Photo By: ©Shelly Strazis

I wake up early this morning feeling excited and nervous.  This is the final crossing and the longest and most difficult channel.  I will be paddling from Anacapa to Santa Barbara Island.  I lay in bed and think about the day ahead and how it needs to go. I know it’s going to be long and challenging both physically and mentally.  This is the last day.  This is it.  I feel good and know that I can do this. It’s not an option not to make it. The weather is starting to change and I have to make the crossing today or we risk running into bad weather in the days ahead.

I climb out of my sleeping bag at 530 and start making my breakfast and getting my CamelBaks packed for the day. The crew is up early readying the day’s gear in silence.  I am silent and focused as well.  This is one of the biggest days of my life.

It’s 630 and Chris tells me it’s time to go.  I climb down the ladder for the last time to get on my board.  Shelly, John and Ryan are in the dingy again and want to get some pictures of me paddling along the cliffs of Anacapa.  The rocks look similar to Cabo and they are envisioning how beautiful the photos will be.  I know the pictures will be cool but that is not my focus today.  I want to get started.  The boat senses my focus and decide it’s time to let me go.

Photo By: @Shelly Strazis

Looking at my watch I notice that I have almost paddled a mile already trying to get close to the cliffs for photos.  I know every mile is going to count today and I am a bit frustrated that I am wasting time.  I could be a mile into the crossing… but I haven’t even started yet.  I realize that the wind is not in my favor.  With side winds of 10-15 knots, rough seas and strong currents… it’s going to be a battle.

Photo By: @Shelly Strazis

I turn on my music and start the crossing.  There is no time for complaints today.  There is no time to waste.  I have a long day ahead. The conditions are challenging but my mind is where it needs to be.  I fight with the conditions for awhile and eventually work myself into a rhythm.

I have been paddling for a while now.  I look off in the distance and see a fog bank.  It creeps in quickly and completely envelopes us. We become almost completely invisible.  It is eerie.  We are concerned about the Cargo ships.  We slowly creep along using radar to guide us. As cargo ships pass in front and behind us, stress overcomes the crew. Despite the blind chaos, I stay in a rhythm.  It is a relief when we break through the fog.

I have been paddling for about 5 hours now and boredom is setting in.   I see the boat is hooking something up to the boom and so I paddle closer to get a look. They tell me they are going to hoist Shelly and Ryan over the side of the boat in a harness on the boom.  This is a great distraction. I start laughing and ask if this is really a punishment from Captain Wyms for stealing rations. He has been threatening to “keel haul” us the whole trip.  To be “keel hauled” means to be tied to a rope that loops around underneath the boat.  It drags you from one side of the boat and across the bottom, across barnacles, until you eventually pop up on the other side.

I have been paddling for about 8 hours now.  Chris signals me to the boat. He tells me that we only have 3 hours left of daylight.  I need to speed up or I’m going to be paddling in the dark.  To realize that I have another 3 hours of paddling shocks me.  I thought I was closer.  Chris tells me if I don’t speed up there is a chance I won’t make it.  I need to keep my pace at about 5 mph for the rest of the day.   I paddle away from the boat in tears.  I stay away from the boat and try to get back into my head. This is it… make it… or not.

I know deep down inside that nothing is going to stop me. The dark isn’t going to stop me and I have gotten over my fear of sharks.  If a shark messes with me now… I am ready to beat it up.  I speed up knowing that I have to keep this pace for over 3 hours.  I can see Santa Barbara island getting closer but it is starting to be a fight against the setting sun.

There is an amazing sunset now and I am watching the bright pink sun sink into the sea.  It is beautiful. I become very calm even though I know that it’s going to be getting dark fast.  The boat is worried about me as I paddle along in the dark.  They are worried about sharks.  I can see Shelly looking at something ahead in the water.  There are seals everywhere and I know this means that I am getting closer.

The boat stops and I am worried that Chris is going to tell me that it’s time to get in the boat and that it’s too late and it’s time to quit.  I look over confused.  Chris tells me to look up.  I am still confused.  He says, “you’re here… you made it!”  I don’t believe him at first.  I look ahead and can’t believe it… I made it.  I am at Santa Barbara Island.  ”I can stop paddling now?” I say.   Everyone on the boat laughs. “Yes, you are done… unless you want to keep going?”

