DAY 32 Tenacity to WindyCity, July 25, 2019

TenaCity to WindyCity Runyak

July 25, 2019

Flint to Chicago DAY 32

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Again the run segment would be from bridge to bridge as last time, but the kayak segment would have to be filled in because of  aborting midway between the bridges last time.
As usual the run would be accomplished upon arrival. Because the paddle would not be where the run finish, I'd have to bike back to the van. To make matters worse, 100 miles into the 130 mile drive to the bridge, I realized I'd forgotten the bike.
That meant I'd have to get back to Stephan Bridge by foot after the 5.1 mile run. If capable I would have kicked myself in the ass. I ended up running 2 of the extra five miles. Over seven total running miles, but only 5.1 count as runyak miles.

Down this trail is the house and river where I aborted last week and began portaging

When time to kayak, it was decided portaging would be faster. 2 mile upstream paddle at 40 min/mi or 2.7 mile portage at 19 min/mi? The place I ended last week was at residence, not knowing if I could park the van there to portage, I decided to launch at Stephan Bridge and ride the current to the residence. I was there in 25 minutes much faster than parking and returning to retrieve the van.

After 2.7 miles of carrying Swiftee over my shoulders, I arrived at Stephan Bridge Landing to find Kate waiting for me.

She was talking to the support crew of a canoe race team from Texas. The great AuSable Canoe Marathon is two days away. As the day progresses we would see several more teams getting in pre-race training. But never did we see any of the canoeist going our direction, and I've been told the marathoners train paddling the Au Sable against the current.

We battled the current to the next landing, Thendara 2.1 miles upstream. A tough paddle but never did I have to get out of Swiftee to pull him.
At Thendara, Kate thought we'd have lunch before floating back. I told her my lunch was back at the van. Mixed up communications. I spun around and headed back to the van at Stephan Bridge Landing. Downstream paddle pace was under 13 min/mi, similar to my morning 2.1 mile paddle to last weeks abortion point.

Kate arriving back at Stephan Bridge Landing

We ate and even had a beer thinking the next paddle leg would be entirely sitting in the kayak. When finished eating we both drove to the next launch beyond Thendara... Keystone Landing, and left my van, and drove to Thendara, to start the next paddle leg. Kate was out of time, her friends met her at Thendara, and I left them. I'd be doing the next leg solo. 

The paddle to Keystone proved to be more difficult than to Thendara. A half mile into what would be 1.60 miles I had to get out of Swiftee and pull him through current that was too strong to paddle. (Wished I hadn't had that beer.) The current only got worse the closer I got to Keystone. 

Originally, when launching from Thendara, I was going to pause at Keystone then continue to Louie's Landing, only 0.6 mile beyond Keystone. But I decided to give up when finding Keystone since I'd slowed to a 40 min pace. Clock time was 3:30 pm, time to quit for the day.

Steps leading to Keystone Landing
I drove home after gaining 6.4 mile of kayaking. That is from a 2.7 mi portage, a 2.1 mile paddle with Kate, and a 1.6 mile solo paddle. The good news is I now only have 8 miles left on the AuSable River. I believe no more portaging will be needed. So far I've carried or dragged the the kayak 37.1 miles of what will be about 130 miles of the AuSable, over 25%. I was quite naive thinking I would be able to paddle upstream the entire way last August.