Now I have a problem. I’m loosing the ebb tide and slack tide is beginning. This means I’m loosing my free ride and I’m exhausted. I’m also not even close to Bowdoin Park, its at least another mile from me and now the pull out is another couple miles from that.
Author: Journey Waters
Author, Poet, Craftsman
I’ve been writing and sharing stories from the road since 2013. I also have a YouTube channel under The Itinerant Craftsman where I travel the USA performing unique and challenging construction projects out of my Custom Overland Truck. You might also find me at a Tantra or Music festival.
Canada to Key West Paddle – Day 18
The groups leader was shouting at him to paddle harder and trying to demonstrate the proper stroke, but the kayaker was in shallow water which mean it was also meant it was much rougher and he could not get the paddle down deep enough to get a good bite on the water.
Canada to Key West Paddle – Day 17
I felt something come whipping by me and I thought one of the shrouds were falling off the deck and into the water. Then there was the eerie cracking sound that none of us understood until it was too late. This huge mast came out of its attachment point in the sole and she was coming down. Sue was standing right over the mast and began to hold it. Her reaction was instinctual and motherly. She had to save it. Mine was less motherly and I was shouting for her to get out of the way as this monster mast was slowly coming down and tearing a hole in the dog house (roof) of the boat as it did.
Canada to Key West Paddle – Day 15
I arrived amid a sea of Motor Yachts in all shapes and sizes. I’ve never seen so many boats packed in so tightly in a Marina. This looked like a major party – and it was. I found a spot to tie off and I climbed up on the docks. I hadn’t been on the dock a minute when I met Katie’s Dad. Like me, he was surprised at how quickly I made it here, but running with the tied helped a lot.
Canada to Key West Paddle – Day 11
I was approaching the Chanel and the helicopter was above the water. There were Police and Firemen all along the shoreline and on the opposite shore; they were launching an rescue boat. This wasn’t good. I had been paddling without my PFD on but quickly got into it and zipped it up as I paddled into this mess. With that the helicopter flew overhead and its wash nearly knocked me off my boat.
Canada to Key West Paddle – Day 10
Lock 6 was in sight and I was paddling comfortably as there was no rush, then I heard it. I turned around to see a barge coming in behind me. I began paddling hard for two reasons. One; I did not want to miss the lock though I am not sure they would let me share it with the barge. Two; The closer I was to that lock, the slower it would be going which meant I would not have to deal with its giant wake and Three; The channel was very narrow where I was. There was a lot more room for him to pass me at the lock.
Canada to Key West Paddle – Day 9
As I approached Lock 7 I heard a horn toot, a very loud horn. I looked up ahead at the lock and there was a giant barge sitting in it getting lifted. I radioed the Lockmaster. Lock 7 Do you copy? Lock 7 he replied. Let me know when it’s clear to enter.
Canada to Key West Paddle – Day 7
Lake Champlain Done!
Today I officially completed paddling Lake Champlain from the Canadian Border in Alburgh, VT to its end at the Whitehall Lock. Lake Champlain through everything at me from the start, but on my final day, the wind changed direction and blew out of the north giving me a push off the lake and the north draining Lake Champlain somehow changed direction and was flowing south, perhaps due to the low water levels now. It was like the lake was giving me a send off party.
Canada to Key West Paddle – Day 6
The storm passed directly overhead but split in two missing us completely. Later that day, I ran into the owners of a very large trawler who told me they were listing at 12 degrees in that wind. He too was seeking shelter. After it passed, I hit the water again trying to make to a spot that would give me just one more day on the lake. The folks that gave me shelter told me about a marina down where the lake narrows. I headed for it.
Canada to Key West Paddle- Day 5
Today’s weather greeted me with light surf and a nice breeze. Still blowing on my nose, but as least it was no longer stagnant like yesterday. Since I was a good distance off shore and I had a late start, I decided to eat lunch in the kayak as I paddled. If the wind was blowing any harder, that would not have been possible.