I drop to my knees on my board.  I can’t believe it.  Eleven hours and twenty-two minutes and 43 miles of paddling in side and headwinds. I am done.

They help me on to the boat and hand me a beer…a “Simpler Times”.  It is the beer that the crew has been drinking the whole trip.  It was indeed going to be “simpler times” from here on out.     THE CROSSING: VIDEO

We wake up before sunrise this morning.  It is spookily quiet and dark. I will be starting my crossings today with the rising sun.  John, Shelly and Ryan are getting in the dingy so they can get some closer photos this morning.  I am climbing on my board as the sun is just starting to rise.

The sunlight is glowing off the huge cliffs and it takes my breath away.  I have a flood of emotion overcome me. This is it… this is why I’m here… to experience a moment like this.  It is magical.  I feel an overwhelming sense of freedom and peace and calm.  I am feeling extremely lucky to have this opportunity.  I know this is going to be a great day!

I am paddling from San Miguel to Santa Rosa island. I will be doing three crossings today.  The first crossing seems like it goes by really quickly.  I have made it to Santa Rosa and my spirits are high.

I am getting ready to do the second crossing of the day from Santa Rosa to Santa Cruz.  The water is glassy. I turn my music on and decide to this crossing at a quicker pace.  It is the first time of the trip that I feel like I am really moving.  It is also the first time that I haven’t had to deal with a head or side wind.  My music is blasting and I am not scared of anything today.  My boat is impressed by my speed.  I have made it to Santa Cruz Island.  Santa Cruz island is the largest of the eight Channel Islands.

I climb on the boat and hear the crew talking about UFO’s.  There have been a lot of UFO sightings in the Channel Islands.  UFO enthusiasts believe there is an underwater UFO Base in these Channels somewhere.  I don’t know that UFO  is also the crews secret code word for sharks.  The skies and seas continue to be friendly until our boat shutters and abruptly ceases to move forward.  Chris has to dive under the boat again to see what the problem is.  When chris comes back up he has an armful of plastic.  He climbs back on board and says, “say no to plastic.”

It is time for me to start my third and final crossing of the day.  I am paddling from Santa Cruz to Anacapa. I am excited to get started because finally I am going to have wind at my back. The boat can tell from my body language that I am having fun.  I look over at the boat and they are smiling at me and give me a thumbs up.  I am riding some bumps and actually hoping that this crossing wouldn’t end.  There are birds in the water everywhere.  The birds dive down as I paddle through.  It is unbelievable how many birds there are.  Anacapa hosts the largest breeding colony of Western Gulls in the world.

I have arrived to Anacapa where we will anchor for the night.  Today was a really good day.  I have my last and final crossing tomorrow.  It will my longest and hardest.  I eat a big dinner and head off to bed to get a good nights sleep.  THE CROSSING: VIDEO

I awake this morning feeling good.  I am happy when I realize I have a day off from paddling.  Yesterday was the toughest channel crossing so far.  I am feeling confident that this adventure to cross all the channels will be successful. We are setting sail for the Northern Islands today.  I will be connecting the Northern Islands to Southern Islands on my final crossing.  Our main concern shifts from sharks to a forecasted weather change. The winds will be shifting direction in two days.  I understand that I need to paddle all the North island channels tomorrow in a single day.

We are heading to Santa Rosa Island.  It is going to take us about eight hours to get there. It is another beautiful day.  We are crossing paths with huge ships.  Chris is concerned because these ships are not in their normal shipping Channel. We don’t know why.  They are huge.  The one that is passing us now is about 1000 feet long and traveling at about 18 knots.

We have made it to Santa Rosa safely.  It is the second largest island in the Channel Islands.  It is located about 26 miles off the Coast of Santa Barbara, California.  We are looking for a place to anchor .  There are elephant seals everywhere.

