the ranger station.  There’s never an issue with people at Elliott, because who in their right mind volunteers to spend time at that mosquito-infested rock (many have joined Suzy with #neverElliott, and rightfully so).  However, this particular evening the Castaways did have a guest.  The ranger (the Kenny Powers of Biscayne National Park) decided - after unloading several cases of Mountain Dew Voltage and other extreme flavors - to pay the Castaways a visit and inform them that they could not set camp up under the ranger station and they would have to pay online for their visit.  These orders were ignored.  However, the finance committee (Kari, Kumer, and Pino) did give a valiant effort to pay online, but there existed issues with the internet service.  There was some internal discussion about bartering.  He asked for a picture with us, and the consensus seemed that a group picture would suffice for our stay at Elliott.  These plans never materialized, and the Castaways set their efforts and attention to other matters; mostly hydration of various forms (thanks to Tank Brewery - the official beer of the Castaways).

As the sun set, the end of Day 1 came to a steady close.  In typical Castaway fashion, the gradual descent of the sun and the conclusion of a day on the water meant many stories were shared and plenty of laughs filled the Castaways for another day on the water.

June 12, 2022 - Sunday

After a pleasant evening - alone on Elliott - the Castaways eased their way into Day 2 by setting their alarms for 4 am with hopes of hitting the water in the darkness.  They achieved said objective, but something was amiss: Kumer forget the glow-sticks!!!  Despite his reassurances that the glow-sticks were in fact in the previous tour’s notes, the team paddled in absolute darkness…and silence.  Without the luminescence, the paddlers found themselves in a precarious position of losing a paddler…or half the team in the darkness.  Barely an hour into the day and half the team was lost to the darkness - depending on which half you asked determined which half was indeed lost to the eternal darkness of Biscayne Bay.

Eventually, the team re-convened only to realize neither half of the team was lost.  Rather, the two pods of 4 kayaks briefly separated and passed each other without realizing it.  We will chalk this debacle up to weariness due to the lack of adequate sleep.

The rest of the morning progressed without incident.

With the gentle breeze and cool temperatures, the paddlers were able to make quick headway while the sun rested.  The team found themselves slightly ahead of schedule arriving at Pumpkin Key closer to 11 than the typical 12 pm lunch stop of previous years.  Pumpkin Key had been on the team’s radar for a few years when the paddlers decided to abandon the zig-zag approach to Day 2 and kept to the east of the Bay.  Last year, the paddlers made their way to Pumpkin Key but ate lunch in the shallows off the island.  This year, as a result of the diligence and determination of Mercy Sellek, the team was welcomed on the island for lunch.

***If this trip report hasn’t made this point clear enough, then allow me to illustrate this point emphatically: Mercy Sellek spoils us and I’m certain we don’t deserve it!  Thank you tenfold for all you do for us before, during, and after the trip…this year and every year.  Thank you!!!***

On the island, Bill Gilbert - the island’s caretaker - welcomed the team.  While the island was paradise in its own right, the team found a sanctuary under a tiki hut with running ceiling fans and ample sitting.  The pièce de résistance came by way of a proper bathroom; no need for saltwater swipes on this particular break.  Truly, it’s the simple things.  Speaking of simple luxuries, the team spent their lunch break with Bill discussing his tasks on the island, but many of the paddlers’ attention was divided as they paid more mind to Otis: the sweetest and saltiest of all dogs!

While the team said their thank yous and goodbyes to Bill and Otis, Ponyboy, Rainman, Kumer, and Pino discussed the next course of action as the team prepared to course Barnes Sound.  Typically, Barnes is sloppy…on a good day.  The team hoped this particular Sunday the fates would be on their side at worst they would be crossing Barnes earlier than usual.

Before Barnes, the team made their way across the bay to Steamboat Creek.  As the paddlers left Pumpkin Key the winds picked up a bit from the south leading many in the team to expect the worst crossing Barnes.  

By the time the team made it to the mouth of Steamboat Creek the winds died but the clouds parted and the sun came out with a vengeance.  On this given day with Barnes looming, the team welcomed the sun’s heat as a replacement for the headwind.

