No wonder people know I'm in it for the long haul when I paddle by! Photo by John Sullivan
Humid, humid, humid. Temperatures in the low nineties with heat indices in the low 100s. IN THE SHADE. Sitting all day outside in the sun is a bit rough. I find myself getting sleepier than normal, and wanting to nod off for 5 minute naps all the time. I try to pull out of the channel before I do. I drink water from my camelbak all day long, and enjoy my fresh fruit all the more for the electrolytes they provide. I dip my elbows in the water to try and keep my long-sleeve-wearing arms cool. I dip my face protection wear in the water to keep my face and neck cool. I breathe deep and try to lift myself off my seat to give my poor aching butt a break. I am still not thankful, though, when big boats zoom past and swamp me because the water that cools me for a second, ends up hot and gross in my seat / pants for the rest of the day.
Paddling in the heat, on a Saturday near a big city is not my favorite thing to do. The river was crazy with drunk boaters everywhere. So I opted to paddle through the bird refuge above lock #8 rather than staying in the channel, in an effort to avoid some of the traffic. It was beautiful, and I'm glad I did it. It was much less populated with recreational boaters, and I really enjoyed all the bird life. However, on the way out, I got lured out into a channel that didn't actually exist. That is, I saw a red nun buoy, and headed for it, but it was an errant floating nun, one that got loose from somewhere else. So I was stuck in a mad mess of a wild celery and algae patch. I had to paddle really hard to push my way through, each paddle lifting a heavy load of plant matter. I headed for the lock, but it still took me 3 hours to reach it from the time I saw it across the pool. A barge was locking through and another barge was waiting to lock through. I sat behind the 2nd barge, watching a bald eagle and some crows. The eagle was uncharacteristically standing in the water--probably to cool its feet--and taking sips of water every so often too. I usually see them up high in trees, it was strange to see it panting in the river. I feel you, little feathered friend, it's hot out here.
I realized I could paddle around and see if I could maybe lock through between the barges, and guess who I saw? Jake and Julie! They had arrived a couple hours before and were told they couldn't lock through until the barges went through, so they went into the teeny town of Genoa and befriended some folks from a motor boat from Lansing; Kathy, Dave, Amy, and Ben. Jake is one of those people who is unabashed and friendly with everyone. He'll give anything to anyone, and expects the same of others, making him (a self-professed) scavenger. By the time I showed up, Ben had literally given him the shirt off his back, and the others had filled J & J's cooler with ice, beer, and even a venison sausage that Dave had shot. We locked through with this generous party crowd, and, as it was past sunset by the time we locked through, they towed us a couple hundred yards to the nearest beach below the lock. They helped us set up camp, get a fire going, and I had some endearing one-on-one girl time with Kathy who kept asking me about my trip and then telling me about her family (who she clearly is very proud of). She suggested I not date anyone longer than 2 years, and insisted that I keep her bug spray. I accepted both the advice and the spray.
When they left, J & J and I enjoyed a marginal dinner around the fire, super tired from our long, hot day. I took some photos of the power plant across the way, but was surprised at the huge mosquitos and didn't end up taking a photo of the incredibly clear and starry sky.
Paddling in the heat, on a Saturday near a big city is not my favorite thing to do. The river was crazy with drunk boaters everywhere. So I opted to paddle through the bird refuge above lock #8 rather than staying in the channel, in an effort to avoid some of the traffic. It was beautiful, and I'm glad I did it. It was much less populated with recreational boaters, and I really enjoyed all the bird life. However, on the way out, I got lured out into a channel that didn't actually exist. That is, I saw a red nun buoy, and headed for it, but it was an errant floating nun, one that got loose from somewhere else. So I was stuck in a mad mess of a wild celery and algae patch. I had to paddle really hard to push my way through, each paddle lifting a heavy load of plant matter. I headed for the lock, but it still took me 3 hours to reach it from the time I saw it across the pool. A barge was locking through and another barge was waiting to lock through. I sat behind the 2nd barge, watching a bald eagle and some crows. The eagle was uncharacteristically standing in the water--probably to cool its feet--and taking sips of water every so often too. I usually see them up high in trees, it was strange to see it panting in the river. I feel you, little feathered friend, it's hot out here.
I realized I could paddle around and see if I could maybe lock through between the barges, and guess who I saw? Jake and Julie! They had arrived a couple hours before and were told they couldn't lock through until the barges went through, so they went into the teeny town of Genoa and befriended some folks from a motor boat from Lansing; Kathy, Dave, Amy, and Ben. Jake is one of those people who is unabashed and friendly with everyone. He'll give anything to anyone, and expects the same of others, making him (a self-professed) scavenger. By the time I showed up, Ben had literally given him the shirt off his back, and the others had filled J & J's cooler with ice, beer, and even a venison sausage that Dave had shot. We locked through with this generous party crowd, and, as it was past sunset by the time we locked through, they towed us a couple hundred yards to the nearest beach below the lock. They helped us set up camp, get a fire going, and I had some endearing one-on-one girl time with Kathy who kept asking me about my trip and then telling me about her family (who she clearly is very proud of). She suggested I not date anyone longer than 2 years, and insisted that I keep her bug spray. I accepted both the advice and the spray.
When they left, J & J and I enjoyed a marginal dinner around the fire, super tired from our long, hot day. I took some photos of the power plant across the way, but was surprised at the huge mosquitos and didn't end up taking a photo of the incredibly clear and starry sky.
River Family. Photo by John Sullivan
I shot out ahead of them, but they quickly overtook me. There are two of them! Photo by John Sullivan
J & J ahead of me
Large blue barrels are used for floatation on docks, but I've seen several that have gotten loose floating along the way.
I cut a hole for my nose so I could breathe in the heat
Busy busy busy weekend beach!
The heat makes me a little woozy
Deer and raccoon prints
I had to take a break midday
Delicious fresh zucchini bread that Beth made me :)
Great blue heron, snowy egret, great egret, pelican, sea gulls, and more in the bird refuge
Lotus
Lotus
Lotus
Paddling through wild celery
Wild celery below, algae mat on top. STINKY.
Julie with Kathy from Lansing
Power plant at night
Those are some LONG legs on that mosquito. Why are these mosquitos so big?
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