We have decided to go ashore and get some lifestyle photos and touch land.  This is the only day that I am not paddling.  Ryan and Shelly are packing their camera gear in waterproof bags.  I am getting my Vitamin A swimsuits and coverups ready. John is getting a board ready to go standup surfing.  Chris is getting the Zodiac ready to take us to shore.  Chris takes Ryan first and they make it safely through the waves.  Shelly and I are next.  He tells us that going in is easy but coming back out we might get wet.  We are riding in through the waves and all of a sudden a bigger set starts to wipe us out.  The seat in the Zodiac falls down and Shelly falls on her back in the bottom of the boat.  We are getting washed around and she can’t get up because her camera bag is so heavy.  I am holding on to handles on both sides of the boat and trying to surf the boat in.  I look back at Chris and he is no longer in the boat.  He jumped out to try and keep the boat from flipping.  We are in shallow water now and Shelly and I see an enormous Elephant seal coming right for us.  We both jump out of the boat and run up the beach.  We have ditched the boat and Chris.   We did not realize that the boat is getting swamped with water and the gas tank is almost completely under water.  Chris yells for help and we make it in time to pull the boat up the beach.  Chris was not very happy with his crew.

There are elephant seals all over the beach.  We keep a safe distance and they don’t seem to worried about us.  Occasionally one runs at us… reminding us not to get too close.  Shelly and Ryan set up to take some photos and video.  John and Chris are having a great time catching waves.

Photo By: @Shelly Strazis

It is time to get back to the boat. We still have to motor to San Miguel where we will be anchoring for the night.  Chris is going to take us back out through the waves one at a time.  We are a little anxious to get back in the Zodiac after our experience going in.  I get in first and we have to time the waves.  Chris floors the motor to make it over a wave that is jacking up.  We launch up and over the wave and catch some air.  It was scary but fun at the same time.  Shelly is growing more nervous as she watches from the beach. We all make it back safely and start heading for San Miguel.

San Miguel is the Westernmost of the Channel Islands and the sixth largest.  The island gets beaten with Northwesterly winds and severe weather from the open ocean.   I will be starting my channel crossing from here in the morning. We arrive at San Miguel as the sun is setting and anchor safely.

THE CROSSING: VIDEO

This morning is an early morning for Chris and John.  The Captain and his first mate get up at 430 a.m. to get the boat ready to leave Cat Harbor by 5.  We are going to motor from Cat Harbor to Santa Barbara island.  Today’s crossing is from Santa Barbara Island to San Nicolas.  Shelly, Ryan and I sleep.  They wake us up about an hour before we arrive to Santa Barbara island.  I need to be ready to go when we get there.  It is going to be a 28 mile paddle today.

It is 830 a.m. and I am about to get started.  It is a beautiful day.  The sun is shining and the water is calm.  I look off the side of the boat and see kelp and seals everywhere.  The seals are very curious and stretch their necks up really high to get a good look at us.  I am a little hesitant to get in the water with them.  They are everywhere.  I get the orders from Captain Wyms to get on my board.  ”Aye, aye, Captain,” I say laughing as I climb down the ladder to get on my board.  Climbing down the ladder feels like I am being sent to walk the plank. Once I go down… I know I won’t be coming back up for a long time.

I start paddling and immediately see some whales in front of me.  They are not far away.  I am hoping to join them for a while but they are moving a lot faster than me.  I pass over something very large and grey.  I don’t tell the boat.  I am hoping that it is a big rock.  I am still close to the island.  ”Don’t start seeing things already,” I tell myself.  So, I come up with a plan.

My plan for today… is to not look too far ahead.  If I look only about five feet in front of my board… maybe my imagination won’t go wild.. Whenever I look too far ahead I see things.  Birds heads bobbing up and down in the distance have a way of looking just like a fin.  I ask the boat if they will have someone always scanning the water from the boat. Maybe I won’t be so worried.

I have been paddling for a while now and I am bored.  I paddle over to the boat and ask Ryan to sing to me.  Ryan has no problem belting out a couple of songs for me while I paddle along the side of the boat.  We talk for awhile.  I am ready to focus again.  I paddle away and put my earphones back in.

The boat spots a shark today, a big one.  The shark is heading towards me and I have no idea.  Shelly and John have both spotted it and they don’t know what to do.  It has a huge fin and they are sure it is a Great White.  They see it surface twice and thrash around.  They do not tell me.  They watch the shark and watch me paddling ahead.  I am really close to finishing todays crossing.  They choose not to tell me.  They are all freaked out.

I finally reach the island and climb back on the boat.  Another crossing done!  I notice that the crew is acting strange.  I don’t know what is going on.  I figure it’s better not to know… so I don’t ask.  Seals are everywhere.  I am drinking my recovery drink and watching the seals from the side of the boat.  I say to Ryan, “it is so beautiful here.  I would live here if I were a seal.”  Ryan responds, “Not me!”  I ask, “why?”  He says, “think about it?  This many seals… means a lot of food for other things.”  I understand what he is saying.  I still don’t know that they had seen a Great White following me today.