Making their way through the creek, the paddlers felt the effects of the sun and heat.  Simply put…it was HOT!

The team reached the end of the creek and gathered to finalize the approach across the Barnes.  Initially, the thinking was to hug the mangroves to the left of Barnes and stay protected from the wind.  Luckily, this particular day Barnes Sound was flat.  To provide a point of reference, last year as the team gathered at the end of Steamboat Creek Barnes Sound was easily a foot higher than the creek.  Barnes is a violent and cruel mistress, but this year she provided us a reprieve.  The team appreciated her hospitality, especially Pino who had started to feel less than stellar.  The rest of the team found time to enjoy this early afternoon paddle as midway through the crossing they stopped to grab a few beers from fellow boaters: Frigo, Jackie, and Chiqi as well as Sparky in his own boat.  If Barnes didn’t play nice, the team would not have been able to enjoy the ice cold beers Jackie kept tossing down nor would the team has been able to spend time talking and catching up with Detective Ian Barnett who once again decided to spend his day on the water with us.

When the waters are calm and the winds subdued, the stories told on land (or in trip reports) aren’t as exciting, but these ideal conditions do provide the team to reconnect and build tighter bonds.  In many cases, members of the team don’t see each other - sans a Zoom call or two - for a year.  The team made up of paddlers from areas outside of South Florida makes face-to-face time difficult, and one of the main reasons the team endures the mosquitoes and heat on Elliott at the end of night 1 as well as the long paddles of day 1 and 2.  These first 2 days of the trip provide the isolation and the opportunity to reconnect but mostly laugh.  Loads of laughter.

With Barnes being a non-event, the team made its way to Jewfish Creek without incident.  Sure, the temperature on the water rivaled the surface of the sun, but the beer was mildly warm and there was plenty to drink.

From Jewfish Creek, the team crossed Blackwater Sound and found refuge for the night at the Reefhouse Inn (formerly the Key Largo Marriott).  The team landed by 4:30 in the afternoon, almost 2 hours ahead of schedule.  What else was there to do than drink cold Gatorade and beers?  Moments like this - where the team is able to wade in the water and enjoy the fruits of their labor - make this trip remarkable.  Granted, this particular afternoon Pino was not feeling so remarkable and the team would be losing Ponyboy for the next few days (he would rejoin the team at Sugarloaf), but the team’s spirit remained high.

By 5 o’clock, the team ate dinner which came by way of C and C Woodfire Grill.  The lasagna, the salad, the garlic bread…all of it was spectacular.  Oh, and there were brownies.  Delicious brownies (again, thank you Mercy for setting up dinner with C and C Woodfire).

Once the team finished eating and the boats were stripped, they made their way to their rooms.  Eric’s health was deteriorating quickly and the decision to isolate him from the team seemed prudent.  Pino’s health was a concern, and as the evening unfolded and the morning arose it became clear he would not paddle day 3 and would eventually miss days 4, 5, and 6.

Jun 13, 2022- Monday

Day 3s are the best.  The monotony of Biscayne Bay is over; the team has access to cold beers and ice each morning, and - this is easily the best reason - life in the Keys is always better!

There isn’t a better way to start off paddling the Keys and taking a break from eating tuna packets, or dry granola bars than eating breakfast with a proper cup of coffee at Gus’s Grille at the Reefhouse.  Improving an already exceptional morning was the welcomed sight of James, a long-time fixture of the Castaways’ Day 3.

Day 3 also marked the arrival of the Mayor of Marathon: Suzy Curry.  Not sure many will argue this point, Suzy is the coolest and toughest person of the paddlers.  We are lucky to have her on our side.

While the team was a man short with Pino on the mend, the mission moved ahead.  However, with Patrick’s iPhone resting comfortably somewhere in Biscayne Bay and Pino staying on land the Castaways’ on-water social media content was eliminated leaving this trip report to be one of the only full records of the Carry On Tour.  

The day of paddling promised to be unique as the team would stay bayside for the entire day.  In years past, the team would land at Postcard Inn, but plans change and this year the team would land a mile and a half south at La Jolla Resort.  Another noticeable alteration to this year’s day 3 was the team heading straight to the Dusenberries and not paddling north to visit FBO or breakfast at the Caribbean Club.  Change is inevitable, and all change provides the opportunity for growth: the Carry On Tour proved that much.

