Fran (Spirit)
I'm happiest when I'm in the kitchen cooking for friends and family or when I'm paddling my sea kayak. 
I remember clearly the first time I single paddled my boat. The feeling of being the master of my own destiny was overpoweringly satisfying. Success or failure in this tipsy craft depended solely upon my actions, skills and knowledge. The satisfaction of bounding through the water and waves with the wind in my face brought me back for more.
Since that day I have spend countless hours on the rivers, oceans and lakes of the Pacific Northwest perfecting my paddling skills. What better or more beautiful playground can there be? The opportunities for bird watching, exploring grassy canals between islands, playing in surf, encountering water critters and playing in river eddies are endless. Soon I will venture out to a new environment – the Gulf Coast of Florida – to explore and learn. Join me in this next adventure!
Rod (Steady)
Any day outside is a good day; any day on the water is even better!
I rekindled my love of being outdoors while helping as an Assistant Scoutmaster as my sons grew up. I greatly enjoyed the long treks at Philmont Scout Ranch, which led me to thru hikes of the Pacific Crest Trail, Continental Divide Trail, and Appalachian Trail as well as the Annapurna Circuit in the Himalayas.
As a strong believer in personal responsibility, for a couple of decades our full focus was on providing for the household. We saved aggressively and one day found our nest empty and we were able to jump into the next phase of our lives. Reading about another couple who took off to travel the world inspired us, and we decided to pack our bags and haven't looked back. We've been fortunate to find work in between jaunts, and to have our health, or at least enough health.
I hope you will find this blog inspiring. Ordinary people can do extraordinary things. That's when you will feel most alive, when you will learn, grown and stretch the most, when you will find the greatest happiness.
Why paddle and hike from Key West to Halifax?
We hope to inspire others to pursue their dreams, whatever they might be. We're just an ordinary couple from the suburbs so if we can do this crazy hike then anyone can do amazing things. It just takes a little inspiration and then a firm commitment. We're concerned that folks have dreams always seem on hold or out of reach. If we can inspire someone to just commit to their dream then we have made our journey even more meaningful.
Learn a little more at http://hikepaddle.blogspot.com/2013/02/ordinary-people-stretching-boundaries.html#more
We hope to inspire others to pursue their dreams, whatever they might be. We're just an ordinary couple from the suburbs so if we can do this crazy hike then anyone can do amazing things. It just takes a little inspiration and then a firm commitment. We're concerned that folks have dreams always seem on hold or out of reach. If we can inspire someone to just commit to their dream then we have made our journey even more meaningful.
Learn a little more at http://hikepaddle.blogspot.com/2013/02/ordinary-people-stretching-boundaries.html#more