We are anchored at San Nicolas. San Nicolas island is the most remote of the Channel Islands.  It is controlled by the United States Navy and is used as a weapons testing and training facility.  We are only allowed to anchor at a certain point near the island.

We are eating another great dinner that Shelly has prepared.  We are having Ahi, rice and salad.  We are listening to boats talk to each other on the VHF radio.  We hear a Warship talking to another boat that is not responding.  We all have a scenario as to what is going to happen if they don’t respond soon.

Captain Wyms says it’s time to have a talk.  He looks serious.  He tells us that we are using too much water and our holding tank from the toilets is 3/4 full which is not the normal amount.  The guys are not allowed to pee in the toilets anymore.  If we aren’t careful… even Shelly and I are going to have to go off the side of the boat.  We are going through everything too fast… water, wine and food.

Tonight’s anchorage is sketchy.  The wind picks up and there isn’t any protection from the wind where we are anchored. Shelly notices that the boat has moved a little and Chris goes up on deck to check it out.  We are dragging the anchor.  Chris and John will have to take turns every hour through the night checking the anchor and our position.  We have a GPS alarm set to wake us up if the boat moves more than a certain amount of feet.  I hear the anchor dragging all night in the V berth where I am sleeping.  I wake up all night wondering if we are drifting.  It was a sleepless night.

THE CROSSING: VIDEO

We wake up this morning in Cat Harbor on Catalina Island.  It is really quiet.  John and Chris are up on deck getting the boat ready again.  I am doing my breakfast routine and getting my supplies ready for todays paddle.  Ryan’s bed is across from the kitchen and his only privacy is a curtain.  I hear the curtain rip open and his camera is rolling.  Ryan is our comedian on board and he is asking me questions about todays paddle.  He is asking some good questions and some stupid ones to get me laughing.  As I get focused each morning… he is there to lighten the mood.

Today I am paddling from Catalina to San Clemente Island.  San Clemente is the Southernmost of the Channel Islands.  It is owned and operated by the United States Navy.  There is commando training and a U.S. Navy rocket-test facility on the island.  The Navy uses the island as an auxiliary naval airfield.  The United States Coast guards use it as well. The runway on the island is known for it’s high winds and dangerous terrain that surround it.  The airfield is also home to the United States Navy Seals training facilities.  We had to get permission from a General in the Navy to get close to the island.

Todays paddle is supposed to be an easy 17 miles.  I stick my head up on deck from the cabin to see if it’s time to go and I do not like what I see.  It is really windy.  It is a nasty side wind with choppy swells.   John and Chris just look at me and say “sorry”.    Chris tells me it’s time to go and I grab my paddle and climb down the ladder.  I have to be quick jumping on the board. The choppy water is banging the board up against the boat.

I start paddling and I am immediately frustrated.  The conditions are really bad.   The wind is howling and coming over my left shoulder.  The swells are rolling through me sideways and it’s a balancing act to stay on the board.  I try to get into a rhythm but I can’t.  I am upset with myself for letting the conditions get to me.  I have tears in my eyes.  I am questioning if I will be able to do this.  The boat can see I am frustrated but they don’t know about the tears.  I continue to struggle and then a voice in my head told me to stop…” stop struggling, relax, you can do this.”  I tell my kids all the time, “if you are in a stressful situation… don’t panic, it’s the worst thing you can do, use your head, relax, and you will be fine.” I am telling this to myself now.  I pull myself together.  I regain my focus.  I know that I will be fine and I will just have to deal with whatever conditions I am given.

I paddle closer to the boat to ask them a question.    I start laughing.  The crew has their life jackets on because the conditions are so bad. It is dangerous to be on deck without one.   I do not have a pfd.  I start to wonder if there something wrong with this scenario?  I am in the one in the water.

I am in a rhythm now and trying to zig zag so I can ride a swell.  It works a little but it is also adding more distance.  I see something in the water that scares me. It goes right under my board.  It looks very large and black and white.  I don’t know what it is. I am thinking an Orca whale.  It freaks me out.  I paddle to the boat as quickly as I can.  I can’t get too close because the water is rough.  The boat assures me that it is not an Orca whale.  They will keep a watch from the boat.  I am thinking…”easy for you to say when you are safe on a boat.”  I keep paddling and try to think about other things.