From the shores of the Reefhouse, the paddlers made their way toward the Dusenberries.  Once again, the Castaways were met with blistering temperatures with very little cloud coverage.  Luckily, the Dusenberries provide the necessary respite from the sun and heat.  

Once through the Dusenberries, the Castaways made their way through Little Buttonwood Sound, then Buttonwood Sound.  The waters were calm providing opportunities for the team to share stories leading to many laughs as they made their approach to the Salty Piece of Land.  

The first stop of the day provided the team with the opportunity to eat and rehydrate.  While the paddlers re-upped on nourishment, Caleb and Kari took time to snap pictures of the local sea life especially the abundance of sea stars.  Nearby some of the paddlers spotted a small nurse shark.  Again, life in the Keys is always better.

From the Salty Piece of Land, the Castaways headed south toward their next destination: Toilet Seat Cut.  Toilet Seat will always hold a special place in the history of the Castaways for various reasons, particularly for its role in the development of the baptismal sacrament.  Again, change is inevitable and these days Toilet Seat holds to its sacred origins by being a place for reveling in stories and missions of yesteryear.

23 years of existence means that the culture can only be sustainable with a deep understanding of where the Castaways began and where the Castaways have been.  The rich history - particularly its oral tradition - has formed into modern mythology that has proven paramount to share with new Castaways like Caleb.  

On this particular day, the sharing of earlier misfortunes and minor successes was enhanced with an addition to the team’s toilet seat.  The prior afternoon while landing at the Reefhouse Jaime snapped his paddle in half, but the Castaways have always been improvisational - one of the team’s few noteworthy qualities.  Though disappointed, Jaime saw an opportunity with his new two-piece paddle.  Before the team left Toilet Seat, Jaime brought out one-half of the splintered paddle and some zip-ties.  He intended - successfully - to attach the broken paddle to the team’s toilet seat.  As Jaime stated, “the Castaways must stand out from the rest.”

From Toilet Seat, Jaime led the charge to La Jolla - a month prior he spent time in the area scouting the waters from Toilet Seat to La Jolla.  The paddle would be over a mile longer than the usual trek to Postcard Inn but staying on the bayside meant flat shallow water.  What seemed to be an easy end to the day was far from easy.  Prior to entering the tandem, Caleb was stung by an unidentified marine object.  Though in pain, Caleb seemed content with the decision to continue to La Jolla; the one dissenting voice came from OB who pleaded his case that the team take Caleb to Founders Park for a medi-vac.  To ease OB’s concerns, Kari called the team’s medical staff (Dr. Gene Linfors) for a consult.  Gene suggested keeping Caleb hydrated (check), supplying him with Benadryl (check), and icing the area of the leg that caused Caleb discomfort (check).  With these safety measures in place, the team forged ahead to La Jolla.  

The team made their way across Cow Key Basin and then Barley Basin.  Before long and without further incident, the team landed safely at La Jolla.  Waiting for the team on land were Peggy and Joe of the Happy Hour Round Crew, Pino who was still dealing with what the team called a gastro-infarction, and Brothers Al and Peter from Columbus.  The Brothers were a welcomed sight because the team loves visitors, but the Brothers also provided dinner.  Prior to the trip, Br. Al organized a collection among the Columbus faculty to supply the team with dinner: Br. Al cooked a delicious arroz con pollo and a hearty beef stew (Brother you are welcome to cook whenever you’d like).

