Long-distance kayaker Dr. Deb Walters of Troy, Maine stopped in Mathews County this past weekend, a third of the way through a 10-month, 2,500-mile paddling trip from Maine to Guatemala.

Arriving on Gwynn’s Island Saturday, Walters was met by members of a local kayaking group and stayed at Rionholdt, Once and Future Boats, the home-based business of Eric and Ann Hedberg. She then paddled down to Davis Creek Marina, where she was picked up by Greg and Lori Dusenberry and taken to their bed and breakfast establishment, The Inn at Tabbs Creek, for the remainder of her stay.

Walters, a retired cognitive scientist and university vice president, is making the trip to raise funds for a Safe Passage Kids school, established for the garbage dump children of Guatemala City. These children live in slums and spend their days combing the dump, looking for other people’s cast-offs to make a living.

Speaking to a group of local residents at Williams Wharf Tuesday night, Walters said sh...