There are military planes flying back and forth all day long along San Clemente island. I am not sure what they are doing.  Are they doing practice drills?  Are they checking out sharks or perhaps the Orca whale that I was imagining?  Are they checking us out… wondering what we are doing? Will they shoot at us if we approach past the point that we were given permission? Thoughts like that are running through my head.

I finally reach San Clemente and I am happy to have this crossing done.  My watch says 18.75 miles. I have two crossing done and five to go.

We motor back to Cat Harbor because we are not allowed to anchor at San Clemente.  The calm and quiet of the harbor is a nice change after the challenging conditions earlier. We get our spot for the night in the harbor and take our dingy to shore to get supplies and touch our feet on land.  I haven’t been on land for three days.

It feels so good to walk.  We walk up a long dirt road and head into town.  We pass a schoolhouse. The only one room school in California. We go to the little store and get  water and whatever else we need or want. We go to the bar which is about the only other place in Cat Harbor, at least in the Winter.  I have water. The rest of the crew is loving the Blood Mary’s. We head back to the boat for dinner.  Shelly makes us another amazing dinner of pasta and salad.  I head to bed early.  I can hear the rest of the crew watching “Hot Tub Time Machine” on Ryan’s computer.  It is funny to hear them laughing from my bed.  I am happy they are having a good time.

THE CROSSING: VIDEO

I wake up to seals barking anchored off of Santa Barbara island.  I feel good and I am ready to get this day started.  I will be paddling from Santa Barbara island to Catalina Island today. Chris and John are up on deck pulling the anchor up and getting the boat ready for the day’s journey. Shelly and Ryan are getting all their camera gear set up.  I make myself breakfast.  I am having coffee, water, oatmeal with bananas, blueberries, honey and chia seeds. I also make a peanut butter and honey sandwich that will go in one of the pockets of my CamelBak.  After I eat… it is time to get ready to paddle.  I get dressed, sunscreen on, Kaenon’s on my head, music ready, CamelBak on and head up to the deck.  I am ready to go.

Photo By: ©Shelly Strazis

Hoping for wind at my back today but instead there is a head wind.  The wind isn’t too strong and it’s a beautiful day. It’s time.  I climb down the ladder at the back of the boat with my paddle and jump onto my board that Chris and John had already lowered down.  I pause for a moment as I think about the long day and paddles ahead.  I turn on my music and it is time to go into my own little world.  I am in my own head now and only aware of what I am doing.  I am hoping not see a shark today because that would make for long scary crossings the rest of the trip.  I am paddling, feeling good and getting into a rhythm.

About a mile into the paddle the boat tells me they have to motor ahead of me to fix something on the boat.  I say “ok” but my mind is saying “no, don’t leave me already… we have just gotten started.”  I feel like I am being left out at sea.  Watching them motor away makes me feel so small.  I cannot see land ahead.  I am thinking about sharks.

The boat is motoring ahead to fix something with the prop.  The boat stops its motor and chris dons a wetsuit, mask and weight belt, and begins free diving in seas the depth of 2000 feet.  Chris is thinking about sharks too.

The boat is about a mile away from me when I see something.  Why does the boat have to be so far away.  It’s a fin.  All of a sudden a huge pod of dolphins show up and are swimming around me, under me and are jumping.  It’s awesome.  I am comfortable again and happy as they play with me and keep me company. It’s amazing to watch them dart around, so fast and so graceful.  It also makes me realize that the sea life out here is very real.  I know there is more than just dolphins out here.

I make it to the boat while still being escorted by dolphins.  After awhile the dolphins take off and we are alone again.  The dolphins showed up right when I needed them.  I was feeling alone and scared and there they were… reassuring me that I would be safe on this journey.  My daughters name is Naya which means dolphin (Naia) in Hawaiian. I am thinking about my kids.  The prop is fixed and I am with the boat again.

For most of the day I can’t see land either direction.  A lot of my day is focused on hydration and nutrition.  I drink about 4 ounces every 20 minutes and about every 10 miles it is time for a new hydration pack.  I paddle close to the boat when it is time for a new pack.  I throw the empty pack to someone on deck and they throw me a new pack, loaded with more nutrition in the pockets.  I don’t sit down to eat… I just shove some food in my mouth and keep going.

