Day 1 and 2
Days 1 and 2
It's On!
April 17th
Day 1 (34.5 miles in 9 hours and 45 minutes)
Day 1-It’s On,after a winter of questioning myself, two months of preparation, and a week of mixed-up emotions
The Start Left Uncle B’s and Aunt Jud’s at 6am. Pretty uneventful ride in, w/breakfast at I-hop. I was so scared, anxious, excited, whatever, that I barely ate. We arrived 1st to the beach on Belle Isle, which only compounded my freaked-out state of mind. Also met the island authorities and talked about 1-way streets! Eventually everyone showed. There was another kayaker, Brian, in an Eddyline Merlin XT and 7 sea winds. We loaded, took pics, and I realized I had no skirt. SHIT! So Dad, who I am so glad took me, headed to RCK, grabbed me a skirt (Thanks Tiff!) and me met on the river in Steve Davis’s boat by US Steel. No Worries!
The Paddle-Upper river was glass. Paddled out w/Larry from Superior, WI. He wasn’t on the list due to a last minute decision. Strong paddler and is planning to do this in 14-16 days also. We split up @ the 1st islands by US Steel and I made a colossal mistake. I went probably 4 miles out of my way. Lost Larry, but caught Mark, Dan and Toby. They paddled thru, I took 15 at Elizabeth Park. Thank god because Lower Trenton channel to Mulliet Park was brutal w/ strong headwinds and waves. Made it to the mouth in 2 hours!!! BAD. Toby, Dan, and Mark took out to wait for all the others, I kept moving thinking I’d catch Larry. Never did. Got up to Labo Park and bonked so I stopped for dinner @ 5:15. Back paddling @ 6:30. Got about 2 miles past I-75 and called it.
I hurt and am completely spent! But it feels so good doing this. Roughly 35 miles in 9 hours of paddling today. Good nite! I miss Maddie and Jake. I miss T. K. I don’t miss work!
The picture on the left show's 3 Kruger Seawinds on a tranquil Detroit River. Those wheels were amazing. I never dreamed I'd paddle under the Ambassador Bridge!
What I remember most from the start is how many times I went to the bathroom, how big the Detroit River looked, and how stupid I was for forgetting my spray skirt. All that planning and I was launching with an open cockpit! I also remember how grateful I was receiving the skirt from my dad (he had planned to fish walleyes after my launch with some friends so would be on the river, How lucky was that?). I also remember being nervous pulling up for the night. I think I was on the backside of a large home’s property. This is known as stealth camping, and by the end of the trip I was a master! Finally, I recall thinking that paddling up the Huron wasn’t so bad.
The gang gearing up for departure. My trusty Falcon breaking for dinner at Labo Park on the Huron River.
April 18th
Day 2 (27.5 miles in 15 hours)
BIG DAY! 7:30a – 10:30p ½ hour for lunch, a few 10 minute breathers, and 1 ½ hours for dinner.
The lower river is tough. Lots of crossing thru heavy current. There were 2-3 times today where I hurt so bad I wondered if I was damaging myself.
1st of 2 portages today. Neither went well. Gate was locked at Flat Rock. Took a walk and found a super nice lady going garage saleing who let me through. 2nd I got out too soon @ Belleville and had to work out of a steep overpass and go for a 1 mile walk. However I got on the lake (and off that f’n river) and found the desire to make it Ford Dam. Not sure who or why the body can keep going, but I’m glad it did.
Did not expect to see a lighthouse on a river. Turns out this was a monument in a cemetery. On the right was a stop for dinner along the river.
Reading this reminded me of how much learning I had to do to successfully navigate the river. To make progress going upstream, you have to find the slackest water very near shore. So you're constantly crossing the river to find that water, paddle it till it changes, and cross back to the slow water on the other side. Back and forth mile after mile, day after day!
I remember freaking out about that first portage. The access was behind a locked fence and there was no other way to get back on the river. It was about 9am and I was wandering around the neighborhood along the shore of the river, pulling a kayak on wheels thinking I might get shot! The gal who let me use her lawn to launch was awesome, and even gave me a coffee and some homemade cookies.
Ford Dam was on the upside of Belleville Lake. I launched shortly after sunset to cross the lake. It was calm, there was a moon, and the cars were zooming by on I-94 the whole time. This is a pretty populated area and I was all by myself out there.
Found some dry land just below the dam to camp. Went to bed listening to the sound of the dam and thinking how this was the longest day of paddling, or any activity, I’ve ever done. Was feeling pretty good about myself at that point. Day 3 would crush that feeling in a hurry!
There weren't too many old buildings left along the river. This was an old mill of some type. On the right is below Ford Dam. I had to go around 22 dams of all shapes and sizes along the way