***Not enough has been said in this trip report about Peggy and Joe.  Honestly, there aren’t enough words nor thank yous available to adequately express the team’s gratitude for the time, energy, and care Peggy and Joe show to the team.  If anyone is looking for what a Castaway is, then I’m not sure if you could do any better than pointing to Peggy and Joe.  They epitomize the Castaway spirit and what makes a Castaway - paddles, and pedals be damned!***

While on land, the team stripped their boats and rehydrated with some Lo-Cal Tank beers.  Once the rooms were assigned, Pino made the call to go back to Miami with Br. Al and Br. Peter like Eric was still feeling under the weather.  With dinner having been served and eaten, the Brothers packed up and headed north with Pino.  The rest of the team went across the street to imbibe in a few local beers at Islamorada Brewing and Distillery.  At this point of the trip, the team was noticeably smaller.  Pino went home.  Suzy went home.  Roger was resting his back in his room, and Kari called it an early night.  At the brewery sat OB, Patrick, Rainman, Jaime, Caleb, and Kumer (Caleb and Kumer did not take this opportunity to continue their earlier conversation regarding natural selection, anarchy, and organic horticulture).  The remaining paddlers drank and laughed enjoying the fruits of their labor.  During the evening, Patrick and Jaime snuck off to a back room where they were introduced to Alex: he is best described as a bartender turned magician.  Alex provided samples of Islamorada Brewery’s hibiscus-infused gin, and when he mixed tonic water with the gin the blue hue of the elixir turned pink.  I’m not so certain the gin turning pink was what caught the eye of Patrick and Jaime as much as the free samples Alex doled out (the gin was fantastic).

As the night came to an end, Kumer took care of the tab with the money Brother Herb sent which came with strict instructions “make sure the boys drink well!”  Well, Brother, the boys drank well and we are truly honored by your gratitude.

June 14, 2022 - Tuesday

Despite paddling the bay for the first leg of the day, Day 4 remained “traditional”, and there is nothing more “traditional” for Day 4 than breakfast at Robbie’s.  Lobster Fritatta and fresh coffee do wonders for sore muscles and achy backs.  For the most part, the stretch from La Jolla to Robbie’s was uneventful, but Suzy made it a point to pull Kumer aside and “set him straight” (she may or may not have threatened his life - Suzy is the most pirate-esque in this operation).  Suzy did the same last year to Pino on Day 3; so, it’s fair to say Kumer is in good company…maybe.

When the team had its fill, the paddlers slowly moved to their boats and set off for Anne’s Beach.  This stretch was smooth, but the sun came out with a vengeance after providing a brief break in the morning.  Despite the heat, the stretch to Anne’s Beach was smooth.  At Anne’s Beach, the team snacked and hydrated preparing for the longest hump of the trip” Long Key Viaduct.

Before the team could set off for the viaduct, they had to contend with the potential of a strong current at Channel #2 Bridge.  The Castaways needed to go under the bridge in order to make their way back to the bayside due to their last stop of the day - Gulfview.  On this particular day the current was against the paddlers, but due to the tide, the current was not as formidable as the Castaways have seen in the past.  

With Channel #2 behind them, the Castaways made the long trek to Rainman’s Rendezvous.  The team - as they had done all week - paddled as a group which provided opportunities here stories from Patrick’s days in radio, OB’s run-in with Joe Walsh, and other ridiculous anecdotes from the Mutiny in the 1980s.  The team did everything they could to distract themselves from thinking about the almost 11 miles they were logging from Anne’s Beach to Rainman’s Rendezvous.  However, there’s universal agreement that the payoff at RR is definitely worth it.  Sitting in the shallows in the middle of the bay with the viaduct looming in the east is beyond description.

On this particular day, the current rushing through the pool at RR kept the team on their toes.  One false step and the team would be Suzy-less or down a boat.  Richard met us at RR to hang out but more importantly to escort the Mayor of Marathon home.

From RR, the team still had 6 more miles to complete before they could call it a day.  Typically, this final stretch of Day 4 is where the 4 o’clock blues kick in mostly due to the very strong desire for the day to come to end.  Again, the weather favored the Castaways, but the mileage on day 4 requires a bit of fortitude to complete the day.  

Once at Gulfview, the work isn’t quite done as Gulfview provides one last obstacle: the boat ramp.  When Mike and Stephanie owned Gulfivew (they sold in late 2021), Mike made it a point to hose off the ramp for the team’s arrival.  Without Mike present, the ramp was slick and dangerous.  As the boats arrived, the team took caution in not just disembarking from their kayaks but also bringing their kayaks up the ramp.  Luckily, everyone survived the ordeal relatively unscathed. 