I can finally start to see something in the distance.  I am happy when the boat confirms that is is Catalina Island.  It is nice to see land now.  Even though I know I am getting closer it seems to take forever to get there.  I know that I am close to having my first crossing done.

I made it. My GPS watch says 26 miles.  We are as close as we can get to shore and it’s time to get back on the boat.  Chris and John pull the board back up on to the deck.  It is important that I start my recovery process right away so that I will be ready to go again in the morning.  I head down to the kitchen to mix up a recovery drink.  I take off my paddling clothes and put on my 2XU recovery socks and arm sleeves.  I feel good.

We are staying at Cat Harbor tonight.  It is beautiful and quiet.  They guys take the dingy to shore to get more water, toilet paper and wine.  We have only been on the boat for one night and realize how quickly we are going through those things.  Shelly and I stay on the boat.  I get cleaned up and write in my journal.  Shelly is prepping to make us a big dinner of steak, salmon and salad.  They boys take longer than expected because they found a bar on shore.  There isn’t much in Cat Harbor… but they found a bar.

We sit down for dinner and talk about the day and plan for the next. Everyone is in good spirits and we are happy with how well today went.

After dinner I head into my room and get everything ready for tomorrow.  I hop into my sleeping bag in the V berth where  I am sleeping.  It’s time to let the boat rock me to sleep.

THE CROSSING: VIDEO

We are in the car and headed to the boat.  Gill, Shelly’s boyfriend, is driving Shelly, John and I.  This is the morning that we are setting sail to start our adventure.  We are meeting Chris and Ryan Moss, the videographer, at the boat.  I have never met Ryan before.  He has just gotten back from Hawaii and has driven from Santa Cruz to make it in time for our trip.  I can tell he is tired as we pull up next to his car.  Thoughts are starting through my head again…”I hope I don’t disappoint anyone.”

We will take off this morning from Long Beach to motor and hopefully sail to Santa Barbara Island where we will be anchoring tonight.  The crew on the boat is Chris Wyman (Captain), Shelly Strazis (photographer), Ryan Moss (videographer), John (my husband) and myself.  John and I only know Chris.  We know Shelly just from staying at her house last night.  Shelly does not know Chris and Ryan.  Chris and Ryan know each other.  So, we are all a little unsure of being trapped on a boat together for eight days.  I really hope that everyone is cool.

It is a beautiful day today.  We say goodbye to Gill and wave to the people at the dock as we leave.  We are off. I still can’t believe we are here…and here we go!  It’s real and it’s hitting home that we are no longer in the planning stages and it is now time for me to make it happen.

We are all excited as we start motoring away. We get out of the harbor and into open water and a sense of freedom has immediately overcome me.  I love being on a sailboat and I can’t stop smiling.  We are following orders from the Captain… a little unsure of what to do when he asks us to do the simplest thing.  But, we are learning our way around the sailboat and trying to understand the sailing lingo.  John is the first mate and he takes most of the orders.  We are getting to know each other and starting to figure out each other’s personalities.

I have to make sure that I am hydrating properly and eating well.  I also need to start organizing my stuff for tomorrow.  Once I am on the board… I will not get off until I have completed the first crossing.  I need to plan my hydration and make sure that my CamelBaks are ready to go with my electrolyte mix portioned out for each bag of hydration.  I have to plan my nutrition and put what I can in the pockets of my CamelBak.  I have Bonk Bars, Honey stingers and a banana in my first pack.  In the morning I will make a peanut butter and honey sandwich to put in the pack, as well.  I need to get my music ready and charged as well as my GPS watch.  I have my sunscreen set out… so I don’t forget.  My Soft Core Kaenon sunglasses are cleaned and ready to go.  I will be wearing 2XU compression clothing while I paddle to help me with fatigue, recovery and sun protection. I have chosen to use my Methane Kialoa paddle and I will be paddling a 17′ Naish Glide that is already slicked up with OnIt Pro.

