SUP to Ocracoke – and Beyond!

Jules Gismondi, originally from Argentina, and LouAnne Harris, originally from Alaska, are kayak and paddle board guides with the Manhattan Kayak Company. Inspired by Mike Simpson and Will Rich, two paddle boarders who made the trek from Miami, Florida to Portland, Maine to raise money for two organizations, the two women decided to embark on a journey south. Mike Simpson and Will Rich were the first people to use stand-up paddle (SUP) boards to travel south to north along the East Coast of the U.S., and Jules and LouAnne will be the first people to complete the trip on paddle boards from north to south.

The women set out to begin their trip in 2016, but Jules’ excitement got the best of her, and the two decided to begin the fundraising adventure in October of 2015. They set up a GoFundMe page where money can be donated. After the campaign is complete, the funds raised will be divided between two charities.

Mission-Blue, an ocean conservancy initiative within the Sylvia Earle Alliance (S.E.A.), is dedicated to protecting the world’s oceans through “Hope Spots”. Hope Spots are protected marine areas which are undisturbed by human activities and will remain untouched and unaltered so ecosystems and marine life can flourish. By 2020, Mission-Blue hopes to have 20% of the world’s oceans protected through Hope Spots.

Recently, First Descents, an organization that “provides life-changing outdoor adventures for young adults (18-39) impacted by cancer” did an event through Manhattan Kayak Company. Jules and LouAnne met the founder and became inspired to support First Descent’s mission. Through outdoor activities, such as paddling, kayaking, and rock climbing, cancer fighters and survivors can experience and see wonderful places and form lasting friendships. The costs for each activity are provided by First Descents and different locations throughout the country offer different outdoor experiences.

When LouAnne and Jules reached Ocracoke on Tuesday, they had traveled nearly 500 miles over fifty days.

“This is one of the coolest places we’ve been,” said Jules.

LouAnne continued by joyfully saying, “There’s still stuff going on,” explaining things in their neck of the world had already come to a halt. And the women saw something new while making their final approach to Ocracoke: a Loggerhead sea turtle swimming nearby!

Before arriving in Ocracoke they stopped in populated areas, like Atlantic City, New Jersey, and small coastal villages, such as Oyster, Virginia, as well as villages along Hatteras Island. They hunkered down in their tent against strong coastal winds, once using a picnic table to help block the wind and torrential rain until it was blown over. They navigated around a multitude of oyster beds, stayed afloat despite low tides and high shoals, and fought against powerful wind and gusts that made the water in sounds and bays rough and unstable.

While in New Jersey, the two stayed in a less-than-ideal hotel in Atlantic City, which Jules described as a, “…fun anecdote altogether.” Farther south they met generous strangers, some of whom let the travelers set up their tent in their back yards for the night. Another, while wearing waders in waist-deep water and holding a glass of wine in one hand and a cigar in the other, helped guide them through the salt marshes of remote barrier islands.

LouAnne and Jules estimate it will take a little over fifty days to get to Miami, but until then, you can follow the next leg of their trip and catch up on where they’ve already been by following Atlantic Supergirls on InstaGram. To donate to Mission Blue and First Descents, go to www.gofundme.com/nyctomiabysup. You can also track LouAnne and Jules’ progress by clicking http://share.delorme.com/louanneharris.