With dinner plans set at the Wreck, few of the Castaways were able to take advantage of the highlight of Gulfview: the pool.  However, dinner at the Wreck provided a return to earlier practices.  Once everyone was washed and changed, they walked together to the Wreck.  Rum drinks and beers were ordered as well as gator bites and other assorted food items.  Topping off the delectable meal was key lime.

Fully fed the paddlers made their way back to Gulfview with most paddlers calling it a night.  Patrick and Kumer decided to keep the night going with a nightcap by the dock.  As the night aged and the two shared stories and laughs, young Caleb joined offering his bright disposition to the trio.  When supporters of the Castaways ask about the trip - particularly how the paddlers deal with the long days, the heat, strong winds, and whatever else comes their way - these moments are the ones worth emphasizing.  These moments that bring laughter and joy are what make the grueling miles tolerable.  Without butchering a potential metaphor, let’s leave this portion of the report with the following: humor and joy break down walls that divide us and build empathy and understanding…we could use more empathy and understanding these days.

June 15, 2022 - Wednesday

Day 5 began with the Castaways in a lively mood.  With spirits running high, the team loaded the boats into the water without issue.  OB - in typical form - cried out “Boats away!” officially kicking off Day 5.

From Gulfview, the Castaways set for Vaca Cut which would spill them back onto the oceanside.  With flat water and clear skies, the morning’s paddle was smooth.  Once again, time was afforded for conversation and discussion.  There was much to concern themselves with until Vaca Cut.

Due to the placement of Vaca Cut, the currents rip through the bridge presenting a challenge.  Fortunately, in the past few years, the current has either been non-existent or favorable to the Castaways.  This was not the case this Thursday for the Castaways.  The current was ripping and heading from the oceanside to the bayside.  The strategy was simple; hug the inside of the bridge and stay away from the middle of the passage.

Adding to this morning’s stunt was the yearly tradition of the Vaca Cut Fairy’s arrival.  Frigo is always a pleasant sight especially when he supplies homemade cookies (thank you PJ), icee pops, and the suspicious Square Grouper by way of hoisting them off the side of the Vaca Cut Bridge using some concocted engineering floatation device made of pool noodles.  Without Pino running the show as well as placating Frigo’s whims, Kumer was left to figure out this Thursday’s events.  The Magic School Bus (Caleb and Kari) stayed on the northwest corner of the bridge along with Jaime to capture this morning’s circus feat with their phones.  

As the Castaways made their way under the bridge, Frigo loudly announced the team’s arrival with his booming voice magnified with the help of a megaphone.  Not to be ignored nor forgotten, Lani Landera was complicit in this exploit but did a marvelous job ensuring the snacks and other items found safe passage below to the oncoming Castaways.

On the other side of the bridge, the Castaways rendezvoused to divvy the “booty” and meet with Suzy.  Nothing quite like red icees to start a morning of paddling.

After the icees, the Castaways continued toward Sombrero Beach where lunch was served and time was set aside to help Patrick unlock his new iPhone (Diane and Gene had picked it up from the AT&T store the previous day).  Unfortunately for Patrick, AT&T supplied Patrick’s new phone with Patty’s phone number.  Patrick’s phone would continue to provide frustration and ridiculous scenarios for the majority of the 7-day trip.

From Sombrero Beach, the Castaways set their sights on Molasses Key.  Though Molasses was the destination, the team’s thoughts were preoccupied with the challenges presented by way of the 7-Mile Bridge.  

The plan for the crossing was simple.  Rainman and Suzy set the heading for the team while the rest of the team delayed their start to eventually catch up to the front paddlers and as a team approach Molasses (Richard followed on his boat).  As Rainman and Suzy set the course, Patrick and Kumer struck up a conversation regarding Caleb: “Any thoughts on a Castaway name?”  All week the team drew blanks until finally…Eureka!!!...Patrick and Kumer realized a few interesting tidbits about Caleb - botanist, natural selection advocate, and a legacy.  Plenty to work with there!