We are arriving at Santa Barbara Island now.  Chris is trying to find a good spot to anchor the boat.  There is not a harbor here and there will not be a harbor anywhere except for Catalina Island.  This is one of the reasons that planning for the trip is so difficult.  We have to make sure that I make each crossing in time so we can anchor safely each night.  Santa barbara island is is the smallest of the Channel Islands.  It is home to Sea Lions, Elephant seals and seabird nesting colonies.  We have anchored safely.

It is now time to have a meeting about how things should happen tomorrow.  It is also time for dinner and we are all starving. Shelly volunteers to make dinner.  Which means someone else will be on clean up duty.  We have tortellini and salad.  The crew relaxes with some beer and wine… I have to stick to water.

I am in bed now.  I need to try and get some sleep.  I am thinking about how tomorrow is going to go and I am anxious to get one crossing done.  The boat is rocking back and forth while I lay in bed.  I love it and it relaxes me.

THE CROSSING: VIDEO

The Journey

“Just below California’s Point Conception eight mountains rise from some of the deepest seas in the Pacific, forming the Channel Islands.  Currents tear at the island’s shores.  Local fishermen warn of prehistoric eating machines.  Cyclone winds and monster waves travel the earth’s surface ending their journey on the desolate, rocky beaches of these islands.  This Winter, alone with only whales, dolphins, seals and great white sharks to join her, Karen Wrenn navigated 150 nautical miles, over 5 days, becoming the first standup paddler to successfully cross all seven channels.”

Sunday, February 6, 2011

I am on the airplane headed for Long Beach, California.  I am about to embark on an adventure and challenge of a lifetime.  I am excited and nervous.  In my head… questioning how quickly I said “yes” to this adventure.  Perhaps my simple answer of “why wouldn’t I?” When people have asked “why?” is beginning to play on my mind.  I am about to paddle 150 miles in a known great white shark territory in the middle of Winter.  I am thinking about my kids.

I read a few comments that people posted on some of the press releases and one of the comments I can’t get out of my mind.  It says, “this girl is either very gutsy or has a complete lack of sense, have you ever seen “Shark Week” where Great White Sharks fly out of the water and chomp down on what looks like a surfboard being drug behind a boat?”

I am not nervous about my ability to paddle the distance. I will be paddling the mileage in 5 days.  I will complete a crossing a day and one day I will be completing three of the shorter crossings.  Seven crossings total. I am nervous about all of the variables involved.  I can’t control the weather, sharks, health of my crew,  the functioning of the boat, etc…  I am humbled by the fact that the crew has taken time out of their busy lives to come along on this journey with me.  I am pretty sure I will complete the crossings, but how will I feel if I don’t?

The Captain of the airplane just came on the intercom to tell us that due to fog we will not be able to land for awhile and we will need to circle until we get clearance.  We are now circling the Channel Islands.  I am fixated out the window looking at where I will be paddling.  We circle for about thirty minutes.  I have never been so happy to be delayed.

After we land, Chris Wyman the Sports Marketing Director for Kaenon and Captain of the Metaphor, my escort boat, picks us up.  We drive to where the Metaphor is moored in Long Beach.  I am familiar with the Captain of the boat, because not only is Chris a friend and Kaenon a sponsor, he has also been my Captain for a solo crossing I did the year before from Catalina Island to Dana Point, 39.8 miles.

We head down to the boat and have a meeting about the weather report. Our order of crossings would be determined on weather.  Once we start the crossings we will have to stay in that order.  The weather report is constantly changing.

It is Super Bowl Sunday.  We are busy loading the boat and I have some interviews on the phone and on the dock with different News channels and magazines.  While most people are drinking beers, eating chicken wings and scrreaming at their televisions… we are loading up the Metaphor for a big adventure.  There is no place I would rather be.

We go to Trader Joes to stock up on food for the trip.  Chris tells us anything that we think we want… we should triple it.  We end up with 5 carts of food and a $700 bill.  The cashier cannot believe the amount of groceries we have and is very curious as to what we are up to.  When we finally tell him, he is pretty amazed.  I think people either think it is really cool and courageous or I am a complete idiot.

We head back to to the boat and unload everything and Chris drops us off at Shelly Strazis’s house.  Shelly is an amazing photographer and I am honored that she has agreed to come along.  We are staying at Shelly and Gill’s house tonight.  Shelly has made us an amazing dinner and we sit around the dinner table and talk about the journey ahead.  I know I need to get a good nights sleep but nerves have me tossing and turning.

THE CROSSING: VIDEO