03/08/2025 ICW Day 67 : More kindness from Strangers

We knew today could only get better once we extricated the boat from the muddy reeds by the roadside camp. We did have a “head current” the entire day, but the strong tailwinds helped offset it. Even with pedaling, we only managed about 4 knots. If the current had been with us, we probably would have flown along at 7 knots.

At this point, it’s obvious—this isn’t totally a sailing trip. It’s a kayaking trip. We’re pedaling all the time, burning a ridiculous number of calories. Between the unpredictable inland winds and the overpowering currents, sailing often only adds a little extra speed.

The day got even better when we landed and met Luanne—she had reached out to us, inviting us to stay at her place and meet her dog, Melvin—who, by the way, is a girl pup.

I often feel we don’t deserve this kind of kindness, and it is always so hard to accept, but I am really glad we got the opportunity to meet Luanne. Right away, it was evident that she was very upbeat and easy-going.

“You have lots of choices where you can park your boat. Here in this slip, the day dock, that beach… or on my neighbor’s beach with reeds. I’ve already cleared it with her.”

After this morning’s battle with the reeds, you’d think we’d avoid them. But oddly enough, just like a dog curling up in a tiny crate, we felt a strange comfort parking askew in them again.

Luanne invited us right into her home, eager to show us the small community of Snead’s Ferry. She told us about her kids and family, and then entertained us with stories.

One particularly entertaining story was about fishing.

“Fish and game pulled up while my husband and I were fishing. They asked him for his license, and he carefully pulled it out while looking down. Meanwhile, I kept fishing.”

“Ma’am, we’re going to need to see your license too.”

Luanne, being on her first fishing trip, looked at her husband questioningly. He lowered his head, suddenly very interested in his fishing line. Uh oh.

They wrote her a ticket, and of course, her husband agreed to take care of it… except several weeks later, there was a knock on the door. It was the Sheriff with a warrant for her arrest! She was expected to turn herself in to the magistrate.

Meanwhile, everyone else was having a good old laugh about this—she was going to be arrested for… fishing. Lined up with people in handcuffs, the judge looked at her papers and kind of laughed like, “What are you doing here?” She finally was released after paying fines, but her co-workers had the last laugh by making a “wanted” poster of her behind bars—accompanied by some stuffed animal fish.

Luanne also took us to dinner and refused to let us pay, even though there were two of us and we were staying at her house. She was very generous.

Being around someone so energetic, easygoing, and quick to laugh lifted us up, making this visit a highlight for the trip. I am grateful to be a conduit “news outlet” for all these great people we have met on the other side of America. These stories won’t go viral on Facebook, but this is what we see.