Crossing 7-Mile presented the usual challenges, but this particular crossing was smooth as the paddlers benefited from an easterly wind which provided a bit of a push.  The 6-mile crossing went quickly and though there was chop and sizable waves the team made landfall at Molasses without concern.

Greeting the paddlers at Molasses were the former owners of FBO and current owners of Molasses: Frank and Monica.  And what a welcome Frank and Monica had in store for the Castaways.  Upon arrival, Monica served up a charitable pour of Painkillers using the appropriate rum for the occasion, Pusser’s Rum.  With the drinks poured and the pleasantries exchanged, Frank and Monica took the team on a tour of the updated items of the island particularly the new boathouse which Frank had restored. 

After the tour, the Castaways went back to business: another round or two of Painkillers.  Frank and Monica updated everyone on the ongoings around the area and the lower Keys.  Kumer stayed in contact with Peggy to discuss sleeping arrangements at St. Columba, particularly the issue concerning the allotment of beds.  Eventually, a room was rented at Coco Kay.  With matters resolved, the drink continued, and one last bit of important Castaway business needed to be conducted: Caleb’s Baptism.

Unbeknownst to Caleb, the necessary equipment was gathered and the team gathered in the waters off Molasses.  Patrick commenced the ceremony by evoking Odin to preside over the ceremony as well as re-initiate everyone regarding the significance of the baptism (there haven’t been many baptisms in recent years - the Saint the most recent).  As Patrick began the sacred recitations, OB jumped the proverbial gun and emptied his clip quite the Castaway faux pas especially considering his tenure and rank.  But, in OB’s defense, it has been some time since he participated in such activities.  His sins and crimes have since been absolved, but not forgotten.  

Despite OB’s issues with his bilge pump, Patrick continued the sacrament and presented Caleb Isenberg - botanist, evolutionist, and son of original Castaway Dave Isenberg - to Odin and all who would listen as…Darwin!

From Molasses, the Castaways made their way to Bahia Honda State Park their final stop for the day.  While 7-Mile didn’t present too much of an issue, the early stretch from Molasses to Bahia Honda proved to be a different experience.  The water was choppy and unpredictable, but after a solid 20 minutes of paddling the Castaways found themselves on the other side of the mess and cleared for smoother waters.

Approaching Bahia Honda, the team was welcomed by a familiar face: Eric Pino.  Pino made his way south that day and decided to rejoin the team on land with hopes of joining the sea circus sooner than later.  With Pino present, the team finally had a presence on social media.  Once the team landed, they stripped their boats of garbage and returned to the water.  In the water, the team commiserated and hydrated with a few Tank beers (La Playita and Lo-Cal for the win).

With day 5 in the books, the realization sat in that Rainman’s mission had concluded.  The team helped him load his boats and said their goodbyes.  The remaining boats needed to be relocated from the beach, and the team worked together to bring the kayaks up to the parking lot.

Once the boats were stripped and secured, the paddlers poured into several vehicles and made their way to St. Columba where they would be spending the night.  Suzy and Kari made their way to the Curry residence to clean up and came back to the Abbey for dinner.  Dinner, which was Frank’s Grill sponsored, was waiting in the Abbey’s oven.  Nothing quite beats large portions of hot lasagna, toasted garlic bread, and fresh salad.  Unless you also have Brugal 1888 Anejado Rum on ice waiting for you…wait, we did.

The team gathered around the table, ate, and enjoyed each other’s company.  With dinner finished, Suzy and Kari took Roger to Coco Kay before they returned to Suzy’s house.  Roger’s back had been giving him trouble all week due to a Pickleball incident the week prior.  The team decided an air mattress may not have helped his situation and set him up with a nice queen-sized bed.  Unfortunately, Roger’s back kept proving to be problematic and eventually kept him out for Day 6.

When Suzy’s car pulled away from the Abbey, the remaining team members - Jaime, Darwin, Kumer, Pino, Patrick, and OB - poured another round of rums and spent the remainder of the night enjoying each other’s company and sharing stories.  With these grown men tucked into bed and sharing stories the only accurate way to describe their behavior and situation would be that of a pre-teen-girl sleepover party.  They drank; they conversed, and they laughed like pre-pubescent school girls.  

