Day 218

Daily stats
Start: 8:30 AM - Cleveland, OH
Break: 12:30 AM - 3:30 PM Huntington Beach, OH
Finish 6:30 PM - , OH
Time: 7:00
Daily dist: 25 miles
Total dist: 4200+
Companions: Mark and Wendy then local paddling club
Weather: Mostly clear w/ variable winds high in 80’s
Notes: A nice day on the water with Mark and Wendy then later with a local kayak club.

Throughout this trip I have benefited immeasurably from the kindness and generosity of people who barely know me. Today was once again one of those days.

Mark from 41 Degrees North

The day started out from the rowing club dock in downtown Cleveland where I was joined by Mark who hosted me the last two days. His plan was to paddle north with me for about ten miles, then catch up with another paddler near our destination that could shuttle him back to his truck. The plan went off like clockwork and about an hour from Huntington Beach we were joined by Wendy who had put in not too far away. We all paddled in to the beach together, then after a snack break at the “Honey Hut” snack shop, Mark and Wendy launched and headed back toward town to the next beach over where Wendy’s car was waiting.

Wendy on her way back toward the put in

All morning long I had, once again, been fussing with my camera trying to get it to keep the white balance settings straight. The camera has been exceptionally problematic lately especially, it seems, when the pictures I’m taking are more important than the norm. After watching me fuss with the camera all morning, Mark offered to lend me his camera for the rest of the trip with a promise to mail it back when I was done. It takes the same memory card and battery that my current camera does so it would be perfect. Knot being in an easy position to purchase my own new camera I accepted Mark’s offer and now have a much more reliable camera to use for the rest of the trip. I owe Mark a lot for taking that concern off my mind.

Lighthouse outside of Lorian OH

The plan for me was to continue on to the west trying to hook up with a few local paddlers who were camped out at a lakeside home that belongs to one of their members Colleen. A few phone calls throughout the day let me to the lighthouse where a posse of local paddlers were on their way to greet me and lead me back to the beach. I’d missed a giant beach party they’d had the night before. Judging by the 10x30 foot pile of still warm ash on the ground one could imagine that it must have been one great party. After getting cleaned up a few of us walked next door and Colleen picked up the tab for a nice dinner at the Mexican restaurant located there. As I write this I’m camped out in Colleen’s back yard ready for an expeditious launch in the morning to once again try to beat the wind.

My welcoming committie from the local paddling club