The last planned leg for my little Kent County getaway was just a 6.5-mile stretch from Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge (the launch site is known as Ingleside) to Ferry Beach in Rock Hall. When I checked the weather before going to bed the night before, I saw there was a 20% chance of storms starting at 8 am, and since the 20% chance the day before turned into a huge downpour, I took it seriously. I set my alarm for 5:30 in an attempt to paddle and be off the water by 8 am.

Luckily, when I check the weather again in the morning, the storm window was pushed later into the afternoon. I decided to go back to bed until 7 since I was still exhausted from the day before. AMA and I got to have coffee together before I packed up and headed out, and she agreed to meet me at the beach in Rock Hall around 10:15.

I headed down to the refuge and launched at Ingleside by 8:30 am. There was absolutely no wind and I cruised through this stretch very quickly. I wasn’t too sore or tired from my 20 miles the day before, only my hands hurt a little from gripping my paddle all day.

I again saw an interesting variety of houses, dodged a few work boats, and pulled up on the beach in Rock Hall just before 10:15. Another perfect timing.

I didn’t take many photos on this leg, probably because I was kind of over taking photos since I took so many the day before. I didn’t see much out of the ordinary, except a cool RV campground that was right on the water and a good handful of bald eagles.

I paddled 6.5 miles in an hour and 40 minutes – that’s 3.9 mph, a RECORD average speed for me! Here’s the path I took:

Once I got to the beach, I locked my kayak to the same gazebo. AMA and I then explored Eastern Neck National Wildlife Refuge by foot, but the bugs were out in full force so we cut our visit short and headed to lunch in Rock Hall! After lunch it was time to load my kayak, say goodbye and head home.

I felt so very accomplished as I drove home. The unpredictable weather had me worried I wasn’t going to complete all the miles I wanted to in this trip, but somehow I made it work! I logged a total of 27 miles, connecting legs I had previously completed at Eastern Neck NWR and Still Pond and Betterton Beach.

I am also SO GRATEFUL to have company on this trip, and a free shuttle service so I didn’t have to ride my bike or do out-and-back trips. It really was great to spend some one-on-one time with my aunt, catching up on life and reminiscing about years ago. I’m sure my mom was looking down and smiling 🙂

I have now paddled 510 miles of my ~635 mile goal! I’m now setting a goal to finish before my 40th birthday. Less than 4 months left!