June 16, 2022 - Thursday

Those staying at the Abbey made sure to wake up with plenty of time to clean up the sleeping space and put away the bedding, towels, and air mattresses.  What the team didn’t want to do was abuse the goodwill of the congregation at St. Columba and especially Suzy.  Hopefully, we did right by the congregation because we would love to be back in 2023.

From the Abbey, the team gathered at Bahia Honda State Park to prepare for the day’s paddling.  Leading the day’s prayer was the Rector of St. Columba Rev. Canon Debra Maconaughey.  

Leaving the beach at Bahia Honda, several paddlers experienced nature’s call and an unplanned stop was in order.  After crossing the Bahia Honda Bridge, the team made their way to some shallows to take care of business.

Once the team was back in their boats, they made their way to Picnic Island.  With Little Palm still not queued up for lunch, the Castaways have relied on Picnic Island as a very solid backup plan.  At Picnic Island, the team ate their sandwiches procured by Suzy (we’d starve without Suzy).  While at Picnic Island, the team had some business to attend to but failed unfortunately whether it was due to Pino’s inability to drill a pilot hole or Kumer’s inability to use a hammer those discussions are still ongoing.  However, plans have been laid which have been recorded in the trip’s notes which all but guarantees next year’s item of business at Picnic Island may still fail.  So, stay tuned to see what ridiculousness presents itself in 2023.

From Picnic Island, the team made their way to Tarpon Creek with hopes of making great time to the S-Bend.  As the team approached Tarpon Creek, an unexpected but familiar figure emerged from the mangroves…Pino had rejoined the team.  Pino’s infarction resolved itself and the captain rejoined his team.

Though the current was against the Castaways at Tarpon Creek, they still managed to make remarkable time which provided them ample time to enjoy Brugal Rum with fresh ice thanks due to Pino.  

Maybe a Castaways’ first, but while enjoying their rum at the S-Bend they were joined by a stranger who seemingly appeared out of nowhere.  He introduced himself but his name escapes me.  Let’s call him Mark.  Mark rode a rental bicycle for over 3 miles and stumbled upon this consortium of sea hippies engaging in normal sea hippie behavior, but to the uninitiated Mark was befuddled.  Despite his bewilderment and inability to fully comprehend what he was witnessing, Mark found this oddity intriguing.  Like Jane Goodall, he kept his distance and slowly integrated himself into the community while doing his best to not disturb the ongoings.  Cheers to you Mark!

Day 6 ended at Sugarloaf Lodge where Ponyboy and Mercy Sellek rejoined the team.  The Carry On Tour had 24 hours remaining and the team did their best to revel in each other’s company and commit the trip’s memories and experiences to their foggy memories.

Jun 17, 2022- Friday

Day 7 - the end of the Carry On Tour - saw the Castaways as complete as they would be all week with Roger back in his kayak as well as Pino and Ponyboy.  

The day’s paddling was uneventful and there wasn’t much of a change (see previous trip reports if you’re interested); however, one significant change was the route crossing Waltz Key Basin and Jewfish Basin.  In previous years, once the team entered Jewfish Basin they would turn toward Cowpen Channel and onto Castaway Bar.  This year the route went clear through Jewfish Basi and toward the northern tip of Fleming Key, which meant the Castaways would end up nose-to-nose with the U.S. Army’s Special Forces Operators.  We will allow the reader’s imagination to figure out how this interaction went.

After demonstrating their resolve and physical prowess, the Castaways took their final break of the Carry On Tour in the shallows and shade of the SFUWO school.  With the Army’s Special Forces icon (a skull with knives and sharks) overlooking these sea-hippies, the Castaways enjoyed the last of their rum and the few remaining cold beers.  From this spot off Fleming, all that remained was a 1.5-mile stretch toward Simonton Beach.

At Simonton Beach, the Castaways made landfall welcomed by loved ones, friends, family, and supporters.  The applause and warm embraces not only demonstrated the love for the Castaways but also the culmination of a remarkable 2022 tour.

Cheers!

To see what the cyclist did on their 1 day, 170-mile adventure, click here for their Trip Report.