DAY 70 TenaCity to WindyCity Runyak

TenaCity to WindyCity Runyak

Oct 27 and May 2, 2021

Flint to Chicago DAY 70

ALL PHOTOS AND IMAGES WILL ENLARGE WHEN  CLICKED

A very disappointing day. Drove 4 hours to find waves were coming in that were too big to launch. In the summer we might have made it but the only way to launch without cockpits filling would b to wade out into the water androllinto the kayak. With water this cold we'd never warm up and we'd likely experience hypothermia. Seeing the waves at dawn I did the 12 mile run hoping things would calm down closer to noon. 
Midway through the run I decided to get off US 12 highway and use a Calumet Trail, which parallels the South Shore Railroad tracks and NiSource power lines. It was a mistake, the trail was under water at intervals and the further I ran the dry intervals were getting more seldom. At about 3 miles, and with cold wet feet, I saw a way to get back on US 12 and I took it. Back on the road I still had 3 miles to run, my feet were freezing from running though all the water. 
When I did Calumet Trail research for this write-up I read,
"The trail can be impassible (i.e. wet shoes) due to standing water along much of the trail that can be 4-6" deep in spots."
Thank goodness I only found the water up to 2 feet deep. Had I not abandoned the trail I believe it would progressively gotten worse. I viewed the trail where I would have exited and it was worse there.




 THESE FOLLOWING PHOTOS ARE FROM MAY 11, 2022, THE PADDLE SEGMENT


                                            Chicago our destination can be seen
                                                 Launching from Beverly Shores IN





                                     What I looked like from getting too much sun on my face





Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

DAY 48 TenaCity to WindyCity Runyak August 24, 2020

Image
                  TenaCity to WindyCity Runyak August 24, 2020 Flint to Chicago DAY 48 ALL PHOTOS AND IMAGES WILL ENLARGE WHEN CLICKED Porter Creek, launch site of DAY 48 Kayaks along the shore Early morning swim for campers at Lake Michigan Recreation Campground                                                                           Nordhouse Dunes                                                                  Big Sable Dunes           ...
Read more

DAY 36 TenaCity to WindyCity, September 11, 2019

Image
TenaCity to WindyCity Runyak Sept. 11, 2019 Flint to Chicago DAY  36 Going alone today, Kate could not make it. On the drive up I exited I-75 near Roscommon and headed west. South of CCC Bridge about 8 miles, my launch point today, Google Maps it wanted me to take a 2-track trail. It would be shorter and I'd be on the 2-track for a mile. I decided to take it. I did the mile and at the next turn, Six-Point Rd, I drove, still a nasty trail, for less than a mile to Sunset Trail. The same road that crosses CCC Bridge. I was on that road last week and it was not bad. The south end 5 miles from the bridge should only be traveled on by 4-wheelers.... I soon found out. Damn Google Maps! It was still dark out as I turned onto Sunset Tr. it was a 2-track, curvy, bumpy and sandy. I rounded one curve and the tires bogged down. Like in snowy conditions I babied he accelerator and managed to escape the dune-like sandtrap. I now did want to go any further thinking the same or...
Read more

DAY 42 TenaCity to WindyCity, May 29, 2020

Image
TenaCity to WindyCity Runyak May 29, 2020 Flint to Chicago DAY  42 ALL PHOTOS AND IMAGES WILL ENLARGE WHEN CLICKED DAY42's most memorable moment occurred not during the paddle as usual, but during the run. At the 9 mile mark I planned to stop and drink the liter of Gatorade I had in my drawstring backpack. After taking the drink from the bag I sat the bag on the ground along side the road. Dogs were barking incessantly from the adjacent property. I hoped they'd stop barking if just walked away from the property, back the direction I had just came. No sooner than I began walking I heard a man yelling. "Pick up your bag!" I said, "I will soon as I finish my drink." "Pick it up now!" the gruff voice said. I told him I wasn't littering, I would return and pick it up soon as finished my drink. "Pick up the damn bag NOW!" I obliged but was not happy. The dogs continued barking so I continued walking away from the property, while carrying th...
Read more