Delmarva Circumnavigation Wrap Up
A lot can happen in thirty days, and oh my heavens, did it! Weather patterns were mastered. We saw muscles develop that had never before existed (too impressive for the internet, sorry). The wind brought in autumn. The full moon high tides hid campgrounds under the sea. Important life events passed for each one of us. Personalities emerged with a sense of comfort and confidence. Daily routines were mastered. On an even shorter scale, literally OVERNIGHT, we saw boulders of soil vanish into the sea (as pictured below). We watched the last sand dune on Cedar Island disappear with every incoming wave. We were able to find solace within minutes of appearing in a new community. And we gained a higher level of appreciation for every dry article of clothing we owned.
Only after we completed these 500 miles, were we told that many “didn’t think you all would make it!” In fact, I remember moments of questioning the end on my own where I doubted my own mental and physical strength. This includes, but is not limited to, the time we launched from Sandy Point and only AFTER the cameras left, was I informed that my paddle was upside down. Or, paddling our hardest against the wind and tides for what felt like hours only to be forced to retreat to the mainland so we could get to dry ground before dark. But then I’d look over at my team, see their beautiful smiles filled with boyhood wonder, and find that inner strength all over again. Our trusted team leader convinced us that there was NO WAY we were not going to make it back as a full squad. And thankfully, we knew that he was right.
There are moments from this trip that I hope to remember for a lifetime. My favorite was being surrounded by a pod of 35 dolphins in the Atlantic Ocean. Or the time I went running out of the restaurant and jumped in the Smith Island ferry captain’s golf cart to scavenge through his board game collection. A sense of comradery overcame our team in a way that I can only imagine overtakes a troop. We gained a comfort in knowing that no matter what happens, we will all have each other’s back. I made some great friends and grew my network by meeting many outstanding people who truly care about the environment. My own passion for the Delmarva grew more than I ever could have imagined. Now the Chesapeake Bay gives me a flippy stomach similar to a new crush. I catch myself thinking about the highs like the watermen we met who were more than willing to share their stories (and their catch) with a random group of paddlers, the secret house surrounded by nothing but marsh grass and wind blown debris, and a wonderful smell that I love more than anything, which turned out to be, apparently, dead fish. But with this excitement also comes fear. We were watching more and more homes being built on land that is not properly protected from storms. We witnessed people and animals being physically displaced by rising seas. And the watermen we met fear about the future of their careers, families, and homes. I have to ask myself, is it all worth taking a leap of faith for? And the only answer I continue to find is, absolutely.
The questions I continue to get since our return are:
What did you see?
What’s the “status of the bay”?
What can we do to save it?
And my personal favorite, what are you doing next?
We saw the most exquisite wildlife. From stoic great blue herons and six bald eagles at once, to dolphins and schools of thousands of fish, I believe our team was truly blessed to see as much as we did. As a Chesapeake Bay Watershed native, I could not believe how many beautiful species I had never seen before. That’s the beauty of a kayak! It let us be sneaky, so we didn’t scare the critters away! In addition to wildlife, we were also lucky enough to see the diversity of completely different cultures that exist across the bay. Witnessing so much trust and genuine compassion among the smaller communities is encouraging. If a community can be so strongly connected, I truly believe that will give them the resiliency and adaptability to withstand any and all challenges they may face.
2. We are by no means qualified to make such a declaration as the “status of the bay.” But I am qualified to tell you what we saw. Based on our water quality data collection and general observations, I am feeling optimistic about the direction the bay is heading. We saw high levels of dissolved oxygen (necessary for animal survival) around the entire peninsula. The turbidity, or clarity, of the water improved significantly the further south we went. This very well could have been from the drastic temperature drop we witnessed from the nor’easter, but it was the clearest I had ever seen the Chesapeake Bay! And the fact that we caught new species with almost every seine net we pulled is almost unbelievable. Biodiversity is always encouraging of a healthy habitat. One big thing I do wish we had seen more of, is bay grasses. We saw evidence of cucumber grass floating down the Bay after the storm, but we only found one data collection site that actually had submerged aquatic vegetation (SAV). These grasses. or SAV, are critical for the survival of young species as they provide not only food and oxygen, but a hiding spot and home.
3. In order to continue improving the bay, I believe we need to focus on improving the buffers around our waterways. We saw so many green manicured lawns with nothing but rock rip-rap between fertilized non-native grass and bay waters. Improving natural shorelines by planting buffers like native trees and grasses will increase habitat for animals AND decrease the amount of excessive nutrients running into our waterways. In addition to buffers, I would encourage everyone to GET OUT THERE! Enjoy this wonderful ecosystem whenever you can! Whether you are kayaking, birding, sailing, swimming, or just walking near a stream, get outside! Take your kids outside!! Teach yourself and a friend something cool about this awe-inspiring place. I am a firm believer that once you explore it, you’ll want to help keep it around for generations to come. Can you imagine the world where more people loved and wanted to protect this national treasure? Where people would stand up and vote for the protection of this home and all of its inhabitants? Let me tell you, it’ll be beautiful.
4. Ahhh. So what is Alex doing next? That’s a great question. Between having nightmares of being stuck on land, I am trying to explore my options as much as I can. Upstream Alliance has provided a vast network of amazing people and opportunities of which I hope to contribute to one day. While the job hunt for the right next step gains momentum, I am continuing to explore the watershed. Nature will forever be my best form of therapy and relaxation. My dream would be to help save this bay and the people working on it through conservation efforts and education. So if you know anyone who is hiring… wink wink.
In the end, this trip, which started out surreal as a dream, became the most breathtaking reality a girl could dream of. A huge shout out and thanks to my amazing team! A truly admirable group of guys who prove that age doesn’t matter even a little bit! But now it’s time to catch my breath, trust my gut, and keep putting one paddle.. er.. foot in front of the other. Until our next expedition, happy adventuring!!
