The Bay, and... Finish Line?

After the Salt Water Barrier was several miles of canal: calm, calm water with no wind. We were racing the sun to get to the bay, but night fell before we made it. We pushed on. The excitement that we were likely only a few hours from finishing was tempered by drowsiness. Half asleep, I almost hit a crushed aluminum can floating up to the bow before realizing... it was alligator eyes! What must have been at least a 4 ft. gator darted off a few inches before the blade of my paddle came down on his head. We were all now perfectly awake and alert.
The lack of sleep and the dark continued to play tricks on our eyes, making faces out of trees. Finally at the bay, we chose a bright light on the opposite side and paddled hard. We were pointed dead into the wind, and the boat felt stable plowing straight into the waves. After about an hour, we changed our strategy: we would wade and walk the boat in shallow water along the banks of the reed-covered barrier island. We didn't get far. Back in the boat, and this time taking the waves at an angle. The boat was still steady, but the wind was rising and the waves were growing. We slowed to a crawl. Palm-sized fish were jumping around, over, and into the canoe. I saw what would be the last of my TWS nighttime misperceptions: a race official standing in the bay with a reflective windbraker and a clipboard, observing our progress. It was really a channel marker buoy, which meant we were headed generally in the right direction.
But with the wind and waves increasing, it made sense to get out again and try walking along the coast. It seemed like forever before we made contact. Even though it was midnight, an enthusiastic spectator on the shore yelled an encouraging "Almost there! Only a few hundred yards!".
Touching the finish buoy, picking the boat up the stairs of the sea wall, and dragging it under the arch felt surreal. Two hundred and seventy miles. Excitement and relief- fireworks on the inside and outside a collapse and sprawl onto the grass (after pictures, of course).
Official time: 87 hours and 43 minutes. Not bad for four canoewbies and a 20 ft. Old Town canoe.


Pic: team with captain